September Days at Madison Lake. 



along down the shore I observed a reef of woods and rushes 

 extending out south of the point and suggested that possibly 

 fish would be lying along its side, so we resolved to try it and 

 cast over the anchor. Mrs. Steele started off with a large crop- 

 pie, and soon after hooked another of the same size. The Major 

 followed with a couple of fine pickerel, and I added a pair of 

 black bass. Though we fished for an hour faithfully, after 

 catching the bass, we failed to get another strike, so raised the 

 anchor and pulled in. The days were glorious repetitions of 

 the first. Fish there were, not in great abundance, but in suf- 

 ficient number to make our angling trips enjoyable and keep 

 our table supplied with fresh fish. Launch parties, boating, 

 fishing, and evening musicales took up the time so fast that 

 our limited vacation was at an end before we realized it. On 

 the last three days on the lake I had Professor Newhall, 

 of Faribault, as a fishing companion, and a more genial 

 gentleman I never met or angled with. We were to start for 

 home on Wednesday, and Tuesday morning found us over on 

 West Bay industriously throwing frogs among the rushes. I 

 was using an entirely new outfit for casting, but was not dis- 

 appointed, for, let me say right here, that my five and one-half 

 foot New Century steel rod, Shakespeare reel, and Kingfisher 

 line were all right. By 11 o'clock we had a half dozen nice fish, 

 and as we were striking very slowly, we decided to run in. 

 I made a final cast out toward the center of the lake in order to 

 spool up my line smoothly. Hardly had the frog struck the 

 water when there was a tug on the line which brought me to 

 my feet. The fish came in, as I reeled, like a heavy stick until 

 he caught sight of me. Then he made the water boil as he tore 

 away for the rushes. As he turned, I noticed I was hooked to 

 a large pickerel by a very frail hold. I turned him before he 

 reached the rushes, then he sulked and reeled in again like a 

 stick. Professor Newhall stood ready to land him, but when 

 he caught sight of the boat he shook his head savagely, tore 

 loose and disappeared under the boat. However, the fish al- 

 ready on our string would furnish our fish course for dinner, 



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