The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-12-30

along the shore, just us and the lake.
all else is hidden by the fog.
The water looks dark and still.
then presently small swells come
from somewhere in the distance
and break gently on the shore.
Groups of tourists cabins are on the
left and neat cottages with rock
gardens sloping toward the lake,
farms with fat lazy cattle and well
fed horses, orchards too, and berry
patches just fading into reds and
browns for their long winters rest.
And now the lake is more FESTIVE
and white caps appear on the crest
of the waves to break with fury
on the rock strewn shore.
Oh, it is glorious to watch this
play of the elements especially
when you are inside looking out
of little red car with the windows
closed and the heater humming
along smoothly
But how about the fishing? Oh
yes, I'm coming to that. But not
today No, rain begins to fall and
we have already decided to 60 on
to Poison, hunt up tourist camp
and procure a cabin for the night,
when we arrive at Gravel Bay
our destination.
To our surprise the shore is lined
with people, perhaps a hundred of
them standing side by side, cast
=, n r,.tt fbo,r 1.rac ord Ir,u,;,,~ tt.axx.
in, despite the weather As we
watch while we can see fish flop
ping on the shore along the line of
fishermen and fisherwomen yes.
quite few of these courageous folks
are women. 1t is only about 10
miles to Poison SO after. watching
the wet sport for while, I'VE move
on to look for something more COM
Portable.
Tourist cabins are plentiful in
Poison but we visit several camps"
before we find one that is not oc-
cupied.
Here then, is our home for the
night-a tiny cabin overlooking the
lake We can not see the lake now
as darkness has fallen, but we can
hear the gentle lap, lap, of the water
as it meets the shore. The wind
has died down and drizzle of rain
continues.
The boys start fire in the stove
and bring in the bedding and pro-
visions from the car and it isn't
long until we three are partaking of
roast chicken, coffee, etc
Bed time is long way off, and
what to do now, with supper over
and the few camp dishes put away
is question, but not for long.
So up and away to drive around
and see the town, take in a show
and back to the little cabin and
to bed
The next morning, 10 and beholdl
everything is covered with snow,
and it is still showing, Well, that is
enough to dampen any ones ardorl
1t is somewhat of task to work
up any enthusiasm in the boys, but
we came to fish, and fish we must,
SO that's that Anyway, here we
are at Gravel Bay. and here are the
folks from Missoula just coming
in and we are finally ranged along
the shore, with dozens of others who
have beaten us to the lake and are
pulling EN- Quit"
Our lines are all ready wound on
sticks and equipped with three
triple hooks that are ranged along
the line about foot apart with a
sinker at the end
To find space wide enough to
stand and throw a line is not easy,
and then when you do get your line
in and you begin to pull it back with
short jerks don't be surprised If in
stead of a fish you haul in your
line. If you look up with
a word of apology on your lips and
find tall stranger regarding you
with an amused twinkle in his eyes,
you know that all is well, but you
do wonder how you look with the
snow melting on your head, run
ming down your neck and dripping
off the end of your nose.
Of course you have guessed by
now that these fish do not bite"
This is their spawning season and
the bays on the east side of the lake
are their spawning beds. 1t is said
that at the age Of four years they
have attained their full growth and
are ready to deposit their eggs, af-
ter which they die Their threats
are closed SO that they could not
eat if they would Their life's cycle
being run. they simply die of starva-
ton, and although one can continue
to catch them until we'll into the
winter they naturally become thin
ner and Of poorer quality the longer
1ne puts off catching them.
On the other hand, If a great
many Of them are caught before they
nave had time to deposit their eggs.