Anglin' with Anglen – April 1973

Editor’s note: For 27 years, beginning Feb. 8, 1973, Ralph Anglen of Bonners Ferry wrote an outdoor column for the local paper that was widely read and used as a source of fishing and hunting information. It was called “Anglin’ with Anglen,” and was the real deal, the genuine item, written by someone whose socks were wet, whose toes were cold and who pulled no punches. We will continue as space allows to reprint Anglen’s column solely for its pleasure and historical significance. Any typos, we leave as is. Readers are reminded that this column was written almost 50 years ago and conditions, including state fish and game regulations, have changed.

• • •

April 26, 1973

I see the fish trucks are rolling! Perkins and Bass lakes received a plant of Eastern Brook the rest of the lakes got Rainbow, I believe, and they are beautiful fish.

I was on Sinclair last Monday and didn’t get anything but wet. Should have known enough not to go as it was raining when I got up at 4:00 a.m. but have fished that lake before and did pretty good and besides I can’t sleep in. Did enjoy watching the deer as I was fishing. Had four whitetail on the road for almost an hour. Saw nine whitetail and seven mule deer that morning.

I was on Smith lake Wednesday and got three rainbow and two cutthroat. Had one fish that weighted a pound. Two fisherman on the dock caught more than I did just still fishing with worms.

Was back on Smith Saturday morning early. Three of us got 22 on a trolled Carey Special fly. They weighed just 11 pounds. Had a man from Washington along and he was in seventh heaven with the fishing. We had the lake alone for a couple of hours and he was wondering where everybody was — he was all set to move out here. The osprey are back up there and we spent some time just watching them. Half of this fishing is just getting out and looking at nature.

With season opening next Saturday, April 28, I haven’t decided where to go. I believe a person trolling a Carey Special can get his limit of bigger fish out of Robinson lake than anywhere else but I have opened season on Sinclair so often I’ll probably open season there. I’ll be on the lake just at daylight. You don’t have to be crazy to go at that time of day but being crazy helps, but I like the day just as it is breaking better than any other time.

Just 10 years ago I was in the hospital watching everybody else going fishing on opening day and that is where I spent the next two opening days, so opening day means something special to me. Seven years ago I had a brand new boat and motor and didn’t get to use them till in June and that is hard on a fisherman.

The Fish and Game Dept. does an outstanding job of planting our lakes and keeping them stocked. Don’t know how much longer they can do it unless we have an increase in license fees.

Scuttlebutt! Three caribou seen on Cascade creek, bear are out in some places, fishing still good at the mouth of the creeks, Bass lake producing good fishing.

Remember the limit on trout is ten fish or seven pounds and one fish and possession limit is the same. It is illegal to stock pile trout in your deep freeze. Shame on the party that left their beer cans on the road at Smith Lake. If you can haul it up there you can haul it out.