July 15, 1911.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Fishing in Northern California. 
San Francisco, Cal., July 6. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: During the past two weeks the 
water in the northern streams has been falling 
rapidly and most of these are now affording ex¬ 
cellent fishing. The opening of the Feather 
River country has attracted thousands of ang¬ 
lers to that section and as a result some of the 
old favorite streams have been rather neglected 
in favor of the new grounds. Up to a short 
time ago fly-fishing had been good in but few 
streams, but now good catches can be made with 
flies in almost any of the mountain streams. 
There are still large quantities of snow in the 
high sierras, insuring plenty of water a'.l season 
and fishing should be splendid from now on. 
The California Anglers’ Association recently 
held a week-end excursion to Be’den, on the 
Feather R.iver, about twenty of its members 
making the trip in a special car. The river was 
rather high, but fishing in the smaller streams 
was good, and excellent catches were made. 
This was the first trip into that section for many 
of the members, and all were enthusiastic in 
their praise of the newly opened territory. 
Fred J. Goble and Fred Kruse, of Berkeley, 
have returned from a two weeks’ fishing trip 
into the Feather River country, and during that 
time visited a number of prominent fishing 
grounds on both the north and middle forks. 
After fishing around Belden they went to Blairs- 
den, where the river fishing was just commenc¬ 
ing to be good. Several days were spent there 
and side trips made to lakes in the vicinity of 
Johnsville, where satisfactory sport was enjoyed. 
Up to the first of July there was still much snow 
and ice in that section, but this did not inter¬ 
fere with lake fishing. In Lake Eureka some 
large fish were taken, this body of water having 
been stocked some years ago with Eastern brook 
trout that have since grown to unusual size. 
In the vicinity of Cromberg the sport is now 
at its height and good catches have been made 
both in the river and in the smaller streams. 
This station on the Western Pacific is becomi ng 
a popular one for anglers, and many campers 
are making this their headquarters. A. K. 
Beazley and Mr. Munns, who are there for the 
summer, recently made a trip to Happy Valley 
at the headwaters of Long Valley Creek, and 
each secured fifty fish, as well as T. A. Church, 
who made a short trip there late in June. On 
Poplar Creek the water is still high and but few 
fish are being taken in that stream. 
On July 16 the California Anglers’ Association 
will hold a fami’y excursion to Moss Beach for 
the ocean fishing. Prizes will be awarded for 
the best catches made, and it is believed that a 
large number of anglers will make the trip down 
the coast. 
The Western Pacific railroad is preparing to 
stock a number of streams in the Feather River 
district and will plant at least a half million fry 
this season. Among the creeks that will be given 
attention are Bucks, Grizzly, Yellow, Rock, Dog¬ 
wood and Chips creeks. Some of the streams 
in this section were stocked last year, but many 
more fry will be liberated this season than then. 
Salmon fishing continues to be excellent in 
Monterey Bay. Thirty-pound salmon are being 
taken off Santa Cruz almost daily. 
William J. Ehrich, of the Anglers’ Club of 
New York, who recently went to the Yosemite 
Valley, has returned with the report that the 
streams in that section are all too high for fly¬ 
fishing, and that it will be some time before any 
fish can be taken there. Golden Gate. 
Mud Bank Small-Mouth Fishing. 
St. Paul, Minn., June 30.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: A couple of seasons ago a party of 
St. Paul sportsmen headed by George Benz, of 
Minneapolis, discovered that mud bank fishing 
for small-mouth bass was about as good as fish¬ 
ing the rushes, wing dams and grass banks. I 
am told by a man who has guided them that they 
discovered it by accident. They drop the fly on 
the bank and then skitter it off into the water, 
and if the fish are biting, they will grab it 
eagerly. Last week Mr. Benz and some of his 
associates took about forty of the finest small- 
mouths by this manner of fishing near Alma, 
Wis., when the fishing was conceded to be 
poor by all the other anglers who were trying 
their luck. 
This party is now getting its houseboat in 
shape to drop down the river to the favorite 
fishing spots and make a sort of permanent sum¬ 
mer camp. They have two small launches which 
they use in carrying themselves to and from the 
fishing grounds, another 40-foot launch which 
they use in running down from this city to the 
bass waters, and innumerable other duffle with 
which they enjoy the best sporting on the upper 
river. 
It is something of a problem to mariners on 
the upper Mississippi to navigate during low 
water in the fall, and it now looks as if low 
<1‘J 
water will be a record breaker this season. The 
Streckfus line steamer St. Paul, running from 
St. Louis to St. Paul, was aground a number of 
times on its last trip up here. The smaller 
packets are running, but big boats cannot stand 
the water stage much longer. Launches of all 
kinds are making the trip to New Orleans and 
return; that is, they are starting. None has re¬ 
turned as yet from the trip, though a dozen have 
left here with that intention. Finer launches 
than ever are being placed upon the river this 
spring. Some boats are being built for owners 
who intend to live on them all season up river, 
and then drop down as the season recedes into 
more pleasant weather than Minnesota and Wis¬ 
consin afford during the winter. Amos Burhans. 
Blue and Weakfish. 
Prince's Bay, June 28.— Editor Forest and 
Stream : It might be of interest to some readers 
of Forest and Stream to know that the fishing 
on the south shore of Staten Island is good. 
Bluefish are here in quantities to suit those who 
like to troll or still-fish. Some boats have come 
in at Prince’s Bay the past week with from 
twenty to sixty fair-sized bluefish by trolling 
an hour or two. Good catches of weakfish are 
also being made under the light down by the 
cedars and on the flats. These places are easily 
accessible and information concerning them may 
be had at any of the local fishermen’s resorts. 
The weakfish being caught now are of good 
size, many being taken three pounds and over; 
tide runners they are called and strong, but light 
tackle gives one all the sport that can be ex¬ 
pected. Some days shrimp are best, on others 
shedder crab and worms; it is best to have a 
variety. * * * 
Springfield Fly- and Bait-Casting Club. 
Springfield, Ill., July 3. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The following scores were made at 
Reservoir Park, July 2. Owing to the extreme 
heat, very few took active part. The scores: 
Clark . 97 13-15 Hibbs . 94 13-15 
Ungerer .95 13-15 Hickox . 93 1-15 
Harris . 95 
L. T. Babcock, Sec’y. 
MEMBERS OF THE SPRINGFIELD (ILL.) FLY- AND BAIT-CASTING CLUB. 
