The Washington times., 1938-02-25
FISHING
,BV Bob Wilson

Fishing is where you find it..
And right here at our own front
door is found what many con-
slider q splendid fishing spot.
Indeed, we've heard it said by
no other than the famous Al
Foss, father Of pork rind bait, that
Washington Is a standout among
fishing points so ideally Is it sit
uated.
Will dig, who has since passed
beyond the outer rim, always
claimed for the Nations Capital
one of the best placed spots on
the inland for followers Of that
great pastime, angling. Some day
we'll tell you something Of that
famous crusader, Will dig,
founder Of the Izaak Walton
League of America, who spent his
last years in our glorious city.
The historic Potomac flowing
by the City Beautiful offers a
varied assortment Of finny tribes
almost throughout the entire year.
MISSISSIPPI CATTY
In the winter months is found
the catfish family at its best, with
many varieties plying up and down
the river. The most favored
among the clan being true MIS-
sissippi type. This species was
planted in the upper waters OF
the Potomac many years ago by
the Bureau of Fisheries and has
since come to be known as a near
game fish. The saying among
fishermen runs: when all others
fail, try the catty, they'll never let
you down." And true there's al
ways a thrill when one hooks into
the business end of your line.
Sometimes this select fish runs
into heavy going, having been
caught upwards to the 20-pound
mark. OF course, this is unusual,
as the taking of the catty runs
between one and two pounds. The
smaller-sized fish are the best
eaters and therefore more prefer
able for the table.
There is also to be found, as
winter Iags and throughout part
Of the year, those slow-moving
finny fellows, leather-backed carp.
They attract but a small percent
age of fishermen having no signs
of ga1neness. We are told that
they are first-class eating fish, If
prepared properly. We've never
tried this out as yet. Upon in
Quiry from the fish market their
meat sells for around IS cents per
pound while the up-and-going
catty brings but IL cents on the
block.
WHITE PERCH ARRIVE
When winter breaks the first
migratory tribe Of the year arrives.
White perch, the harbinger OF
spring, have been coming since
time untold, between st. Patrick's
Day and All Fools Day. Several
schools of the silvery horde arrive
during the course of spawning
season, which runs until the locust
blossoms appear.
These little fellows are seldom
taken much over the half-pound
mark, but are gamey to the end
and when fished for on a light
grade of tackle are sporty in every
sense of the word. A finer pan
fish could not be asked for and
are always in demand by epicur'
cans of the first calling.
Mingling with the perch runs
comes the bony, but much-Sought.
after herring. These nonbiters
come to their spawning grounds
in stupendous schools, being taken
by the method of snagging. Occa.
sionally few shad will be landed
over this same route of Snagging,
although in recent years this fine
fish has been fading from our
local waters.
In the wake of the white perch
comes a true gamester, rockfish
Their inaugural greeting is always
about locust-flowering time and
like the other migratory clans
when spawning is over, why back
to their briny habitats they re
turn. The rockfish or striped
bass Is q ferocious fighter and
even the pan-Sized fish will often
put up a scrap equal to our better
grade of fighters. This fish has
few equals for table qualifications
AT THE DEAD END
All the bands of travelling fish
that pay their annual visit to loca,
waters come to a dead end al
Little Falls. It is here that the
tide stops its ebb and flow.
After the coming and going Of
our visiting finny tribes we faltel
but momentarily, for the bass sea
son is upon us. The small.mouthec
bass find their homes in thu
broken waters of the upper rive
while their near relatives, the big
mouthed bass North Caroline
chub), locate in the more placiC
hideouts. The two classification
are considered the best there is II
fresh-water game fish. This arm
of the game carries on until cole
weather drives the anglers tC
cover.
Nnl~Aue 1