Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19

Now that the waters of the Poto-
mac are in splendid condition for
fishing and with almost perfect
weather for the sport, another trou-
BILE has arisen, and this time it is
the scarcity of live bait. that is
smelt, the kind of minnows the ma
jority of anglers ask for if they are
not uslng mad toms. These little
silvery fish are usually very plenti-
full, but for some reason or other
just at the time when. they are most
wanted they seem to have dfsap-
peared and are not to be found by
the rivermen who net them for the
anglers. Will Reynolds says his
opinion is that the high water washed
them away. He said that the holes
where they have been found in the
past have entirely disappeared ow
ing to the rush of the water caused
by the heavy rains, and that the
fish apparently went along with it.
The river is full of pike and bull
minnowS. however, and Reynolds
gives it as his opinion that the pike
minnow is just as good as the smelt
minnow. In fact he seems to think
that perhaps they are "a little better,
because they are harder and much
better for casting. After two or
three casts using smelt as bait. this
minnow, if not dead, has had all the
life taken out of it and instead of
darting around. only moves with the
action of the water. So things are
not as bad as they at first appeared.
There will be plenty of pike and
bull minnows for anglers today,
Reynold will see to that.
Bass and Graphic are being caught
in the Little River, and one evening
last week shortly after the moon
came up, eight very pretty bass were
taken from this stream by one angler
All the up-river places report good
catches of small-mouth bass, includ-
ing Seneca, Stubblefield Falls and
Black Rifles.
The coves and creeks of the lower
catches. Occoquan Creek is in spfen-
did condition for bass fishing and is
drawing its quota of anglers.
Chesapeake Bay is reported to be
full of fish and some wonderful
catches have been made This is rock
fishing season on the bay and trolling
for these game fish with Huntington
Drove bait is furnishing plenty of
thrills.
Capt. e. G. CrandeIl of Herring Bay.
writing to Bill Fenton of The Star
pressroom. had this to say about
fishing. First let me explain that his
letter to Fenton was to acknowledge
the receipt of some spinners he had
sent him. Il tried them out on Mon
day, but only caught IL rock. Murrell
ana kenon caught about 300 rock
last Sunday. Edwin had a party out
and he tried trolling for about two
hours and caught As rock Harry
Manifold and his crowd caught 80
rock. II it don't get too cold I think
the fish will bite all this month.
Edwin had party out Saturday and
they caught IS trout and some of
them were right, large ones"
AS stated before the bay is full of
both rock and trout and is we'll worth
trip to any one of the many faverite
nsning grounds to catch them.
r. L. Pyle. DR.. A. ID. Cobey and
byron /. Hayden 'motored to AN
napoiis recently and engaged Capt.
Trott's boat for trip to the fishing
grounds off Bloody Point Light on
the Eastern Shore. 1t took them
about one and a half hours to cross
the bay, but they were rewarded
with a catch of nine rockfish, weigh
Ing IS pounds. They trolled. using
the Hunting drone bait. This method
is the nearest thing to fishinE
for the big ones in Southern
waters. Telling of this and other
trips after. the big rock; Mr.. Pyle
said unless you have been out after
them and have experienced the thrills
that come when big one strikes there
is treat in store for you. OF
course, the boat is kept In motion at
a very slow speed and the angler
let's out about 800 felt of line. Thi
captain Of the boat Watches the sesA
Suns md also sthe surface Of the