Macon beacon., 1917-06-22
COIN AFTER MUsKY,

"tiger" of the waters, the great old
rascal that makes 'em all sit up and
doff the lid. You've BASED, trouted
and piked and panned bit, now you
feel like taking q whirl at the boss OF
the tribe, caused no doubt by the many
tales that have been spun about this
Villa of the weedbeds. No matter, old
man, how narrowing the tale, the mus
kellunge is guilty of everything that
has been said about him.
Where to Find Him.
His favorite haunt Is in about to
IS feet of water near the weeds, wa
ter lilies or grasses that grow in
the water, or alongside of sub
merged rocks. He Is a solitary fell
low, don't make any friends, just lies
around waiting for a piece Of food to
go swimming by, then he makes
lightninglike dart, snaps his power
full jaws shut on his victim and swims
back to his station and gorges the
eats, ready in a minute to take an
other foray. He always strikes
fish or lure sideways, and there is no
special time when he is feeding fact Is
he seems to be hungry all the time, but
he is more active from eight to eleven
in the morning and from four until
dark. When the water Is slightly
roughened by the wind and breaking In
small waves or an overcast day, is
good musky weather, but he may sur
prise you and strike your lure while
you are trolling into shore to make
: landing for the MONDAY lunch.
The Best Time.
Musky fishing is very good In June,
unless the season is extremely cold
and backward, towards the tail end
: of July it slows up considerably, while
August is the poorest month for the
big chief. During "dog days" his
: teeth are In poor shape and you can
hardly coax strike out Of him un-
less he feels so down in the mouth and
mean that he strikes from pure cuss-
edness. Like a snake shedding Its
skin and the deer its horns, the musky
loses It's teeth in August, but nature
= packs in new set by the first of Sep
tember and the old boy is in q fine
l. fighting humor for that month. BY far
- !. the best musky fishing Is to be had In
d September and October, when the chill
IT night air seems to fill them with ar
'e extra supply Of pep for the food hunt
= !. the next day. Even up into November
N Is not too late for the big ones, but fol
downright good musky fishing 1t IL
hard to beat September and October
q. Troll and Cast.
,u In the past most Of the boys have
J.. contented themselves with trolling fol
t. the musky, but the real sport of thu
III game Is to cast for them, using thu
!. same method as that of casting TO
IN bass. In trolling for musky Sill
e- braided line of 20 to 80 pounds tes
" Is about right, while six-thread Cut
tyhunk linen line Is preferred by some
For a trolling lure the spoon hool
ed holds first place and is no doubt tn
al best little all-round bait. Use chut
d. sinner black sucker or pork rind wit
a spoon as an added attraction, an
at IL this don't seem to make 'em cur
m GUS. put a strip Of red flannel abou
en- six inches long on the hooks and lie
d that wiggle through the water bi
II as an enticer. Some mighty fine one
have been caught with this rig. Mos
re- beginners load the line with whoI
ut ping big spoon, even up to No. l
size. Keep her down, old man, to
No. 4 or No. 6 for the single spooi
e and No. 3 or No. for the tandeI
style. For a good stiff rod for tn
re beginner make 1t steel one. and tn
five footer will fill the bill ft
either casting or trolling for tn
Ear musky. OF course If you are doubl
lsh dyed expert you can use your lightt
ith rod and tackle, but unless one Is
ing expert at handling the lighter tack
ear he had better stick to the slight
Law heavier stuff and feel more sure OF II
fish. A musky can sure make nj
ob outfit look like a junk shop If It's ha
T died by an inexperienced tsherma
Troll In water about 8 to IL fe
deep, off the edges Of the weedbe'
and over the underwater weed
ron also off the rock beds and poin
die of land as well as quiet coves al
ers bays. Keep your rod straight out b
= hind the boat; if you hold it out ov
the side you put a strain ON it tn
is unnecessary and bad medicine I
any rod.
ful In casting for the musky keep t
ith boat about so feet off the castil
re- waters, moving the boat as noseless
us as possible and casting in towards [
'ss- shore or feeding grounds. An
white or white and red head artlhcI
;. minnow. or spoon and pork rind, fr
~ or minnow makes good casting III
a From the strike the fight Is fast
'"' gamy and you sure must keep
slack out of the line or he'll DO
am. flop out of the water and corkscr
back on your line. which means Ia
e well to the musky.
nnd DIXIE