72 



TJic American Angler. 



Lively Fishing Through the Ice. 



It may be of interest to the readers of the 

 American Angler to know what excellent fish- 

 ing there is in this locality (Thorndike, Mass.) 

 during the winter months. My experience so 

 far this season has been more than pleasing, 

 having fished at two different times and the 

 catch was far beyond my expectations. The 

 bait on my last trip was small minnows, which 

 I found most successful. I used large ones, 

 known as "red fins," about five inches long, 

 good lively ones, of which our brooks in this 

 section are plentifully supplied. 



I also tried in connection a little scheme of 

 my own to see how it would work, and in my 

 judgment it was accountable for my great luck. 

 I procured from a tinsmith a sheet of bright 

 tin and cut it into strips 3j^x2i^ inches, and 

 with a shoemaker's awl punched a hole at the 

 top of each and tied them on to the line about 

 four inches above the minnow. I brought with 

 me about thirty tilts with the button attachment, 

 which would hold about seventy-five feet of 

 line. The button is a grand good thing and 

 answers for a reel in every particular; it keeps 

 the line from getting on to the ice and freezing 

 there, a fault with most of the old-fashioned 

 "figure four" tilts, as many a good sized fish 

 has been lost by not having plenty of line to 

 run with. 



As I have stated, I intended to put in about 

 thirty tilts Und had a friend of mine cutting the 

 holes, after which I did the setting. I had put 

 in about five tilts when my friend yelled to me 



to run to tilt number one, that the flag was up. 

 As quickly as my legs could carry me, I was by 

 the hole and found that Mr. Fish had taken 

 about twenty-five feet of line away with him 

 and was making the button fly with great ve- 

 locity. I at once began to pull in, and to my 

 great surprise and pleasure landed a handsome 

 six pound pickerel. I was baiting up the hook 

 when I heard my companion yelling again for 

 all he was worth and dancing around the hole 

 with glee, having landed another beauty which 

 tipped the scales at 4 lbs. 6 oz. 



Our luck continued, and I dare say we had 

 the liveliest fishing two men ever had in haul- 

 ing out some of the finest specimens of pickerel 

 ever seen. In all we fished about three hours, 

 from 9 A. M. to about 12 m., having been com- 

 pelled by fatigue to pull up, when we found we 

 had eleven pickerel which weighed thirt3'-eight 

 pounds. These fish were the brightest and 

 cleanest I think I ever saw, and their flavor 

 would have pleased the most fastidious gourmet. 



The water we fished is Moulton Lake, about 

 eight miles from this town and abounds with 

 bass, pickerel, perch and pout. I think if my 

 brother fishermen would try the " tin scheme " 

 while fishing through the ice, they will be more 

 than well paid for their trouble. The tin adds 

 much towards attracting the fish, the same as 

 a spoon does when trolling in clear water. The 

 action of the live minnows keeps the tin mo\nng 

 and sparkling all the while, and if there is any 

 fish in the vicinity they will surely fall a victim 

 to this lure. John F. Lurnan. 



The Biggest Fish. 



BY THE L.VrE EL'GENK KIELU. 



And really, fish look bigger than they are before they're caught — 

 When the pole is bent into a bow, and when the slender line is taut. 

 When a fellow feels his heart rise up like a doughnut in his throat. 

 And he lunges in a frenzy up and down the leaky boat; 

 Oh, you who've been a-fishing will endorse me when I say 

 That it always is the biggest fish you catch that gets away! 



'Tis even so in other things — yes, in our greedy eyes, 

 The biggest boon is some illusive, never-captured prize, 

 We angle for the honors and the sweets of human life — 

 Like fishermen, we brave the seas that roll in endless strife; 

 And then at last, when all is done, and we are spent and gray. 

 We own the biggest fish we've caught are those that got away, 



I would not have it otherwise; 'tis better there shovild be 



Much bigger fish than I have caught a-swimming in the sea; 



For now some worthier one than I may angle for that game — 



May by his arts entice, entrap and comprehend the same; 



Which having done, perchance he'll bless the man who's proud to say 



That the biggest fish he ever caught were th(jse that got away. 



