The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-16
IT'D AGE p 9

boys and their poles, however juicy and nice their
might taste
Abundance OF summer feeding finds the school
boy trout has grown big and strong His sides
bulge out with healthy roundness and in trout
iand-t is not sprng-but in the fall his fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love" He had be-
come dissatisfied with the meager fare of the
brooks, and determined that when the heavy
rains of May caused the brook to rise in a roaring
hood he would make the venture and down
into the big river for greater freedom and wider
space. without serious thoughts as to how the
change of environment would affect him-good or
bad When he got there in his travel upstream
he soon became aware of entirely new trials and
dangers to encounter, for he found all the larger
trout in the most desirable situations savage and
distrustful of the handsome young strangers ap-
pearance among them. Driven from one place to
another he hardly knew what do or where to
find snrg place to rest and feed He was NOR
tally afraid of the big fellows especially the ugly
brown trout that showed fierce teeth with which
nature had not provided him. Onward he
sped, and ut last got TO mighty rock. just in the
middle of the stream, when the water surged past
each side forming round blanket of white foam
on the surface Just as he satisfied this would
make an ideal haunt TO abide, he saw great trout
rushing at tremendous rate to the river bed
roofing his among the pebbles vainly trying to
tear out barbed fly fast to his upper lip Fail
ing get free. the great trout went dashinc I'D
for supreme effort leap above the surface
The great trout no more by the
young, yet startled lover. who once decided to
occupy the now vacant haunt, and take heed the
angler did not likewise capture him. Almost ey-
cry day other fish to contest the rights of
that ideal place, but after many battles he at last
became sole occupant of the pool. In that fruitful
place he gorge1 day and night till the fall of the
year when in all his youthful vigor and strength
in brilliant array ne left his favorite baunt in
search of mate
The long, cold winter is at hand and tho ardent
lover has become the parent of six hundred in
fants whom he will not see-and if he did. would
strike among them for hearty meal He is now
about to change quarters to the bed of deep pool
where the water is least affected by freezing tenn
perature there TO lie dormant with other aquatic
denizens most of the time TO be unconscious of any
happening. of f:ost, snowstorms Ice jams then,
at springtime wake up with advanced ideas OF
his prowess. No longer the young modest lover, he
is very hungry dominant. ready for fight in fact
soldier of fortune flushed in the pride of vigor
Gus adult trouthood he awaits with mpatience the
awakening of aquatic life that comes Immediately
after the melted Snow-water has run down TO the
sea- Not so lusty as in the fall. his broad Shout
ders and sides narrowed down by winters fast.
his appetlte Graves for more varied diet With
body fifteen inches long he take in his nav,
with ease. young muskrat four-inch minnow
or trout, and would not despise frog The pug
nacious crawfsh that scared him in infantile days
would find life very short once he got its tail be-
tween his wide jaws.
% On the very day the temperature is just right,
he moves away from the dark winter pool, and dur
ing the journey upstream he looks keeny about
for helgramites and other bottom creatures who
like him, have their spring appetite keen edge
The river is big torrent of rushing muddy water,
but he darts onward towards the big rock, his
favorite haunt of past which he finds
to be just the same as Of yore. He Is familiar