812 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



| June 16, 1894. 



FISHING ON THE SHENANDOAH. — I. 



A stray, tattered leaf from some New York sportsman s 

 journal — the name being torn off — was recently handed 

 me by a friend, who called my attention to a short article 

 which began thus: "One of the best objective points for 

 anglers, to my knowledge, is Staunton, Va. From there 

 conveyances can be had to Shaver's Dam in Rockingham 

 county or Clifton Forge, a resort of President Cleveland 

 for baeB a couple of years ago. The White Horse, within 

 fifty miles of Staunton, is another celebrated place for 

 bass." The writer is entirely correct in his assertion that 

 Staunton is a fine objective point for anglers in search of 

 good bass fishing, however he may err in some of his 

 other statements, for President Cleveland did not fishlat 

 Clifton Forge, but at Easrle Rock, some 15 or 20 miles 

 below that place, and the White Horse is nearer 100 miles 

 from Staunton than 50 miles. 



Staunton is not on any fishing stream, and the nearest 

 good fishing points are from 15 to 25 miles distant; yet, 

 owing to its central location, with the fishing streams all 

 around it, and all of which are readily reached from 

 Staunton, either by rail or by private conveyance, its good 

 hotel and livery accommodations, and its excellent rail- 

 road facilities, both through and local, it offers peculiar 

 advantages as an objective point to the Philadelphia or 

 New York angler in search of good fishing within reason- 

 able distance. 



Excellent trout streams abound in the mountains at 

 distances varying from 25 to 75 or 100 miles away. These, 

 of couse, are accessible only by private or livery convey- 

 ance, as the trout, like the deer and other game, flees 

 before the approach of civilization. 



The upper James River and its tributaries all afford fine 

 bass fishing and mav be readily reached by rail from 

 Staunton to Clifton Forge, Lexington or Balcony Falls. 

 The Potomac is a bass teeming stream, particularly in the 

 more inaccessible mountain reaches of the South Branch 

 and its tributaries which may be reached from Staunton 

 by livery conveyance, while the entire length of the 

 Shenandoah stretches away invitingly to the Potomac, 

 126 miles away by rail, any part of which is within easy 

 reach by rail or livery conveyance from Staunton . and in 

 any part of which the angler is liable to find good fishing 

 when the water is right. 



As I have cruised and fished the Shenandoah so often, 

 I am, of course, more familiar with it than with most of 

 the other streams mentioned, and therefore feel better 

 qualified to speak of its many good fishing points. 



The Shenandoah is an ideal bass stream, both for the 

 bass and the bass fisher. Its swift water, its rock-ribbed 

 bed, with its myriads of reefs and ledges; its deep cool 

 pools and bright sparkling shallows, make of it a para- 

 dise for bass; while its accessibility, its entrancingly 

 beautiful mountain scenery, its bracing healthful climate, 

 its freedom from malaria, its pure, sparkling waters, 

 make it equally an ideal stream for the bass fisher^ 



The bass are quite numerous in the stream, particularly 

 in the more remote and less fished portions. As a rule, 

 they rise readily to the fly, although with the usual un- 

 certainty of this peculiarly capricious fish, . in some locali- 

 ties I have never yet had a rise while taking them freely 

 with bait. 



With the liability to imperfection which is the lot of 

 all things terrestrial, the Shenandoah has one serious 

 drawback as a fishing stream, viz.: its tendency to get 

 muddy after a heavy rain. The surface wash from the 

 red clay soil of the well tilled fields along its banks, 

 speedily converts it into a stream of liquid mud of a vivid 

 brick red, which tint sometimes remains in the water 

 long after the thick mud has run out, with a persistency 

 most aggravating to the patient fisherman. On this ac- 

 count, therefore, probably the months of August, Septem- 

 ber and October, with the latter part of July, will be 

 found the most favorable seasons in which to essay the 

 river. 



