Anglin' with Anglen – March 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.

March 1, 1973

Man what a beautiful week this has been! Was fishing at Herman, Smith, Dawson and McArthur. The weather was so nice it didn’t really make any difference whether I caught fish or not. The Blackbirds were singing at Herman and McArthur. Pussywillows blooming right through the ice a McArthur. The geese are flying back and forth so just maybe we will have an early spring but don’t quote me on it!

Caught one big bass, a smaller one, one perch and a sunfish out of Herman. The bass was big enough to pay for the trip so I was satisfied. This is probably one of the most under-fished lakes in the county. I know I don’t fish it but I am going to change that this next summer. We caught a lot of nice perch out of it last summer and it has produced good bass fishing for years. I’ll be back up there this week.

Chuck White said Smith was slow fishing so went up to see. Fifteen of us fished all morning and caught three fish when I left the ice at noon.

Was on Dawson Friday morning, nine fishermen, the perch were small but plentiful. I caught five nice crappies. On twelve inches long.

Was out to McArthur Saturday. Wanted to try a new part of the lake. Got 10 nice perch. The main part of the fishing was at the extreme south end of the lake and it was good. This lake has had extremely good perch fishing all winter. Some messes of them average three to the pound and some go two to the pound.

McArthur closes to fishing March 15. Maybe the ice will last till then. The Moyie closes to white fishing March 31. Maybe I’ll get time to go if the ice does not get too thin to fish.

Found a new way to bake fish! Anybody that eats as much fish as we do are always looking for a new way to cook them. If the fish is big enough to bake, just throw in a handful or small amount of pickling spice. We like it.

Scuttlebutt! Ice off Duck lake. The fishing is good at Balfour yet. Kokanee are hitting at Bayview.