
FISH AND FISHING. 
HOW TO CATCH LANDLOCKED SALMON. 
Can you tell me how to catch landlocked 
salmon? We have some in a deep lake 
near here, but they refuse the ordinary 
baits. 
We are sure there are some in the lake, 
for a few have been speared at night. 
Grayling and trout fishing is good, in 
these parts. Quails are fast finding a home 
in our depleted pine lands. 
ANSWER. 
Rev. Wm. Childs, Kalkaska, Mich. 
The foregoing was referred to Dr. W. 
C. Kendall of the U. S. Fish Commission, 
who is devoting the summer to a study of 
the salmon in the lakes and streams of 
Maine, and who has had much experience 
with this species. He sends the following 
suggestions on “How to catch salmon, 
if you can”: 
The time of year has much to do with 
it. Salmon of Sebago lake are commonly 
fished for in the spring when the ice first 
leaves and when the salmon are following 
the smelts into shallow water. Then 
smelts and shiners are used on single 
hooks or Archer spinners. Then the arti- 
ficial devices are also used successiully,-— 
silver phantoms resembling smelts, the 
Stanley trout or imitation smelt,—am nut 
sure of its correct name, but it is simply 
aluminum wire so twisted as to resemble 
a swimming fish. They are commonly 
spoken of as “the Stanley,” and of course 
have hooks. Then there is the ‘“Caiedo- 
nia,’ also a minnow imitation, which 
proved successful at the head of Sebago 
lake about the middle of July. 
The minnow known here as ‘Rock 
shiner” (Rhinichihys atronasus) seems to be 
an excellent live bait. 
Ine various trolling devices, such as 
spoons, spinners, etc., are successful at 
one time or another; but when that time 
may be expected no one can tell without 
trying. My guide and I have had some 
success. About June 1 one salmon was 
taken on a small silver phantom. About 
the middle of June a number of strikes 
were had on different things. Once while 
‘trolling with a shiner (Semotilus atromacu- 
latus) on a single hook sunk about 15 
feet with fully too feet of line out a good 
strike was had; and shortly afterward 
when trolling at the surface with a large 
salmon fly (“thunder and lightning’) and 
still again with spinner: at the surface one 
was hooked but lost. ‘Spinner’ here 
means a small spoon with a single salmon 
hook attached. I caught 2 large salmon 
453 
at the surface. About the first of July 
one struck an ordinary spoon hook. So it 
does not seem to make much difference 
what you use, if they happen to want it; 
and if they don’t want it they will not 
take it; and they don’t always want the 
same thing. 
Most of my fish (5 or 6 ounces up to 4 
pounds) have been caught in the outlet 
in very rapid water, casting into the 
swiftest part where the meeting with the 
stiller waters at the side causes less tur- 
moil, but never in a still pool. Swift water 
is the place. 
The greatest success has been on small 
trout flies, such as “queen of the water,” 
“dusty miller,” “‘professor,’ or any small 
grayish fly. Different waters act different- 
ly, so what might work well for Sebago 
lake might not do at all in other lakes. 
One salmon weighing 1034 pounds, 
taken on a salmon fly, contained 14 smelts, 
each about 5 or 6 inches long. What they © 
eat is what you want for bait, or some- 
thing resembling it. And then you must 
go where their natural food is found, for 
it is there they will be found. 
I would suggest that Mr. Childs try 
shiners and phantoms, also spoons and 
spinners with a salmon fly on them, at 
different times and different depths. Espe- 
cially early spring should be tried if any 
small fish are then running up to spawn. 
He should also try live bait in still fish- 
ing at different depths. 
In Sebago lake, after weeks pass with- 
out anybody’s getting a bite, the fish begin 
te strike and an occasional salmon is 
taken. This is most apt to happen when 
fishing on the banks or sides of bars 
where they slope off into water 25 to 50 
feet deep. And I have no doubt if one 
were to fish at the bottom in about 150 
feet of water, where the smelts are found 
in summer, he would meet with success. 
I understand they use other methods 
at Rangeley and Moosehead lakes. In. 
Rangeley, fly casting is common. 

WHEN, WHERE AND HOW TO GET 
WEAKFISH. 
Will you please give me some inferma- 
tion in regard to catching weakfish? What 
is the best time to take them and what 
bait should be used? 
J. Male, New Haven, Cenn. 
ANSWER. 
Few of our coast line fishes enjey mere 
popularity from the angler’s standpoint 
than the weakfish (alse locally knewn as 
