Evening star., 1915-04-17

A catch of rockfish made In the deep
water between Aqueduct and Chain
bridges Monday was the surprise of
the week to anglers.
THE rockfish came just about one
month earlier than usual said Will T.
Reynolds. one of the oldest boatmen
on the river. land I must confess I do
not know how to account for it.
II almost doubted the truth OF the
report" he said. but Tuesday morn
ing Edward 0. Craig landed fine spec
linen and dispelled all doubt
Discussing the fishing season, the
boatman stated that fish have appeared
here earlier during recent years than
they did some years ago, and many
catch fish twelve months in the year.
Years ago." he said, anglers never
thought of giving the fish a trial be-
fore Easter Sunday
Reynolds was unable to suggest a
reason for white perch appearing in
large numbers last week and then dis
appearing as suddenly as they came.
Anglers who were on the river part of
X,
but those who went late in the week
We're disappointed, the boatman said
Sunday proved to be disastrous day
for anglers. The successful catches
made part Of the week before served
to attract hundreds of sportsmen to
the river Sunday. but only a few of
them met with success. and they caught
chiefly Mississippi catfish
Early morning cars took fishermen to
All points on the river. Some went as
far as Great Falls. others stopped be-
tween the bridges and still others went
below Alexandria,
But most of them had the same tale
to TELL" said W. p. Bowie, who con-
versed with scores of the disappointed
ones. although all Of them expressed
a Willingness to return tomorrow, and
some were on the river during the
week.
Hundreds of government employees
took advantage Of the holiday Thurs
day and were on the river bright and
early. Bloodworms were in great de-
mand. and practically every angler on
the river had supply of them.
More fishermen than fish," comment
ed John W. Hurley. when he reached
the river too late to get boat
Scores Of women have \been on the
river during the past two weeks.
Earlier in the season the weather was
change in weather conditions brought
change in the class of anglers
And it really is a good thing that
women can go on the river and enjoy
the sport without being subjected to
unpleasant conduct on part of the
men, said one of the more enthusias-
tic anglers.
Years ago. he added, there was a
great amount of drinking done by
many anglers. and the profanity that
was heard made it next to impossible
for women to have any enjoyment on
the water
But such conditions no longer pre-
VAIL he concluded, land women and
children may spend day on the river
with no fear Of hearing Objectionable
language"
y. L. fuliiam. enthusiastic fisherma II
and hunter, it is stated, landed the first
rockfish that was caught this season.
1T was a three-pounder," said Joe
Fletcher. "and 1t looked better because
it was the first rockfish of the season.
"And while 1t weighed only three
pounds" he added. 'it was such a sur
prise that those who saw it thought 1t
was 'whopper.
Pulliam has caught number of
strings of white perch this season, and
shortly before the close of the bass
season he was much in evidence at the
tidal basin Robert Miller fished the
got their share of what Patrick Rior-
dan calls horses.
Warwick Fnrr was on the river for a
Weekend outing.
II knew the fishermen in the boats
were not doing much,' he said. "and
so / tried my luck from the shore"
His first catch was an eel. four
FOUNDER, and it's pulling capacity was
almost great enough to pun the angler
I~A nrtn
Eight Mississippi catfish fell victims
of the seductive bait thrown to them
by Fur, but the white perch passed
him by.
Il saw large schools Of big perch IN
the water" declared the angler, "and
dropped bloodworms directly in front
of them, but the water was so clear
that the fish refused to bite
Fred Lewis, Mack Sparrough, Samuel
Lewis, George Lewis. Henry Otto and
Billy Wagner were aboard the Atlanta
for q weekend outing. The six sports
mon arranged for an carly morning
trip. to Glymont. but the high, wind
suggested rough water and caused
them to change their minds
Instead of going to the lower river.
the anglers lifted anchor and went TO
the vicinity of FIetcher's stopping at
Powder Mill branch and later gong as
far as. Chain bridge.
1T was slow going" said Mack Spar
rough. who usually experiences luck
when on fishing trips. and L couldn't
get any idea why the fish did not bite.
Leaving the upper river. the anglers
went to the vicinity of the steel plant.
where rockfish were in evidence last
season, and from there they went to
the vicinity of Alexandria.
But it was the same story at each
place." was their. comment.
@. D.. Heltzel and Harry PAUL tried
their hand at night fishing for Missis-
sippi catfish. They started from Fletch-
er's late in the night and fished until
early in the morning.
Boatmen along the river had been
catching a great many such fish at
night, the anglers learned. and they
concluded TO give the sport a trial
They tried the experiment Saturday
night, and managed to get an even
three dozen fish.
Fishing at night is all. right" said
one of the fishermen, 'if there are no
mosquitoes on the river. and none was
in evidence last Saturday"
Ralnh (.srpan w w nAa1 Cha FL