Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-27

I'VE move anything" is a sign that
is attracting the attention of John R.
Murrell, enthusiastic but not always
successful angler, who is seriously
considering a proposition to have a big
locust tree taken from a hill on the
Virginia side of the river and planted
in his back yard.
I've always heard that rockfish take
bait when the locust trees blossom" he
remarked. land If l had such a tree in
my yard l might be enlightened on the
subject.
Certainly that's about the only way
I'll ever learn" he added. Several
times this season / was told that the
big rockfsh were biting. but when 1
reached the river it was always a case
of yesterday"
Anxious to catch one of the horses"
the enthusiastic angler last week was
on the river at Fletcher's three morn
ings before daybreak. tried his luck
and was at his place of business on
time. There were rockfish there, he
said, but he did not get any.
Giving up the task as an almost
hopeless one. Murrell left the river
Saturday night and went to Benedict
for weekend outing. Where !
know I'll get plenty of oysters to eat
If don't catch any fish," he said.
Early next day he prepared for the
trip to the Patuxent. got started be.
fore noon and was on the water about
3 o'clock in the afternoon. He was
more than satisfied with the trip. he
stated. for he caught some OF the
largest hardheads he had ever seen
caught in the Patuxent.
A. b Lank. who fished with the en-
thusast on the early morning trips TO
Fletcher's. has not abandoned nope LOT
success before the close of the season
for the big rockf1sh. He is satisfied that
one or more of the gamesters will come
his way before the close of the season
A feet of launches. yachts and small
craft of every description anchored
along the channel from point below
the southeast point of Potomac Park
to the steel plant last Sunday con-
tanned scores of anglers. who were
irving their luck for rockfish. Dozens
of sportsmen were in the boats. but II
is stated not many dozen fish were
caught.
Charlie Porter. John Dean. RingsDld
Hart, w w. Deal, Hugh A. Kane and
Lester Talbert We're members OF one
marty. They were in three boats and
were equipped with all sorts OF oai'
and the best angling paraphernaIia on
tainable, and some diStdIiSe ~ oi" eAASi
was John w. Hurley.
.Charlie Porter carried on the lau-
rels with the largest and smallest
fish" said one of his companions. me
smallest one was not ouch larger tnan
the hook on which it was caught: pu'
tho large one was a nine-pounder.
Hurley suffered heart attack wnen
a big fish was drawn near the poAt anu
lost. 1t was the first strike the veteran ,
sportsman experienced that DAY, ana
fIn G
angler one look. shake the hook from
its mouth and get away extended tneir
svmpathy Another. but smaller. nsh
came along in few minutes ana was
landed, and the angler caught varied
assortment of perch. cells and catfish
Rinepold Hart landed three rock
fish. Deal one Dean one and Ta!bert
two. Kane was the only member OF the
party who failed to score.
But that makes no dlHerehce WIN
Kane" said Hurley. for he usually
catches more than his share when ne
a member of a fishing party.
Monday night friends gathered at the
residence of Charlie Porter and dis
cussed the trip while they enjoyed the
fish.
Sixty hardheads. weighing 100
pounds was the catch made by party
of anglers at Benedict on a weekend
outing. The party was composed OF
Mack Sparrough. Bernard Harding,
Thomas Jones. Charles Smons. BenJa-
min Harding and Frank Donaldson
Landing sixty fish weighing 100
pounds, is some catch, said one OF the
natives at Benedict when the scales
Indicated the weight of the catch
The anglers last week learned OF the
catches of hardheads made at Benedict
by Billy withers. Walter E. Schneider
and John F. Murrell. and Saturday
night they purchased/a supply of soft
crabs. paving IS cents dozen for them.
Had the trouble looking after them.
said Sparrough. and when we reached
BENEDICT such bait was plentiful at 10
cents dozen.
Hard luck" was his comment.
II was about 4 o'clock I'm the morn
ing when the start was made. and two
hours later preparations were pelns
made to cast bait to the FISH.
And it was only few minutes later
before we were certain that the hSh
we're there" said one of the sportsmen.
for they took the bait as soon as 1t
was dropped overheard.
The troublesome toadfish were in evil
dence few cells 'hogged' some or the
bait and a number of white perch also
were caught. So enjoyable and sue
cessful was the trip that the anglers
returned to Benedict one day this week
and repeated the outing.
Charles G. Roger U. S. G. Hoover.
Fred Hornig and Ernest Wexford were
members of weekend party at Rock
Point, Wicomico river. They left here
early in the morning and motored to
the popular resort. reaching there IN
time to enjoy several hours on the
river before the ringing of the dinner
bell attracted them to the shore.
who gets the first fish, was asked
by a member OF the party before the
quartet entered boat and started for
the fishing grounds.
to be made on that question.
I'm not much of fisherman. ne
admitted, but 1 know I'll catch the
first fish,
Sure enough. Rogier was first to
score. A big white perch took his bait
in a hurry and was quickly landed.
The catch was repeated before any of
his companions scored, but he was un-
able to catch a third fish before the
others knew they were fishing.
Splendid sport was had by the party
and they caught more fish than they
wanted, among the catch being num-
Der of catfish and cells. and the return
A catch Of six big roe shad on
trotline was recorded by Joe Fletcher
one day the past week. The catch
proved exceedingly interesting to
number of sportsmen who were on the
river trying their luck for rockfsh.
II suppose shad would not put up
much of a fight suggested one of the
older anglers, but it would be rather
interesting to catch one of them.
And still better to have so fresh
"a fresh shad planked is something
haI