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<br />'. '192
<br />
<br />CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME '
<br />
<br />"Skittering." A form of simple bait casting for bass termed ""kittff_
<br />ing" or ' 'spatting" was obs~rved at Palo Verde Lagoon.. To a very lollt
<br />eane pole (perhaps 20 feet ill len,gth) was attached a hne of about tht
<br />same length bearing a plug, ThiS plug was then tossed or swung ml<!
<br />likely places or "skittered" a~ong the top of the wa~r. Althou~h used
<br />here on open water it offers Its greatest adv.antage ill weedr places or
<br />others from which it might be difficult to retrIeve a plug cast m the ordi-
<br />nary fashion, Skittering may be done either from boat or shoft.
<br />AlthouO'h this method is not at all uniq,ue to tbe lower Colorado, it
<br />appear~d to be the firm belief of a few residents that it had originat~
<br />bere.
<br />
<br />,-Bait (P7-ugJfJasting. Fishermen on the river employ it primarily fnr
<br />bass and utilize the 'usual variety of artificial lures common to the "r";I'"~
<br />Deep-running plugs appear to have speeial favor particularly in tb, -=
<br />muddier areas. Occasionally channel catfisb are taken on plugs, It is
<br />now well known that this species may be taken on a variety of artifitW
<br />baits including plugs, spinners, and even flies.
<br />
<br />Flyfishing. This style o~ angling is little .practise~ on the lower ~iwr by
<br />residents, a fact emphasued by the paUCIty of tbIS type of tad;:.e to bf
<br />found in local shops, Any of the game fish here can, of course, 1)c ta.r.fIl
<br />on a flv rod and for some species its greater use would increase the enjoy-
<br />ment ~f tbe angler. Tbe taking of sucb smaller :fisb as t~e bluegill or tllt
<br />crappies offers more sport on a flyrod than on tbe heaVIer r?ds or pol~
<br />Flies or small spinners are good lures for these fisb. ExceptIonally good
<br />fishing for bass may be enjoyed at times using large flies, spinners. or .
<br />bass bugs.
<br />
<br />'~-l!~iW,--ltseemstObEll'ath~r~:c.o}PJ1!.~n1tlrelie:Ved th~t ' ,:
<br />,be:taken ?n hoo~ and line; and in the IInperi8rV alley~--:- -----,:.:..
<br />~~t,,'-'J~~cb:lcken-wlre are often used in shallow water for' , , "
<br />~;I~yi~otin~rest to find that a few people along the lowe-r' ' "
<br />.,?J1tedWlth a method whereby this D.sh could be taken
<br />".,{){)k.1ised.is small, about No; 10 or'12:fu siZe, and is .,.'.
<br />J.V:l:tl(a:tmyplece of worm.BS From about 8 to 18 inches
<br />,~~_~1fu1allcork i.; attacbed to the line. The line must be kept
<br />aQ~le~mu~ strike as soon as the:float exhibits the sligbteSt
<br />"', "",,'~ '''-,'---. , --
<br />'::-';:'~"';-., -;>-~ -.!-"'::":.,' " '. --.- .-.
<br />
<br /><"ocihtihet feeding on bitS of scum as tbey drifted down
<br />%Mr~Chester Woodhull and the author tried out another
<br />,>.>fishirig. Small flies (No. 14) were cast upstream and
<br />~tdown ove:- a school of mullet. Several were -caught in this
<br />'ai. ;.,,~l'u!_f1ie::l~ft--fin/!;we~-()tLthrollgh.&trikiug.1oo bard
<br />,gut~(On the two occasions of expenmen'ttlie:fiShdidnot=-~==-
<br />eleader was used.) The fly seems to be ejected almost ' .
<br />;~~:~mo~t~}"a"pid tboughd~licate strike appears to be
<br /><t,~::'":".:,.:,,. ~,,' ''', ., "'~~' ',;._n",.,,; ..-- ',..
<br />~~!,tlrls:metbod; deserves a, thorougb trial. Even" a '
<br />")lpan:e:xcellent battle and thuBwarrantS recognition ~'
<br />~,~ &long the Colorado and in its ~ll'rigation canals.' ~
<br />iFOttit will be remembered with respect. Since return--
<br />~()!.~o an article (Emery, 1943) has been noted which
<br />~,1~~ymullet" on a flyrod at Gibraltar." .A, tiny flake
<br />,liJ.:~;,&::flyand allowed to :float over the shoal turns the
<br />--Y-t~:7/>". .' - ,
<br />_l_-~"~_:.,r~
<br />
<br />FiG, so.
<br />
<br />"'i':Il1~gal fisbing is still rather common along the Colorado;
<br />,.",Jl~Jor l:t;s prevalence are easily noted, Certain areas are 80
<br />~~fear of apprehension is almost nonexistent. Then too
<br />~7~~,.',lf~IiiIlgle-like .areas there often dwell'a class of ,p~opl~
<br />. Ja.ws mean nothmg, arid who live tOa'cettainextent'~ff
<br />::;,nA.f~irly large population of negroes and wbites from the
<br />,,~:(m~y of wbich have very lenient laws compared to those
<br />, .;{.eontrlbute~ to tbis problem,
<br />Wnn~thods used by "violators" are tbe following: set-lines,
<br />"rappmg, and eyen poisoning. Several cases of the use of
<br />;:~ostly .by Orientals, have been noted. Large hoop-nets of
<br />. ,,:9rwoven 'willows, baited with ducks, mudhens, muskrats, or
<br />..been successful in taking many fisb. One of these traps
<br />alo,Verde Slough in February 1941, by California game
<br />!Q--feet long and 5 feet in diameter.
<br />""yeof irrigation ditches for repairs often brings out a
<br />J~el!'ger ~o wade into the mud and capture stranded :fish.
<br />.: :, Ion VIewed in 1942 in tbe Imperial Valley there was a
<br />Jj!,a dozen or more men, women and children for tbe spoils.
<br />)Yi~ were quickly filled with small fisb.
<br />,.a:~~ the periods of sluicing have brought about a some-
<br />21>rlse. In order to wash out tbe accumulation of silt in
<br />
<br />'d~crlbed to me are: a pea. a raisin, a bit of lettuce, or shrimp.
<br />~llS.Jt.an) say, "It does not readily take the hook, but can l!ome-
<br />,J.p.-a bait of banana, or one manufactured from cotton and flour n, -
<br />:::~:,-c' , '
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