Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-01

Anglers had their inning during the past
week. When the bass season closed April
l many anglers feared their spring sport
was ended, but the run of big white perch
afforded sport shortly afterward. and now
rockfish are running. Rockfish have been
unusually plentiful the past week and
scores of enthusiastic anglers have found
more sport catching them than they
found during the early spring season
catching plymouth bass.
What John w. Hurley said about the
rockf1sh going to be plentiful when the
river cleared came true commented
George Fletcher. when he saw the angler
return from the river with a string of
rock shortly after the muddy water dis
appeared.
1t is thought by anglers that the rock
fish will remain in the river in this sec
ton some time and afford sport to those
who do not care to go higher up the river
for bass.
While angling for rockfish is the prnci-
pal sport on the river at this time, white
and yellow perch and Mississippi catfish
also are being caught.
The white perch are following the run
Of June shad,'' said an up-river fisher
man. and the big perch will remain until
the shad are gone
Speaking of catching rockfish. said one
of the older anglers, many fishermen
spend much time on the river. see others
catching fish and wonder why they do
not meet with as much success as their
neighbors.
1T frequently is because their lines
are not properly rigged." he explained.
The trouble is that many anglers rig
their lines for rock the same as they do
for perch, and while it is possible for
them to catch fish. it is more probable
that they will have no luck.
Put one hook above and one below
the lead" he added. land do not use too
much lead Give the bait an opportunity
to move about in the water to attract
the fish.
Another reason some OF the anglers
have no luck is because they do not have
the proper bait" he continued. Blood
worms, soft crab and cut smelt make the
best bait. Shrimp is a good bait, but II
is difficult to get such bait here in good
condition. and keep it alive any length of
time.
And don't have your hooks too big"
he concluded.
The season for catching small-mouth
bass is open. but there are not many
places in District waters where such fish
are caught. At the mouth of Little river
small-mouth bass are sometimes caught,
but not in large numbers.
Three days before the season opened
DR.. William E. Whitson distinguished
himself by landing two fish in the swift
water at the mouth of Little river, the
first of the species caught here this sea-
son. 1t is stated although he had to re-
turn them to the river.
1T was exciting sport" DR. Whitsun
said, ''even If the fish had to be thrown
back. During the time / was nshing
had more than twenty strikes. and the
fish snapped off several OF my hooks.
While the doctor had to throw back
the bass he caught, because the season
had not opened. he caught white perch
and rockfsh that he did not have to
throw back. and when he went home ne
had an attractive string Of them.
Hundreds of anglers were on the Po-
tomac river and its numerous tributaries
Decoration day. The word was passed
that fishing for small-mouth bass would
be permitted on the upper river all the
way to Harpers Ferry, while on the low
er river the season for catching big
mouth bass was open beyond any ques-
ton.
Many sportsmen went away from the
over Sunday taking with them supplies
of tackle and bait. while others started
out early Thursday morning to spend the
one day on the river
bass were caught in the upper river.
while below the city good catches of
big mouth bass were made. Plenty of
rockf1sh were caught in the vicinity of
Chain bridge Some white perch and
great many yellow perch also we're
caught.
One of the most interesting and sue
cessful fishing contests OF the season was
participated in Wednesday by John
Thompson and Henry Tharle of Balti-
more. who have done considerable nsn-
ing between the Aqueduct and Chain
bridges this season. Last Sunday they
fished from the same boat and were
unable to Determine which OF them had