The nearest good fishing points to Staunton are Grimora 

 or South River (a tributary of the Shenandoah), fifteen 

 miles distant, Hoy's Dam on Middle River (another trib- 

 utary), fifteen or sixteen miles away, "Polk" Rippetoes 

 (Scott's Ford) on North River, Shendun, on South River, 

 both eighteen miles from Staunton and about a mile and 

 a half apart; and Port Republic, at Junction of North and 

 South rivers, twenty miles from Staunton, at which point 

 the beautiful Shenandoah begins. These places are all 

 easily reached from Staunton and all afford good fishing 

 the last three in particular, lying, as thov do, within from 

 one to three miles of each other, offer special inducements 

 to the angler, including fair hotel accommodations. 



Shaver's Dam, seven miles below Port Republic, is a 

 favorite resort of Harrisonburg anglers and is best reached 

 by livery from that point, which is an hour's ride by rail 

 from Staunton. Elkton, Bear, Lithia Springs and Shenan- 

 doah are all good points, easily reached by rail from 

 Staunton^ and all afford good hotel accommodations. 



Kemple's Falls is a favorite fishing place of mine, and 

 may be reached from Stanley, a station on the Norfolk & 

 Western Railroad. This road runs parallel with the river 

 for its entire course, for many miles directly along its 

 banks, good fishing points are easily reached from any of 

 its stations. 



Luray and Front Royal, both of which are on this 

 raad, afford good hotel facilities and command large 

 reaches of the river accessible from either of these points 

 by livery. 



The entire stretch of river between Shenandoah and 

 Riverton (one mile from Front Royal) at the mouth of 

 the North Fork of Shenandoah, some 65 or 75 miles in all 

 running as it does back along the flanks of the Massanut- 

 ton Mountains, and through a section of country not 

 thickly settled and remote from towns of any size af- 

 fords particularly good fishing, as it is not fished as much 

 as the more accessible parts of the river. Accommoda- 

 tions can readily be secured at almost any of the better 

 class of farm houses along the river, information in re- 

 gard to which can be obtained at Luray or Front Royal. 



Riverton has always been noted as a great fishing place. 

 Lying as it does between the two rivers, it commands an 

 extensive reach of both. Both streams have high dams in 

 them, beneath which the bass love to congregate, and as 

 these dams are the first ones in the river above the Poto- 

 mac, the fish are frequently very numerous here. Owing, 

 however, to its popularity as a summer resort and its 

 proximity to the big summer hotel at Front Royal, the 

 immediate vicinity of Riverton is usually fished to excess 

 andjbetter fishing is apt to be found a few miles further 

 up either [river or down below the confluence of the 

 streams. 



There are always fish here, however, for I recall one 

 evening a couple of years ago when George and I were 

 camped on our old camp ground right at the end of the 

 big dam in the south fork, or main stream, at the end of 

 one of our annual canoe cruises. I was tired from the 

 day's cruise and did not care to go away from the camp, 

 so I rigged up my tackle, and with a few helgramites 

 fished from the dam into the deep, swirling waters im- 

 mediatelv beneath, while George rigged up his fly tackle 

 and went half a mile down stream below the confluence 

 of the two rivers. From where I fished I could see at 

 least twenty men and boys fishing all along the dam and 

 from the rocks in the rapids below for 100yds. or so; yet 

 in thirty minutes I took five nice bass, and could have 

 taken more, but that my supply of helgramites ran out; 

 while George returned in an hour with eight or nine 

 fine ones taken with the fly. 



The Shenandoah below Riverton is a most beautiful 

 stream; broad, deep a,nd majestic, broken by frequent 

 long, rocky rapids, and good fishing is found in any of its 

 reaches, perhaps the most noted places being the Boat- 

 men's Lane, the White Horse (both of which are reached 

 from White Post station on the N. & W. R. R . and but a 

 mile or so apart) and Oastleman's Ferry. This place is 

 five miles from Berry ville (on the R. R.) and may be 

 readily reached from there by daily mail hack. Good ac- 

 commodations can be obtained here at Mr. Maurice 

 Castleman's. 



Shannondale Springs, right on the bank of the river, 

 five miles from Charlestown, commands an unusually 

 fine fishing ground, and is quite a resort for anglers. 



