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FISHING BEGINNERS STORY The Tyros Tale of His Expedition and His Tyrant Instructor BlK FlBh that Wasnt Caught and andExpensive Expensive Lot of Tools that thatIVonld IVonld Not Work In the first place I disclaim all responsibility In the matter 1 was not to blame There Is al ¬ ways some one Jn Uils world who must be destroying other peoples peace of mind prying them out of their comfortableness carrying them off to uneasy fields and then leaving them stranded because it is not possible to make a hunting leopard out of a fat sleepy old Thomas cat writes H P Miners in Outers Book BookPlease Please understand I am not trying to discredit anyone least of all Chandler I am only attempt ¬ ing to prove that no blame for what happened can IMJ laid at my door I was merely a child of mis ¬ fortune fortuneIt It came about in this way For well for more years than arc any of your business I have been au ardent sportsman that Is I go fishing for sun fish every Sunday morning in the summer that it does not rain Sometimes I catch fish once an overambitious pickerel even took my bait But more often I dont In fact I am probably the greatest living philanthropist as far as the sunfish tribe is concerned There is a certain family of sunfish in Crooked Lake that I have kept in food for years And that is no sinecure either for to a man of my stature turning over tough heavy sods in quest of fat angleworms or chasing ambitious grasshoppers on a hot day cannot be classed among the favorite amusements To the man who will invent a hook from which a fish cannot purloin the bait without getting caught or at least without giving that telltale jerk that lets you know he is there I will confide my most treasured secret how to keep thin thinNow Now my friend Chandler is a fisherman also But we do not belong in the same category for Chandler is as he says a real fisherman a bait caster while I poor misguided man am only a lowly worm drownder drownderTheres Theres a difference Yes a vast one To Chandler a fishing pole is not a pole at all Its i rod and one who terms it otherwise cannot hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven And he does not fish for fish He fishes for sport but he takes his fish home and eats them just like I do doAlso Also being a sportsman lie would not deign to prey upon a poor fishs hunger In order to catch him Oh no he gives the fish a fighting chance challenges him to fight and then battles with him in fair combat To do this he tosses out a wooden minnow that has been harnessed with more barbs than tinre are on a cockleburr When a hapless bass chances to collide front end foremost with tills piece of camouflage he may as well sing his swan song for he is about to journey into a far country Oh the bass has a great chance chanceNow Now I contend that my method of fishing is scientific it requires the skill of long experience experiencePROPER PROPER TOOLS FOR THE EXPEDITION EXPEDITIONFirst First you must have the proper tools tackle I should say This consists of a long bamboo P9le a few yards of stout line a hook a sinker a Ixibuer and n lake Next you must find a suitable place to fish Personally I recommend a deep hole vilh overhanging trees or an anchored boat es ¬ pecially equipped with a large umbrella umbrellaYou You so place the bobber that your hook will hang about two feet from the bottom you bait the hook carefully swing it out and into the water anchor the end of the pole under a tree root or a boat seat and then lean back to await develop ¬ ments When the bobber begins to jump up and down excitedly and then finally completely disap ¬ pears you may be pretty sure that your fish is hopelessly hooked and you leisurely lift him in inI I forgot to mention that baiting the hook is an important part of the procedure Celebrated sun fishers disagree as to the exact method of thread ¬ ing the worm onto the hook but all are unanimous on one point you must always spit on the baited hook No selfrespecting sunfish would ever think of taking a bait that had not been spit on onThe The skill in this type of fishing rests on two things First properly baiting the hook second in l eing able to stay awake to watch the bobber so that you can tell when the fish has eaten up all of your bait baitBut But I am disgressing from my story As I have said my friend Chandler is never satisfied He must always be injecting unrest into the life of some one He ruined his own life and that of his wife by becoming a bait casting fiend Since then he has never rested except when spoiling some other mans life I was his seventeenth victim victimFor For weeks before the bass season