Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-03
JUST FISH STORIES

tlQ MdcOOldlu, genCle1nen from
Chicago who have just terminated
their annual fishing vacation at
Long lake east Of Phelps. Adcock,
premier fisherman of the trio,
calls in all bets last week by the
landing of the king of Smoky lake
weighed in at ga pounds
and puts Vic DeLaescilles one
notch behind the king pin row for
the 1923 season. Adcock had the
time of his venerable life fight
ing this fish and his companions
at the same time. Both Marsh
and Macdonald claimed he had
hooked one of Smoky lakes famed
carp, while the other avowed it
was nothing but Sand lake pick
erel. Just about had him convinc-
ed when the big fin ambled up
from the bottom of the weed bed
and showed his size and just what
he was. At that he almost won
out to- safety-but didn't. 1t is
prime fish and will be mounted
in Chicago and showed for many
story belonging to the enlarged
edition now on the press.
Pike are coming finely. Says
M. D. Rush of Little Buckatoban
lake the other day, some mighty
fine catches are being made out
of both Big and Little Buck by
the anglers after walleyes. These
two lakes have long been noted
for their sporty fish, and there
are many the tale of Old Spoon
hooks, that mighty musky which
still lives in his summer home
alongside a certain bar in Big
Buckatoban. This fin has been
made famous by VIM. Schmedtgen
of Chicago and Bob Thurston,
who, so it is claimed, have contrib
uted dozens of spoonhooks to his
carcass for years. Always broke
away with the hardware when
hooked and will undoubtedly die
of old age. Hop to it.
The day of the baby fish taker
is about passed. Just let a fellow
pop up with say a dozen walleyes
under the man size, and he is in
for a panning by the real sport.
IT'S right. The big fish were made
for big he-sportsmen and women
and as you go down the line in
size you generally can size up the
guy with the lingering catch.
Have a heart, Bo. Catch EN- big,
or else lay off. The little fellows
must have some protection, even
if the bunch of bolcheviks at Mad
ison did put one over on the
sportsman when they took off the
size limit this summer.
Il have fshed Wisconsin waters
for over twenty years. If it is
the intention of the Wisconsin
lawmakers to keep the nonresi-
dents from fishing in that state
they will succeed in preserving
the fish. But what will the resort
owners have to say? l have talk
ed to at least twenty sportsmen
fishermen who will not go to Wis
consin under the present fishing
laws. Wisconsin lawmakers are
not fishermen or they would not
enact the present law.
I'm my experience | have found
over 80 per cent of nonresident
fishermen sportsmen, who will
help uphold good fishing laws. For
example: Musky, 10 pounds, or "a
inches, limit one day; bass, II
inches, five a day; pike, 10 inches,
five day. Make the license what
ever necessity warrants and they
will preserve the fish and friends.
Limiting a fisherman to one box
a year doesn't, in my opinion, pre-
serve fish.
Last year my partner and |
put back several understood mus
kies. They all lived and will be
big muskies some day. We caught
only one legal musky but were
well satisfied. If the present law
had existed | know Wisconsin
would have several less muskies
and | still say pick on the big
ones, let the little ones live and
preserve fsh.-A. A. Gerlach, 718
Sheridan I'd, Chicago.