A good hotel is sadly needed in the business portion of 

 Harper's Ferry, but good accommodations may be secured 

 at the several different hostelries located on the heights 

 back of the town. A magnificent reach of fishing grounds 

 is accessible from here for miles up and down the Potomac 

 and up the Shenandoah (which here unites its limpid, 

 sparkling waters with those of the Potomac). 



The angler will undoubtedly find better fishing some 

 miles away from the town; as, owing to its railroad 

 facilities (it is on the main line of the great B. & O. R.R.) 

 and its unrivaled, world-renowned scenery, the place is a 

 popular resort and is much fished in consequence. 



From an extended acquaintance with the Shenandoah 

 as a fishing stream, I am of the opinion that perhaps one 

 of the most all-round favorable locations for the angler, 

 all things considered, is at Bear Lithia Springs, in Rock- 

 ingham county, about forty miles by rail from Staunton. 

 This is a quiet, unpretentious little summer resort of a 

 type quite numerous in the mountain regions of the Vir- 

 ginias. It has a capacity of about sixty guests, and like 

 the others of its class, is much frequented by those whose 

 means or inclinations lead them to avoid the more pre- 

 tentious gay and high-priced resorts. It is readily reached 

 from Staunton by rail The manager. Mr. W. K. Comp- 

 ton, is himself an enthusiastic angler. Boats and guides 

 are at hand and bait can be procured in abundance, and 

 the reach of river commanded by the springs, from Elkton 

 to Shenandoah — some seven or eight miles — with its beau- 

 tiful alternation of deep ponds, rapids, reef, etc., is an 

 ideal fishing ground, and one I have frequently fished 

 over with rare sport. 



The best bait is a small species of catfish, or bull pout, 

 locally known as the "mad torn," which can be caught 

 in abundance in almost any of the small side streams 

 with a small seine and a lantern (it is a peculiarity of 

 this little fish that it can only be found after night). 

 Minnows, of course, are always good, but the "mad torn" 

 — in addition to being if anything a more attractive bait 

 —is so t.iugh and hardy that it will outlive half a dozen 

 minnow s. It must be handled with care, however, as a 

 stab from one of the vicious little thorns or stickers con- 

 cealed in the fins on either side just back of the gills, 

 and on the back, is as painful as a bee sting, and the 

 little fellow is so slippery that it is difficult to grasp him 

 without coming in contact with his horns. Helgramites 

 are also excellent for bait and are found in abundance in 

 the river in the shallow, swift water under the rocks, 

 and are readily taken by means of a small-meshed land- 

 ing net, by turning over the rocks and holding the net 

 below as the rock is turned and scooping in the creatures 

 as they loose their hold and roll up into a ' i J tie ball, to 

 drift away with the swift current. Co.v modore. 



[to be concluded next week.] 



HONEOYE FALLS, N. Y., ANGLERS. 



Honeoye Falls, N. Y.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The Honeoye Falls Anglers' Association held their third 

 annual contest June 1. Notwithstanding it was the wet- 

 test, drizzly, cold, gloomy, dreary kind of a June opening 

 on record, the club broke all its former records as fisher- 

 men in every respect. Honeoye Lake and creek, Hemlock 

 and Conesus Lakes, and Lima ponds were the waters 

 fished in; also a private pond in Bloomfield furnished a 

 score and won a prize, which will not be allowed another 

 year, and would not have been this year had it been on 

 the losing side. The following is the list of members who 

 returned a score: 



rt . ^ _ Points. 



Capt. C. Seaman 303 5 



A. Crone. . , 241 ; 75 



Rev. H. Dennis 82 



Frank Sheldon \," 95' 



L. Gates !"!!!! 313' 



A. J. Tinkor , 7 5 



Points. 