opened he had regaled me with stories of leviathans that he had lured forth and captured in the past with his wooden minnows By the time the opening day was at hand he really had me interested and then he played his trump card He offered to take me with him on his fishing trips and teach me the art artI I fell for it Who wouldnt wouldntThe The day was set for the following Sunday But I discovered that I would have to acquire a bait casting outfit before then This seemed perfectly reasonable but I thought that Chandler mentioned the fact to me in rather an apologetic manner He seemed somewhat constrained constrainedAfter After we had reached the sporting goods store I discovered why He should have been more than apologetic apologeticFirst First came the selection of a reel I find that a reel is an important part of a bait casters equip iiient No ordinary common breed of reel will do It must be quadruple multiplying seventeen jeweled I think I paid for at least that many nickled steel and of the antlbacklash species These things were explained to me at great length and in minute detail by both Chandler and the suave blase lying salesman In fact their care of explanation and desire to acquaint me with all the fine itoints of reels began to excite my suspicion so I asked the price priceWell Well said the salesman who was undoubt ¬ edly a Democrat here is one for six seventyfive but I hardly believe you would want such a cheap one oneI I began to eye him with more suspicion suspicionHere Here he continued is one for ten dollars It might do but its really not intended lor careful work But he added with a great show of brilliancy here is a genuine Johnstonc TakeDown CounterBalanced AntiBackLash ttccl They sell for thirtyfive dollars ordinarily but this is one we bought before the war and Ill let you have it for eighteen ninetyfive Thats dirt cheap too tooI I remembered that when I came in I noticed that this clerk had a receding chin I hate receding chins they arc usually worn by insurance men waiter Pullman porters and other pickpockets I called Chandler Into consultation but what chance has labor any more with capital arrayed solidly against it I bought the eighteen ninety five reel But then if one wants good things one must expect to pay for them One does doesBut But a reel only proved to be the first installment in acquiring an interest in the store Next came a pole I beg your pardon a rod A rod Is a deli ¬ cate little collection of split bamboo wrapped With much silk thread and many times varnished I think its sale price is calculated by the number of silk thread windings that it has The rod that was selected for me looked like a barber pole poleAnd And then came a line I assured Chandler that I already had a good twisted cotton line at least fifeen feet of it He gave me a peculiar sidewlse glance which as I now look back on it must have been one of scornful sympathy and informed me tliat the proper line for casting must be thin fine silk and at least seventyfive yards in length It must be exceptionally strong and apologetically good silk costs quite a bit now nowBass Bass must be fastidious creatures creaturesMy My line cost two dollars and a half halfThe The friendly clerk next Introduced me to the subject of baits Here I grew really enthusitstic for they came in many colors hues sizes shapes weights and yes prices I dote on colors and if I were a bass Id never miss a chance to swallow one of those little lavender baby crabs I had already selected a purple minnow a red crab and a drab crab when Chandler rescued me meWith With his kindly advico and assistance I reduced the number of baits to eleven These included only one red wabbler which disappointed me greatly I thought at least twothirds of them should have been red If I were a bass there are certain days when Id refuse anything but a red salamander salamanderBaits Baits are reasonable They cost but a trifle seventyfive cents to a dollar and a quarter apiece A bass is absolutely neutral he doesnt care what he eats aa long as it is expensive expensiveWith With a rod reel and a peck of wooden minnows in my possession I thought T had surely secured the full paraphernalia paraphernaliaBut But no When one fishes for bass one must have a tackle box to carry ones tackle in But I really got a bargain in a tackle box It only cost four dollars and ninetyeight cents It is as big as a young trunk and has enough compartments so that I feel perfectly sure I can hide in It any illegal fish that I may catch and be safe even should the warden search the box If he ever finds the fish hell need a guide to get out of the box and by the time he finally secures his liberty Ill