Connecticut western news., 1922-02-09
ICE FISHING

Fishing through the ice lawfully ended in this state February 1st and with the closing of the season local fishermen can regale their friends with stories of their catches. The weather has been conducive to ice fishing, for there has been but little snow and even though tempera- lures have been low as a whole, sev- eral mild days have made it pleasur- able.
 There are some who think there is really little of the sportsman in the man who pulls in fish, hand over hand, giving it but small opportunity to display it's instincts against mans wisdom. Be that as it may, we say from experience that no fresh water fishing compares with it, except hook ing and playing the small mouth bass on a six ounce bamboo rod. That is real sport; for between esti- mating the size of the fish oh the end of the line and wondering how much of strain your light rod will stand, the excitement rises to fever heat and continues long after the fish is safely landed.
 But ice fishing is just as alluring in sense. Hope of a record catch runs high while the holes are being chopped. Then careful soundings are taken and baitfsh selected with care, with the remark that "this one ought to attract whale" Now all the tip-ups are in. The work has been warmish in spite of the cold weather, and standing around on the ice you begin to think its growing colder. Calmly, at first, the field of sticks is surveyed, believing that at any minute red flag will show. As time drags on and minutes seem hours,i you begin to feel sorry you came fishing. You knew they wouldn't bite today. Anyway there was raft of work to do. |. You'll tell the next man who tries to get you ice fishing. ., Chilblains coming on, too. What a d.
 Whats that? Flag up!
 Oh boy! what scampering across the ice! Every man seems to think his life depends on getting to that tip-up. At least one would think so to watch them run. One falls down with thump on the place where Pat thought his heart was, but hesis up again running for dear life.
 After it seems hours have elapsed you arrive at the hole, cautiously take hold of the line and "feel him" while your friends bringing up the rear are offering advise enough to fill a book-Don't lose him, now . Play him, old. man Give him plenty of slack. -. Is he big one?, and so on until the poor fish is landed foundering on the ice.
 We'll that's the first one. Now you all are beginning to feel better and the conversation is becoming anima- ted. Stories of previous fishing trips mount to everyone's lips and are withheld with constraint until he who has the floor Cor the ice) concludes his account of a great adventure. Now, after several futile attempts, you attract the boys undivided atten- tion and have come to that part of your narrative where you are show ing them with your hands just how big he was, when
 Flag up! Off you all go again like leaves before blast of wind, across the slippery ice.
 "Guess he's gone" remarks the man with the line. "No, he's there yet" says another. Sure enough, he is. Evidently bass, for he has gone to the bottom with the bait and is sulking. Ordered in concert to feel him a little you do as directed and then the fun begins, for it is bass. Your stirring up process has angered the bass, so to show his strength he heads directly for the other end of the lake, while grudgingly the line is played out. Now he has turned and is coming back. With lightning-like dexterity you haul in the line to keep