Capt. A. Mather 47.5 



W. Lay 177.5 



J. Burton 27. 



J. Lapp 160. 



F. Lock 248 75 



F. Joyces 27. 



S. Wilton 241.25 W. Brown 04?* 



.A-Lymai 275. D.Martin „ v 597* 



Dr. J. Flick 154.50 A, Martin f 7 75 



G. Parmele 7.0 A. Starr ion* 



J-Tmko;- 19.75 C. Chambers.. «i% 



C. Fairchilds 120. Joe Shellman 4<S'2 



Price.... 25. Dr. H. Benham'. 5375 



L. B. Rogers 64. Dr. C. F. Otis . ?"4 



W. Baker «t' 0 



Total score 1,688.75 T. Lovell.... 



F. McKeon '."V JE'S 



J. Bartlett. ... ?}q 



e. Brooks ; ; ; ; ; ^ 



Total score _ .2 39o! 



Thus Capt. Chas. Seaman's side wins a supper at the 

 expense of the other side by a majority of 701+ points 



Captam Seaman's side had 971bs. and Captain Mather's 

 76f the winners haying 20£ more pounds than the losers 

 Captain Mather s side won 17 prizes, Captain Seaman's 

 side 16 prizes and the club silver badge. There Srix 

 ties on first prize for largest variety and four ties on sec 

 ondforthe same. There are three ties on the smallest 

 score. Ties are to be settled among the men tied in anv 

 manner they hit upon. ^ 



The man who brings in the largest score at the annual 

 contest wears for one year the silver badge of the club. 

 Joe Shellman with a score of 438.5 points wears the badge. 

 It is a good thing that Joe is a good, strong, able-bodied 

 man, for we have a badge that makes one think of a 

 policeman, and indicates the man who wears it is, as well 

 as a fisherman, a man not to be badgered much. Pike, 

 brook trout and muskalonge prizes were not won. Ties 

 unsettled. The following are the prize winners: 



1. Largest score lake t^out— Fred Lock, 1st and 2d. 



2. Largest score black bass, straight goods— Fred Lock 1st, S. 

 Wilton 2d. 



3. Largest black bass— Frank McKeon 1st, Thos. Lovell 2d. 



4. Largest score made— Joe Shellman 1st, Sam Wilton 2d. 



5. Largest fish caught— Frank McKeon 1st. Thos. Lovell 2d. 



6. Largest score rock ba°s— Wm. Lay 1st, Frank Sheldon 2d. 



7. Largest number pounds caught— Fred Lock 1st. Sam Wilton 2d. 



8. Largest score bullheads— Joe Bartlett 1st, Sam Wilton 2d. 



9. Largest score perch— Joe Shellman 1st, Louis Gates 2d. 

 10. Largest variety fish caught— Ties on both prizes. 



11 Largest score pike— Not any caught. 



12. Largest score sunflsh— A. Lyman 1st, 8. Wilton 2d. 



13 Smallest score brought in— Ties. 



14. Largest score mullet, - John Tinkor 1st, E. Brooks 2d. 



15. Largest score suckers— Joe Shellman 1st, Joe Bartlett 2d. 



16. Largest score brook trout— None caught. 



17. Largest score pickerel— Will Lay 1st, Dean Martin 2d. 



18. Largest black bass caught with fly— Fred Lock 1st, John Lapp 2d. 



19. Special prize for the largest trout caught— Fred Lock. This 

 prize is an exchange. Mr. Sheldon gives the flour and Mr. Lock loses 

 his trout. 



SCORE AS FOLLOWS. 



Points. In. Points. In. 



Lake trout 60 14 Rock bass 5 6 



Brook trout 35 7 Pike 40 14 



Sunflsh 5 5 Black bass 20 9 



Mullets 8 10 Pickerel SO 12 



Suckers 10 10 Perch 7 7 



Whiteflsh 25 12 Bullheads 10 9 



Muskalonge 40 12 Black gills 8 6 



Chub 8 8 



Heavipst fish caught, 75 points, not to be counted otherwise; also 5 

 points to be added for every pound of fish. 



Very appropriately a Honeoye Lake fish won the badge 

 and the contest. The date of the supper is not yet de- 

 cided, and an account will be sent in when it takes place. 