have grown a beard and become permanently disguised disguisedI I carefully gathered up my many purchases and when the enterprising lying clerk was telling another customer about a patent weedless hook I edged Chandler toward the door and made my escape As I went ont the clerk hurriedly called after me something about a takedown landing net and a collapsible minnow bucket but I didnt hear him till first time The Sunday morning that Chandler and I arrived at the lake was one of Rods own A few fleecy clouds as only June clouds can be fleecy were lazily floating overhead and u faint breeze rippled the water Chandler said lie thought it would be a good day for bass I thought that the sunfish must be hungry over on Crooked Lake and for Just a moment I had a guilty conscience conscienceEDUCATION EDUCATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT DISAPPOINTMENTChandler DISAPPOINTMENTn n Chandler secured a boat and we got ready to slay bass I got my rod and reel together and a dark green crab properly affixed after some expert ad ¬ vice from Cnaiidler Now said Chandler taking the rod from me the object of casting is not great distance but accuracy accuracyNow Now this fingering the reel and pointing to two little knobs on the end of it is the drag and this is the click The click is generally used when your rod is idle so that the weight of the bait wont run the line out but the drag is Chandler I interrupted I dont know any ¬ thing about mechanics and I dont give a tinkers dam bow that reel is made What I want to do is catch bass Im a man of action I believe in getting right down to business and cutting out all the details Now lets get right to catching fish and Ill study the anatomy of the reel some winters night But youve got to know how to handle it or you cant become a bait caster he said saidI I know 1 replied but I cam do that some other time when I am not fishing Right now I want to snare one of these bass quick and I quietly but firmly relieved him of the rod and steered him into the boat But despite my reas ¬ surances he did not seem at all convinced convincedChandler Chandler rowed out from shore and headed toward a clump of rushes Here he allowed the boat to drift and took up his rod Now said he Say Chandler whats the idea Why cant we fish over there in the shadow of those trees This sun is too warm warmBecause Because he snapped the bass are not in that kind of water He seemed to be getting im ¬ patient for some reason reasonFirst First time I said that I ever knew there were more kinds of water in this lake than one He ignored this remark and as he was the host I thought possibly it was best not to argue too much muchNow Now began Chandler again the proper way to hold your rod is Yes yes I know Chandler I said but lets not bother with that now I want to get to catching fish fishAnd And suiting the action to the word I essayed to make my first cast There was a swish of the rod cutting the air a shrill wheeeeee as my reel seemed to protest violently for some unknown rea ¬ son and my pretty green crab struck the water with a resounding smack about six feet from the boat This was rather a surprise to me as I fully expected to see it gracefully alight on the water about a hundred yards away My surprise must have shown on my face somewhat as Chandler remarked You might have more success if you would release your click It seemed to me that his remark was a trifle cutting cuttingI I did as he advised somewhat reluctantly I must admit as I really do not see why a reel should have any equipment which is an actual hindrance to casting castingTHE THE OLD STORY OF INEXPERIENCE INEXPERIENCEMy My next attempt was a great success The bait described a long graceful arc through the air as it sailed far out over the water It really fascinated me as it sped away the sun glinting from its irradiunt sides I half expected to see it Just float lightly out over the horizon I was startled out of my pleasant reverie by i sickening buzz my bait stopped in midair with an abrupt jerk that sent it flyjng back like a boomerang to plump right into the middle of a tangle of rushes I looked down at my reel whence had come the strange zizzing to see what had caused this sudden change in the plans of my green crab A most amazing sight met my eyes My line had seemingly gone berserker thrown itself Into a fit of rage It was tangled and snarled and looped and matted and lit fact it looked like nothing BO much as my wifes hair does just before she decides that it ii time for me to get up and start breakfast breakfastWell Well said Chandler if youd take a little advice Advice hell I shouted What I need Is a friend who wont let a halfbaked