FROM STRIKE TO GAFF 



BEING THE SWAN SONG OF SOME BIG FISH TOLD BY 

 THEIR CAPTORS 



There is probably no angle of the game that will 

 give one a better insight into the habits of the dif- 

 ferent fish in their effort to evade the landing net 

 or gaff, than the stories of how these fish were ac- 

 tually landed. As fishing editor of the Chicago 

 Herald, and especially while handling the game fish- 

 ing contests held by that newspaper, I have had the 

 pleasure of reading the obituaries of some of the 

 largest fish caught with rod and reel. Without a 

 doubt, much can be learned from the experience of 

 others and for that reason I have selected a few of 

 these stories of the landing of large and small-mouth 

 bass, muskellunge, pike and wall-eyed pike, which I 

 feel sure will give one an idea of what to expect 

 from the game fins. 



One point that makes these stories particularly 

 interesting is the fact that they are not written by 

 what might be termed professional fishermen, but 

 are the stories of the ordinary every-day sportsman, 

 who fishes when he gets the chance, while a few of 



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