CHAPTER I. 



SAND LAKE AND SLOUGH LAKE. THE IRISHMAN AND 

 THE COW. 



How delightful are the thoughts and reminiscences 

 suggested to the man who fishes by that familiar 

 phrase "The Lake Region." 



For seven long months in the year we toil within a 

 limited horizon of bricks, mortar and smoke, encoun- 

 tering the vexatious worries and hundred and one 

 anxieties incidental to and inseparable from the daily 

 task of dollar hunting, rising early, retiring late, 

 struggling against the vicissitudes of a climate which 

 if appropriated by Hades could render that undesirable 

 abode more undesirable still; in fact, vegetating to all 

 intents and purposes, mechanically following a certain 

 routine of existence, enduring the "Winter of our dis- 

 content" with patience and resignation, solely because 

 we are sure of our reward later, and that for five 

 blessed months, viz., June, July, August, September 

 and October, the enchanting fairyland of fishdom can 

 once again be traversed and explored in those beauti- 

 ful spots familiar to us "The Lake Region." 



My aim in the following series of articles is to de- 

 scribe the numerous lake resorts of Northern Illinois 

 which can be reached on the Wisconsin Cen- 

 tral Railway by a short journey* of two 

 to three hours' duration, and a full day's 

 sport enjoyed during that period of time embraced 

 by leaving the city on the Saturday noon train at 1:25 

 and arriving in Chicago on the Sunday evening fol- 

 lowing. I know that, although a great number of an- 

 glers are already familiar with the fishing grounds of 

 the Fox Lake Region, there are still many would-be 

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