clerk load me up with an antibacklash reel that wont antiback ¬ lash This damned contraption isnt fit to use for a clothesline reel Its just about as You know interrupted Chandler even an nutibacklash reel has to be thumbed It seemed to me that his voice was somewhat cold Thumbed Whats that thatWhy Why said Chandler as the line runs out you keep a gentle pressure on the spindle with your thumb to keep the line from running out too fast fastOh Oh I said And fell to picking and pulling at the mess of what was once a two dollar and a half line I dont know whether you ever unsnarled a backlashed antibacklash reel but if you havent I can tell you right here that you always pull on the wrong loop They trick you shamelessly and then just when you think you have found the so ¬ lution to the puzzle the loop slips out of your fingers and Oh the devil said Chandler let me have that Youll be all day dayI I passed the rod over not that I was incapable of untangling the line but rather because I did not want to offend my host hostThe The boat drifted gently in the breeze Chandler swore sweet nothings and I plucked rushes that thrust their fluted tops over the side of the boat It was a wonderful day I cant understand how a man can lose his temper over so small a matter on such a dny dnyAfter After many pleasant minutes Chandler handed the rod back to me and said Now try it again and this time thumb your reel reelTHE THE BIG FISH AND ITS ESCAPE ESCAPEI I rescued my bait from the rushes and for the next half hour accompanied by much wholly un ¬ necessary advice and admonition from Chandler I tried to master the art of bait casting But as I nee it now there must have been something the matter with my reel or rod for now that I can make the statement ill privacy I must say that my attempts met with but small success successMy My line backlashed in spite of a guaranteed anlibacklash disposition It snarled into birds nests that were acute in their effect on my sunny temper And my bait when aimed squarely at a spot two feet to starboard of a certain clump of rushes soared mightily and evinced a desire to feed on aliore Or it struck the water so close to the boat that we were drenched with spray which seemed to dampen Chandlers already cold demeanor demeanorOnce Once a yellow wabbler took off my liat in its flight which was dangerous Once it took off Chandlers which was wellnigh disastrous disastrousThere There was a swirl of water to the right the sun glistened from shining scales and my rod was almost jerked from my grasp graspYouve Youve hooked him shouted Chandler and hes the grandfather of the whole fish tribe tribeCalmly Calmly and coolly I allowed the bass to run out twenty yards of line Yea I would fight him and conquer him in fair combat combatGive Give him the butt yelled Chandler ChandlerGive Give him nothin I said Ive already given him a dollar and a quarter bait and twenty yards of line What I want Is to get back what T have already lost lostOh Oh you damned Idiot interrupted Chandler I mean raise your tip give him the spring of th rodi rodiThink Think I want to break the rod and lose that too Cost seven dollars and a half Im not crazy I yelled back at him himYou You cant break that rod argued Chandler Look out youll lose him and hes a pippin pippinReluctantly Reluctantly I yielded to his remonstrances and finally checked the bass when I could see the metal of the spindle The next five minutes were probably the most exciting of my life with the possible exception of the time when I hit Abe Bloom fields billy goat with a rock and then discovered that the gate was open That bass was certainly the bully of the whole bass nation He literally cut the lake up in chunks and threw them out on shore He rushed and he doubled and he shook the bait Now I gained a foot now i lost it A sizable blister was beginning to raise on my thumb I played him calmly amid much untimely advice from Chandler to keep cool And then there was a sudden slackening of the line lineTake Take in your slack quick yelled Chandler hes coming toward the boat and youll lose him himNow Now see here Chandler I said lowering iriy rod and turning toward him Ive fished as long as you have and I guess I know how to handle this fish as well as you do Keep still with your in ¬ fernal chatter and let me catch my fish In my own way And besides There was a sickening little jerk on my rod and then nothing With a growing suspicion and premonition I reeled in my line After what seemed au age the end of it came in night minus the dollar and a quarter bait and the fish fishOh Oh hell said Chandler lets go home homeBut But do you know I half believe Ill go next Sunday alone
