MUSKELLUNGE AND LIVE BAIT 



teeth of a fish, even such a voracious fish as the mus- 

 kellunge, plays a minor part in the securing of food. 

 The only use to which they are put is the seizing and 

 holding of prey; for mastication is something that a 

 fish does not need to worry about. Nature has so 

 provided that an accident to a few teeth is quickly 

 repaired. Indeed, it is exceedingly doubtful if a wound 

 in the jaw causes a 'lunge much, if any, trouble. More 

 than a few times I have taken various members of the 

 pike family with cruelly lacerated jaws and torn 

 mouths, wounds that, from a human viewpoint, should 

 have placed them hors de combat, and yet they were as 

 voracious — ^sometimes with stomachs distended with 

 recent captures — as perfectly normal fish. Fact of 

 the matter is, it is extremely difficult to study fish; to 

 know all about them. Our beliefs are largely theories. 

 My own belief is that the fish are half dormant dur- 

 ing the heated term, a condition brought about by 

 the warming water, rather than by any dental trouble ; 

 for when hot weather extends into September the fish 

 remain as dormant, as inactive, as in August. As soon, 

 however, as the weather cools off and the temperature 

 begins to fall, the fish take on a new lease of life, 

 assume a new interest in food. By October, when the 

 leaves are painted gold and brown and there is a zest 

 in the air, we find the muskellunge a different creature, 

 eager and combative. Even the early days of No- 

 vember are wont to yield good 'lunge fishing, if the 

 winter be not too early. Of the two portions of the 

 year, spring and autumn, I would say by all means 

 select autumn for a muskellunge trip. Even if autumn 

 did not afford better fishing, because of its wonderful 

 zestful days, it is the time to visit the North Country. 



149 