Dr. D. G. Browne, See'y Ex. Com. 



NEWS FROM THE FISHING WATERS. 



Parkside (Henry ville), Pa., June 6.— Streams in good 

 .condition. Trout taking the fly with a snap; caught 53 

 yesterday afternoon, 12 of them over llin. long. 



W. C. Henry. 



Providence, R. I., June 4. — I have just returned from 

 Fort Myers, Fla., where I had some magnificent tarpon 

 fishing. My score for the trip was 35 tarpon; total weight, 

 3,7941bs.; average weight, 108-,%lbs.; largest fish, 1601bs. 

 and 6ft. 7in. long. Largest catch in one day, four tarpon. 

 Mr. G. R. W. Armes, who fished with me, caught 50 tar- 

 pon. F. L. G. 



Syracuse, N. Y. — Decoration Day Mr. John Soldan, of 

 this city, took 12 lake trout and 13 bass in the afternoon 

 in Skaneateles Lake. Bait for trout, phantom minnow; 

 the bass were taken trolling with worms. 



Trout fishing has been the best for twenty years. This 

 is owing to the fine work done by Special Protectors E. 

 D. Crissley. Jeff Brown and State Game Protector Mor- 

 rison Hawn, and the continued stocking by the Commis- 

 sioners. Lake trout from this lake always have sold at 

 25c. per pound , being so plentiful, they now being only 10c. 

 per pound. 



Oneida Lake fishing before the heavy rains started in 

 was better than in fifteen years. Many catches of pike 

 and pickerel, from. 75 to 1001bs., have been made. So far 

 the fishing has been at its best near Constantia. 



River fishing has been as yet not good. All indications 

 are that fishing will be better than for years, which is the 

 result from stocking and good protection. 



I receive the usual number of inquiries from readers of 

 Forest and Stream where to go fishing in this section , 

 which I will gladly furnish the anglers. 



Henry Loftte. 



Grand Rapids, Mich., June 8. — Trouting is reported 

 very good in all the Michigan streams, and more big trout 

 are taken than at any previous time. A rainbow trout of 

 31bs. which had been planted in one of the streams here, 

 was taken by a rodster the other day. Alex. Starbuck. 



Tailless Trout. 



While on a visit to my old home in Scotland, a few 

 years ago, I made a trip to the island of Isla, where 

 through the courtesy of the owner, I enjoyed some rare 

 trout fishing. While in conversation with one of the 

 keepers, I was told of a little lake high up in the moun- 

 tains which abounded in a very strange variety of trout. 

 They were described to me to be much like other trout, 

 except that they were tailless. Closer inquiry coroborated 

 my informant, and so near as I could find out the tails 

 have the appearance of having had their soft rays 

 trimmed off. The lake is very deep and the bottom seems 

 to be covered with small sharp-edged fragments of 

 brownish looking stones — the native say the fish wore 

 their tails off rubbing against the sharp stones. Unfor- 

 tunately my stay on the island was about over, and as I 

 had not an opportunity of personally examining these 

 strange trout, I dropped a good pinch of salt on the story 

 and let it pass my mind. During the spring of last year, . 

 a very estimable old gentleman (and I am sure a thoroughly 

 truthful c ne), arrived in our town from the Island of Isla, 

 where he had been land stewart for twenty-five years, for 

 the Campbells of Isla. While in conversation with him 

 the tailless trout again came up, and he positively assured 

 me it was so. I now thoroughly believe it, and would 

 like to hear from some of our more deeply versed as to 

 why and the wherefore. 



I leave here on the 5th host. , to try my luck among the 

 trout of western North Carolina, and will let you hear of 

 my success. W. M. B. 



Florenck, S. C. 



Mr. Arnold's Trout. 



New York, June 4. — Will you kindly state that the 

 brook trout taken by Mr. Francis B. Arnold in the Range- 

 leys was five pounds in weight. I have obtained the 

 measurement and weight from Mr. Arnold, and know 

 that he is entitled to the record of having taken a five- 

 pound trout. Cleveland D. Fisher, 



