Nov. 9, 1912 
FOREST AND STREAM 
595 
Fishing in California. 
BY GOLDEN GATE. 
Trout fishing in the Sierra Nevadas is now 
at an end. Snow has fallen in many places and 
rain is being experienced at others, bringing to 
a close one of the best seasons on record. Low 
water has been the rule, permitting early fish¬ 
ing, and it is likely that more trout have been 
taken with hook and line this year than ever 
before, even when larger limits were allowed. 
Exceptionally heavy catches of striped bass 
have been made during the past few weeks, the 
Carquinez Straits section having been the ground 
where the best run was experienced. Big catches 
have been made from the Port Costa wharves 
and from the South Vallejo breakwater, some 
of the fish weighing as much as twenty-five 
pounds, a good weight for fall run fish. Fly¬ 
fishing for striped bass has been tried by several 
experts with good results, a red fly having been 
the most successful lure. More bass and other 
fish are now to be found in the upper stretches 
of the bay than has been the case in several 
years, but it is feared that good line fishing will 
soon be at an end, as net fishing for salmon and 
bass in tide water will be in order after Oct. 23. 
Anglers believe that the increased number of 
fish to be found is the result of the setting aside 
of an adequate breeding place in Cache Slough, 
and in enforcing a close season on shrimps. The 
Chinese shrimp fishermen caught tons of young 
fish yearly, operating near the breeding grounds. 
Striped bass fishing is good in the Russian 
River, several fish having been taken there of 
late tipping the scales at from twenty to twenty- 
five pounds. The bar of the river is now closed 
and good sport is expected until the heavy rains 
wash this out. 
Splendid steelhead fishing has been enjoyed 
this month on the Eel River, but fishing ended 
above tide water on Nov. 1. 
Dr. B. F. Alden, of San Francisco, is an 
enthusiastic angler who takes great delight in 
fishing off the Catalina Islands. He has just re¬ 
turned from a trip there during which he hooked 
and brought to gaff a swordfish weighing 165 
pounds, this making the third fish of this kind 
taken by him this year. 
Michigan Fishing. 
Mechanisburg, O.,. Oct. 25. —Editor Forest 
and Stream: In September I visited quite a bit 
of the lakes in Michigan, and Takis, Mullet, 
Burt, Crooked and Walloon can still be relied 
on, and good times had there at reasonable ex¬ 
pense, although a little later would have been 
better. There is a little lake called Round Lake 
that is passed up by many on account of its size 
that will give a good account of itself if used 
right. All these are easily reached from Petosky 
by railroad or boat. I failed to find a single 
lake that did not furnish good sport. 
W. S. Guy. 
Fishing in North Carolina. 
Linville Falls, N. C., Oct. 26. —Editor 
Forest and Stream: Rainbow trout continue to 
be active and full of sport in Linville River till 
the last of November. This was proved the 
past week by the taking of the largest fish of the 
season, 21 inches long, 11 inches in circum¬ 
ference and weighing 3% pounds. This fish was 
caught on very ordinary tackle, with angle- 
worms as bait, by Mrs. Eliza Franklin, an old 
a mountain angler and her big one. 
veteran fisherwoman of this place, who often 
scores the best catch of the season. Last season 
she took a fish thirty-one inches long, weighing 
over four pounds. The fishing this season has 
been good. F. W. Bicknell. 
“Tommy,” said the visitor, “have you read 
the books in your Sunday school library?” “Some 
of them,” he replied, rather doubtfully. “Can 
you tell me what happened to the boy who went 
fishing on Sunday?” “Yes, he caught three cat¬ 
fish and an eel.” “How do you know that?” 
“Cos I was him.”—Exchange. 
Every Saturday most all the best sportsmen 
in the country await the coming of Forest and 
Stream. 
“Just Up the Beach.” 
New York City, Oct. 26. —Editor Forest 
and Stream: Most anglers when they get a big 
fish hesitate about disclosing the spot where the 
fish was caught, this being only natural, as they 
anticipate further sport if they can keep the 
place to themselves. 
A good number of big striped bass were 
taken this year by anglers of the Asbury Park 
Fishing Club, and when they were asked where 
the fish were caught, the answer was invariably, 
“Up the beach.” This got to be a standing joke 
among the members, and when John Seger dis¬ 
played a 47-pound bass in front of his little 
tackle store on the pier it bore the inscription 
that it was caught, “Just up the beach.” 
The entertaining article, put to verse, con¬ 
tributed by Mr. Hartie Phillips, of a trip to 
Seaside Park, which appeared in a recent number 
of your interesting paper, prompted the writer to 
try his hand in composing rhyme, which you will 
find herewith. It is sent to you to dispose of as 
you see fit, either in your fishing column or the 
scrap basket. D. W. Mitchell. 
The night was cold and dreary. 
As I tread my way to the pier. 
And entered the club house cheerfully. 
To meet those who stay all the year. 
The fire in the stove burned brightly, 
Sending fcrth a most cheerful glow. 
While outside the breakers rose mightily 
As they pounded the old spilings below. 
The talk naturally turned to fishing, 
How that bass was fought and won; 
Each around that stove was wishing 
That he had caught the big one. 
Each had his tale to relate; 
Of the big fish that got away. 
To be taunted and gibed by his club mate, 
Who had a gold button to display. 
The next subject discussed was bait— 
Whether to use shedder, squid or worms; 
But a bait that all considered great 
Is one calculated to kill germs. 
To know where the big stripers hove. 
On the flats, in the holes or slues, 
Is what each angler around that stove, 
Has traveled many miles for clues. 
They all have plugged lead and lost rigs, 
From early morn till dawn of next day, 
But shout with joy and dance jigs, 
Should they hook one that don’t get away. 
He trudges through soft sand with that striper, 
That weighs close to a half hundred weight; 
He may be a tired, hungry side swiper, 
But nothing shows this in his gait. 
If seeking lessons on fishing. 
In hopes that he is willing to teach, 
To know where he caught it you are wishing. 
You are told, “It was just up the beach.” 
He willingly tells how he played him, 
How often it was just out of reach; 
Every detail he relates with much vim, 
But the place, “It was just up the beach.” 
Dave. 
The influence of Forest and Stream among 
the leading sportsmen of the country is a splen¬ 
did indication of its popularity. 
