Evening star., 1936-07-10

THIS bluefsh situation is Just
$3.50. They should be biting
all the time in the Middle
n Grounds, but most reports are
very discouraging. Preston Goodart
and A. L. Stewart were there Wednes-
day and got seven smallish ones, the
largest being only pounds.
Then few days ago the rumor got
around town that blues were biting at
the Gooses. The Gooses is their
stamping grounds down in Chesapeake
Bay, but it's rather early for them to
be there. Nevertheless. Ollie Atlas and
q few others rushed there and trolled
all day. All they got was lot of
practice.
That should serve as a warning to
those who want to catch some blue
fighters. Don't trust those unverifled
rllmors. When the blues really start
in at the Gooses authentic reports.
together with names, dates and how
caught, will be published in these COL
umns. Until then it's merely waste
of time. You may pick up few
strays, it is true, but there is no use
going to all the expense of such trip
without the assurance Of real catch.
THERE is one place where they are
being caught. though. and its
only a little bit off the beaten track
in the bay It's in the ship channel
going into the Middles. The alewives
are as thick as flies there and natur-
ally the blues are following them.
These are big ones, too.
If you're going down in that direc-
ton and happen to hit on day when
no chum may be had here in Wash
ington. you still can save yourself the
long trip to Galesville. Capt. L. M
Spriggs, at Piney Point. has agreed to
supply chum if you will phone him a
day or so in advance and reserve it.
His number is Great Mills 9-F-l5.
Piney Point is only about or miles
off the direct route to Point Lookout,
and that's a lot better than the long
pull over to Galesville.
7 TP AROUND Solomons and other
upper bay points, for that matter,
it's about the same old story. Hard
heads plentiful, trout coming in nicely
and good catches Of rockfish being
made. according to Skipper Harry
Woodburn. It's about this time each
year the croakering usually slacks off,
but so far there have been few days
when they were not biting good.
Catches will gradually decrease as the
moon wanes. though. Trout are being
caught in the channel and near
Hooper Island, but your captain will
show you the spots. Nothing much is
doing up in the Patuxent and boats
from Broomes Island and other points
are coming down to Point Patience
for their fish.
Dick Woodburn. making his weekly
trip to the Middles, stopped off at
Cedar Point for an hour or so Wednes-
day and picked up number of big
rock. One of these weighed four
pounds, another three. This is a very
good catch, If you remember that most
of rock there weigh around pound
or a pound and half. What they
lack in size they make up in number.
The larger rock go up into brackish
or fresh water to spawn and stay
there all Summer. Down along the
Maryland and Virginia shores there
are several small rivers in the waters
Of which these big stripers disport
themselves. One of these is the
Chickahominy River, and only last
week Bob Pyle caught five beauts
there, one weighing about Is pounds.
SID ATLAS has been selling quite a
few fly rods lately, and with the
trout season closed in nearly all nearby
States, that can mean only one thing
anglerssare using them more and more
for bass. Long casts are not neces-
sary to catch bass, IS to 40 feet being
ample. The line should be kept well