El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-04
By FREDERIc ]. HASKIN.

- PRINGTIAIE is here; the time
when work seems hardest, when
figures viii not add. when
thoughts refuse to come. save thoughts
that lure to other and more pleasant
endeavors; the time when the store,
the office. the workshop, seem dullest-
The trees are bursting into bud, the sap
beginning to rise, and hungry fish Will
soon be striking. With the birds, the
trees. the flowers, and all nature, the
gamey bass, too beStirs himself TOra-
ciOus after the long embrace Of winter.
1t is time to go a-fishing,
All winter the fisherman has patient
" awaited the return Of fishing time
Many a night has he dreamed Of the
big blue hole beneath the towering
bluff: ripples and swirling water at
the head, deep and placid as they sweep
by its face, then rush onward again.
across a sandbar, into more holes and
pockets. to make other hiding places
for gamey fish Many winters
evening has the fisherman hauled out
the tackle baX and brought the poles
from out their hiding place. As he
caresses the beloved Meek, and bends
the trusty bamboo - and the shining
Bristol, the aroma Of fragrant pipe
opens the treasure box Of RETROSPECT
ton, the flOOd-tide Of sweet memory
rushes over him.
He had looked forward with keenest
anticipation to the pleasure OF that
trip. He had watched the weather and
the water, and had struck it right
The river was clear and not too null
The first warm spell Of weather was at
hand and luck should be good. The
minnOW or livebait fisherman was
happy He had visions OF dandy
string to take proudly home that night
The day before a bucket OF fine min
nOws had been caught lusty, lively Eel
lows, sinners among them the kind big
bass love in the spring
The Old, Familiar Hole.
Yes. this is the hole, sandbar on this
way across, over yOnder big jagged
rocks. tangled roots, and shelving
lodges, just the kind OF q place for the
big. sly old fellows to hide and lay in
wait for some unsuspecttng craWftsh
or minnOW. The bucket OF m1nnOWs,
the poles. the fishing bag, all are placed
on the gently slOping bar, and the fish
erman proudly surveys the prospect
takes a puff OF satisfaction now and
then, and votes that the prOspe cts look
good. The minnOWs are taken from
the outside bucket. and the inside Is
immersed on the bar. One after an
reels are fastened in the reelseats,
the lines run out through the guides
and hook and slnker attached each
hook as il is fastened is felt carefully
by the fisherman, for each must be
sharp; a sharp hook goes home more
swiftly and surely at the crucial mo-
ment
Now for the minnOws. Cautiously the
minnow bucket is drawn to the bank
and the catch Of the top slid back
Gently a hand enters the bucket I'm
mediately there's a great commotlon as
the lusty sinners tlutter and splash
Here's a nice one, and the fisherman's
hand closes firmly yet gently around H.
The top Is shut again while this min
now is securely hooked
Now for the cast over by that snag
looks good. It's some months since last
a cast was made, but here's hoping for
good luck. Close up near the tip the
struggling minnOW IS reeIed. sharp
swing is given the pole, the thumb
releases all but a featherWeight touch
on the reel. and the bait speeds out
across the water usr this side the
suag the minnow is stopped in It's (
course: q thumb tightens on the spool,
the tip Of the pole is dipped toward
the river and minnow and sinker drop
gently into the clear hole, with hardly
a splash and ripple one by one the
lines are batted. until four are out The
slack is reeled in, and each pole stuck
firmly into the sand The fisherman
having done his part waits
Where Patience is Needed.
The ground is still cold and damp,
and a piece Of old drift wood makes
a good. dry seat. The pipe Is rerlLed, I
and the minnOW fisherman, ike pa
thence on a monument, waits Tor a
strike. Job was not more pduent /
character than the true minnoW Llsh-
erman DelioeratiOn is his long suit I
and never does the suggestion or hurry [
enter his head. What matters II to MIN /
If the fish are a bit slow. The big ones ]
lie deep they are not as numerous as !
the smaller ones, and one prize beauty Z
is worth all Of any day on the river; /
besides the birds are singing all about I
and its spring time in his heart and I
R,I+ he does not have long to wait. /
It's been a long time since the river I
was clear enough for big bass to see ]
good minnows and chase them sud /
denly the music of the Meek is heard ]
sweeter and clearer than the call Of the I
redbird i'm the sapllng. Win he1rl +
throbbing and pulSebeat nlgh, ne d
Jumps to his feet and rushes for the I
lucky pole As the reel sings the tip /
Of the pole bends down sharply then .
silence the tin rebounds and qu1TerS- /
1t was the first run; the bass had the I
minnOw half way up had masned II /
enough TO kill it, then released It,
The next time, the next run, the Ilsn-
arman knew, the big fish would nave I
the mfnnow by the head trying to I
swallow il. Again the reel sings Inc
line is taut and the fish is taking II or I
steadily The tip of the pole Is Dent
lower, the fisherman sees there IS no {
slack I'm the line. and then. pressing
his thumb fast against the reel spool 4
he gives a short. sharp jerk
And Then the sport.
The steel barb goes home, and as the /
pig bass feels the sharp point ne gives
! frantic rush He clears the water /
with a mighty leap; full is inches ne \
ones. shaking himself in the mao Ell
fort to spit out the nooi-- his broad