The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-20


banner period. Most of the sill
very horde run to the small size,
although some fish taken do bet
ter than two-to-the-pound. And II
you ask us, a half-pound perch is
some champion in his class.
All sorts of worm lures are be-
ing used to tempt the fish, and
with fine results, but soft crab
seems to be tops in taking the
larger run of perch. Just now,
soft crabs are selling six for 75c.
Sounds a bit high. we admit; but
/ If cut up economically, why, it's
sufficient bait to run through a
day.
YELLOW FINS
The larger perch, known as vel
low fins, usually follow in the
wake of the first big runs, and
after their departure comes the
end of perching, except for a
multitude Of graSS-combers lett
behind, measuring not more than
three inches in length, torment
ing the very soul out Of those in
quest of rockfish.
When the last Of the migratory
perch are on their way, nature
again steps in to say, cts locust
blossom time" and, by cracky,
here's rockfish spawning on the
very grounds vacated by the
perch. The whole Set-up seems
uncanny, but natures that way.
After a young man has COM
pleted his first roundup with
the great out-of doors, he begins
to soften a bit and, unaware, he
takes to nature in a gradual sort
Of manner. Wild flowers, insects,
birds, trees, ETC., are part Of his
fishing trip, and eventually he
becomes a lover of nature-that'S
something money can't buy
you've got to live under Gods
great canopy and learn the
simple lesson.
AN ANGLER SPEAKS
Here's what o. w. Smith,
author of THE Book of the
Pike" has to say in that publ
cation regarding the unity Of
angler and nature: II fuss with
the average angling editor. His
instructions are about as inter
esting as an array of vital sta
tistics. I could never under
stand why the attractivity Of the
sport, the lure of the open, the
Establishment of Gods QUITO
Doors, should not have place
even in a book on tackle and
how to use it.
I'VE do dot fish just for fish,
In all conscience. So if I stop
to gather moccaSin flowers while
fly-fishing for pickerel, or leave
the boat to collect highly colored
autumn leaves when casting for
the fighting muSkellonge, don't
find fault. Why should I be other
than I am, even in a book?
HE who angles with me must
become accustomed to my habits,
my idiosyncracieS, or we will
speedily dissolve partnership. I
have always held that flower
gathering and bird study are an
important part Of fishing, and
whether I am fishing for arts
tocratic or plebeian pickerel, I
take time to become acquainted
with my surroundings"
And for today let us give you
o few verses, picked at random,
relative to fishing and nature:
cannot tell what you say, brown
streams,
cannot tell what you say;
But know that in you, too, q spirit
doth live,
And word doth speak this day.
Charles Kingsley.
Sing, sweet thrushes, up and singl
While US with a merry glee,
To the flowery haunts Of spring
TO the anglers trysting tree.
are there ere flowers meath our willow
Spring ana flowers at the trysting
Thomas Tod Stodddyt.
Back to the old home hauntS again,
Back where the clear lake lies;
Back through the woods
Where the blackbird broods,
Back to my rod and flies.
frederick Colburn Clarke.
Next Friday, in this column,
read our thumbnail sketch Of an
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