Lazybones Angling 



by M. F. McElravy and John L. Rose 



DOWN in the heart of the Ozark country, along both sides of 

 the Missouri- Arkansas line, there's a fast-growing vacation 

 industry which is doing its best to return the sport of fishing to 

 the lazy man. 



There was a time when fishing was primarily for those who, 

 as Webster says, are "disinclined to action." Relaxation for the 

 tired business man consisted of sitting back in a boat and watch- 

 ing for the float to wobble. Izaak Walton's modern disciples, 

 however, are men of action, wading out into rushing rapids to 

 seek the elusive trout or fighting for hours with a powerful sword- 

 fish to bring him to gaff. 



Slow-moving, slow-talking men of the Ozarks have the answer 

 to all this rushing and pulling and hauling. It's float fishing 

 where a vacationing fisherman is gently floated from one good 

 fishing spot to another while sitting in a camp chair in a flat- 

 bottomed John boat. 



He can float for a week or two if he wishes, alone with a quiet 

 hillsman for a guide or with others who are propelled in their 

 own John boats. Propelled is used advisedly, for actually the 

 guide does little except guide the boat along the meandering 

 White River, turning it now and then into the mouths of creeks 

 and deep holes where the crappies and bream lurk in great 

 numbers or where the bass awaits a tin minnow. 



At night, camp is made on a sandbar where the float fisher- 

 menand women gather around to compare their catches and 

 eat dinner prepared by their guides. Tents are pitched, and 

 sleeping bags are unrolled or cots set up. 



After a dinner of fried fish, cornbread, "long-sweetening" and 

 coffee, oak logs are placed on the fire. The floaters stretch out 

 on the sand, gossip, brag about their fishing ability, and one 



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