The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-26
LUCK WITH THE LINZ
n.fn, 81 Prize Fish at Orange Lake
Coleman Relates the story Oh
His Prize Capture
(Rev ". H Coleman in Field and
Stream)

Stream)
Until this season l have had very lit
tie interest in fresh water fishing. Sit
/ ting still, holding a pole, lighting mos
auitoes and brushing away sand hles
| has never appealed to me as being very
| exhilarating or refreshing. especially
when il happened TO be long time be-
| fore a hungry fish came along. Hence
I sought some other form or recreation
for summer, while quail shooting has
! been a very satisfying recreation for
winter half holidays which | think
busy pastor ought to take each week.
But | have been an interested reader
OF Field and Stream for about year.
Then TOO last spring, l formed the ac-
quaintance and friendship of an inter-
esting man from Michigan, who is an
enthusiastic fisherman, especially bait
casting for black bass. And my being
a native of Missouri he showed me
how" It is needless to say that l have
experienced a change of heart on the
fishing proposition. He kindly taught
me the art and for the first season 1
have had fair degree of success for
novice.
At noon, Aug. 21, 1911, my merchant
friend, L. F. Ballard, and l set out for
Orange Lake. This body of water lies
northwest of Ocala. Before the freeze
of Feb. 1895, Orange Lake was the CEN
ter Of F'lorida's citrus region. It's
shores were fringed with beautiful
groves which yielded splendid crops of
luscious o:,-l-=ses and grape fruit. Many
beautiful homes overlooked the lake
and the Southern hospitality made life
interesting in the balmy Southland,
adding to the pleasure numerous small
craft piled the waters of the lake. At
this time a number of groves have been
resuscitated, but much of the rich land
is now given over TO truck farming.
\ ride Of twenty miles brought US to
the lake and the afternoon was part
ly cloudy We felt confident of getting
good string of fish. though we did not
expect to land any of the -, Is. or IS
pound bass that We had heard of being
caught in years gone by. Mr. Ballard
said that he could not cast but would
enjoy rowing the boat We secured a
boat and pulled through the lilies and
beds Of moss about a half a mile to
open water. BY casting around the
edges of these deeper parts of the lake,
near the lilies and moss, l have gener-
ally been able to get a good catch.
ON this particular afternoon | cast
for more than an hour without being
able TO get a strike. Mr.. Ballard re-
marked that We were certainly having
fisherman's luck" this afternoon. A
breeze sprung up ripping the water
nicely. | soon caught few bass aver
aging about two pounds each. Then
one weighing about five pounds gave
a fine fight for a few minutes.
Than I made q
rise Another cast of about 100 feet
nTer the same place seemed TO be a fail
ire. but when the line was about half
reeled in | felt the tug. I frightened
my grasp on the rod and reel. set the
hook and realized at once that I had
large fish At first 1t was a tug of
war" He made a number of plunges
for the bottom of the lake. As Mr.. Bal
lard saw the line going out and noted
the semi circular form assumed by the
rod as the rushes were checked, he said
he Is WhOpper. be careful or you will
lose him Finding more resistance than
vas comfortable in his efforts to seek
he cool depths. the fish next tried to
free himself on the surface churning
the water and making number of
short leaps toward the boat. My best
efforts We're put forth 10 keep the line
| tight Coming near the boat he saw
| us, apparently not desiring a more in
innate acquaintance, he again started
for the bottom of the lake. These
plunges Were gradually checked. Then
| came a rush toward the boat and In
spite of rapid reeling he rushed under
| the boat and out on the opposite side
| Mr. Ballard gave vent to my feelings
when he said Il guess you have lost
| him And for a space of time I lost
| all nope of landing him. Instantly I
| thrust the tip of the rod down into the
| water deep enough to hold the line
clear of the boat in order to prevent