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Monstrosity of a Bass
J. K. Hannon, Atlanta sportsman and subscriber, reminds fisher
men that more care should be taken to tell the true story of catches.
He writes:
“I am puzzled by some of the weights of bass reported in
Southern Outdoors. For instance, some time ago one was caught
at High Falls Lake which was reported 17 inches long and weighing
7 pounds. Then in the May 1 issue one reported caught at Lake
Burton was 21 inches long and weighed 7 pounds.
“Of course the condition of fish will make a difference in
weights, but I would like to see these bass or the scales on which
they were weighed. The 7-pound, 17-inch bass would have been
a monstrosity of 32 inches in girth, and the 21-inch bass would
have been 25 inches in girth. It is seldom that the' girth of a
bass exceeds the length.
“Fishermen making these reports should stick to weights alone
and not give lengths. Their fishermen’s scales probably showed
such weights, but the measurements disprove them.
“If given length and girth, I can tell within a few ounces the
weight of such fish. Yours for better hunting and fishing.”
We agree with Mr. Hannon, but we also remember once seeing
a bass lose two pounds in two seconds when a handfull of 4-ounce
sinkers fell from his mouth.
Further Dope and Data
E. R. Matthews, a wildlife ranger in North Georgia’s mountains,
says the longest fish doesn’t always weigh the most. Matthews
reported last week that Tom Gloock, of Decatur, Ga., took a small-
mouth from Blue Ridge Lake measuring 21 inches. On the same
day, Ben Sisson, of Blue Ridge, landed a smallmouth 22 inches
long. Gloock’s fish weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces; Sisson’s catch
weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
Thisj isi not offered as a defense for the reports to which
Subscriber Hannon refers. However, it shows that all fish of the
same species don’t have the same model “figure.”
We have just received a report from Chickamauga, Ga., crediting
Cliff Deck, of that city, with a 28-inch walleyed pike from Chicka
mauga Lake (Tenn.). The weight is not given. Now if any of
our readers has a standard formula for computing nearly accurate
weights and lengths when given only one figure, we would like
to see it.
Such a table should include bass, bream, crappie, the three
species of trout found in the South, jackfish or eastern pickerel and
walleyed pike.
Hogg Advocates Watersnake Bounty
Jack Hogg, recently of the South Pacific, but who now divides his
time about equally between his home in Atlanta and the trout streams
of North Georgia, has some pertinent ideas about fishing.
Jack does not pretend to be a fish culturist or a technician of any
description. But he has the advantage of studying fish and fishing con
ditions first-hand more than many of the alleged experts.
He believes that cutthroat trout would be a worthwhile experiment
in some parts of North Georgia. He thinks the “fish-market” method
of planting rainbows is a big waste, and should be abandoned. His
idea is to liberate rainbow fry in small headwaters, believing that
the survivors will not only make for better fishing, but will reproduce.
He frowns on what he calls “those tame, liver-fed trout that are
taken too easily.”
Jack has a suggestion that might pay off in all Southern states
whose waters have trout. He advocates a bounty of 10 cents a head
on watersnakes, or water moccasins.
“I see over 100 a day on our streams,” he moans, “and they take
an enormous number of trout. I believe that a small bounty would re
sult in the killing of many snakes and thus save many hundreds of
expensive trout.”
Are there any other fishermen with ideas on fishing?
CRISP INCORPORATES
TO PUSH PROJECTS
CORDELE, Ga.—Two months ago the Crisp County Sports
men’s Club was just an idea shared by 18 hunters and fish
ermen.
Since then nearly 200 sports-
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men have joined and made tenta
tive plans to undertake a pro
gram that will help maintain and
increase the game and fish sup
ply in the Crisp County area.
In an effort to expedite its
work the club last week decided
to form a corporation. Alvin
Roberts is president; R. H. Thomp
son, secretary-treasurer, and Sam
Bundrick is chairman of the
Board of Directors.
Emphasis is being placed on the
game and fish in the Lake Black-
shear section. This county-owned
power reservoir on the Flint River
has long been a favorite spot for
hundreds of fishermen. It is fa
mous for its yield of big bass,
bream and crappies.
Many new cottages and summer
homes are being built around the
lake and increasing numbers of
vacationers and fishermen are go
ing there,
299 Nailed
On Georgia
Dove Hunts
Georgia wildlife rangers arrest
ed 299 hunters in December, Janu
ary and February on charges of
violating the federal and state
dove shooting regulations, accord
ing to Fred Brewer, assistant di
rector in charge of enforcement.
Brewer said that 133 were ar
rested on charges of shooting over
baited areas; 103 for out-of-season
gunning; and 63 for shooting with
guns holding more than a three-
shell capacity.
Approximately 50 had been ap
prehended last September and Oc
tober, with convictions running
close to 100 per cent.
PERMANENT REMINDER of an eventful day in the Gulf-
stream off Miami, this sailfish now hangs over Joe Vignaux’ break
fast table. The Atlanta auditor took the fighting spikebill on his
first deep sea fishing trip. It was mounted by A1 Pflueger, of Mi
ami. A bum leg has sidelined Joe for a few weeks, but he already
is planning to go after a mate for this specimen as soon as he
gets back on his feet.
&
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SOUTHERN OUTDOORS, JUNE 1, 1946