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12 Best
by Erwin A. Bauer
This summer more Americans will go fishing
than ever before. Fishing will be so popular
because it's fun, it's perfect for family participation,
and it's better than ever. With modern, almost
foolproof tackle that is easy to use, anyone can
catch fish this season!
Although anglers rarely agree on which are
the best places to fish, year in and year out some
waters prove much better than others. Here, then,
are 12 fishing spots likely to prove best for family
fishing in 1959. These choices are based on last
year's catch, on scientific count, and on nearby
facilities available for family fishing vacations.
Marotlw. fkt.t All Florida has good fishing,
both in fresh water and as far offshore as the Gulf
Stream. But probably the hottest spot of all is that
maze of shallow bays and bars, of mangrove is
lands and ship channels, around Marathon, about
halfway from the mainland to Key West. There's
fishing here for experts and beginners alike.
Charter boats will take parties for sailfish in the
ocean or for smaller fish on the reefs. About 350
species inhabit these waters. Tarpon are abundant
in nearby shallow waters all Summer long, and it
costs nothing to fish from 100 miles of highway
bridges and causeways where the catch could be
a half-pound mullet or a half-ton shark!
Probably no area in America has such a vast
range of accommodations, all at reduced rates in
Summer. An innovation hereabouts is the "botel"
a motel that's really a houseboat and fishing
boat combined.
SaMtee-Cooper Rcrvir, S. C: Little
known until recently, this giant hydroelectric dam
now provides sport that anglers dream about The
catch might include striped or black bass, jumbo
catfish, and just about the largest pan fish available
anywhere. The prediction is that San tee-Cooper
will be especially good in 1959.
There are fishing camps, lodges, motels, and
boat rentals near Monck's Corner, Bonneau, and
Kings tree. There's good ocean fishing in the surf
at nearby Myrtle and Edisto Beaches.
Bots Island. Ohio: Residents of Western
Lake Erie have been calling this picturesque archi
pelago "Ohio's Treasure Islands" in recent years
and no wonder. For some of the finest walleyes,
smallmouth, and white bass abound right here
within a short drive of Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago,
With your tackle box filled with new lures
and this list of angling paradises,
you can't miss a big catch -well, hardly.
Fishing Holes
O Marathon, Florida
Q Santae-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina
O lass Islands. Ohio
O Southwestern Montana
Q Padre Island Lagnna Madre Port Isabel, Texas
Q Hot Springs, Arkansas
Q Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Q Moosehead Lake, Maine
Q San Oiego, California
() Qaetico Superior Forest, Minnesota Ontario
(J) Cumberland Lake, Kentucky
(J) Pnget Sound Olympic Peninsula, Washington
'incinnati, and Pittsburgh. This is one of the na
ion's top boating and sailing areas, too.
Facilities for fishermen are available at Port
Clinton, Catawba, Lakeside, and Put-in-Bay. A
ar ferry runs on schedule all Summer from main-
bid to the islands.
Southwestern Montana: For serious trout
ishermen, this is promised land. Besides Yellow
rone Park and its wonderful fishing, this corner
if Montana nnnfnina auoli .1nccir trmit rivors as
lie Madison, Gallatin, Ruby, Missouri, Jefferson,
nd Big Hole, plus Georgetown and many other
Vkes that are anglers' paradises.
There are accommodations at Livingston, Boze-
tan, Jackson, Ennis, West Yellowstone, and Dil
n. Non-fishing vacationers, can explore famous
post towns, visit hot springs or dude ranches.
Padre Island Laauna Madre Port Isa-
l. Texas: Few places in North America can
latch the fine, year-round climate and extraordi
ary fishing in this Southern tip of Texas. The
Ulfishing is good in the Gulf and there's always
ne chance of marlin. Channel bass and sea trout
Mn along Padre Island's ocean beach, which can
e traveled safely by car. Tarpon fishing is fast in
jantiago Pass and near the mouth of the Rio
'rande. And there's no better sea-trout fishing
ny where than in Laguna Madre.
Boats, bait, and tnoklo aro available in Port
fabel, but living accommodations are best in near
ly Brownsville or Harlingen. It's possible to camp
f me v adre beach.
Hot Snriaac. Arlr Snmn of the finest bass
N Pan fish lurk in the three lakes Hamilton,
Fatherine, and Ouachita which surround this
fusy Ozark resort Add to these lakes a dozen
ivers which also contain bass and seem made for
lOatihg downstream thrnuoh nrimitivo hill COUntTV.
No shortage of accommodations in any price
ange here, and Kne nlontiful too.
Uachita rnnM t U tU Ul knee 1ak of
I, fTlVW W tC UIC ULdh MM
year. Nearby are these other productive lakes:
frtolk. Bull Shoala Mirrnm Just across the
forder. in Oklahoma ' 1b T.r.lrSll. naurvnir an-
t1" good bet for '59.
ii. . . .
lit! :r r"Wt Mich.: This is an air-con-fuoned,
evergreen vacationland surrounded by
uuiug in iuj tnousanas oi nukes u
streams is consistently excellent, especially around
Escanaba, Marquette, Manistique, and Les Che
neaux Islands. Accommodations range from small
housekeeping cabins to plush resorts. No hay
fever suffering here.
Moosehead Lake, Me.: Anglers have been
catching king-size trout, landlocked salmon and
togue in Moosehead Lake ever since the first
settler wet a line here. Action begins (with salm
on) as soon as ice leaves the 800 square miles of
crystal-clear water. It ends when it's time to trade
tackle for deer rifles.
Moosehead was made for family vacations. The ,
region is full of inns, motels, campsites, cottages,
and hotels from Greenville to Lily Bay and
Rockwood.
San Diego, Calif: The warm ocean currents
of San Diego's coastal waters make it an out
standing salt-water fishing area. Nearby com
munities depend on fishing and fishermen for a
livelihood. Best waters are San Diego Bay, Mission
Bay, the beach, the Bluffs, and Los Coronados
Islands. Fish run from yellowtails, albacore, and
bluefin tuna to giant black sea bass and striped
marlin off Point Loma. Charter boats, guides,
tackle, bait are always available in San Diego and
in nearby coastal villages.
Quetico Superior Forest. Mink Ontar
io: Last Summer an estimated 5,000 families made
canoe trips into this undeveloped wilderness of
peace and solitude. Outfitters in Ely, Minn., rent
everything from canoe and tent to dehydrated food
and waterproof maps of canoe routes. Rental rates
are very low.
Cumberland Lake, Ky.: The fishing in many
Southern reservoirs runs in cycles; 1959 may be
the peak year at Cumberland, a "little old fishing
hole" about 150 miles long. There are bass, big
walleyes, and pan fish. " Boat docks and -fishing
camps dot the shore, with most activity at Beaver
Lodge and Monticello.
Paget Sound Olympic Peninsula, Wash.:
Almost the year around there's premium fishing in
this damp but scenic corner of the Northwest.
Both chinook and silver salmon run in the Sound,
even within sight of downtown Seattle. Battling
steelheads migrate upstream in many rivers from
the sea, while rainbow and cutthroat trout abound
in smaller rivers and lakes of Olympic National
Park. Summed up, this is paradise for the out
doorsman who likes spectacular scenery and high
adventure with his angling.
Of course, there are other fine fishing holes, too.
Take the farm ponds: more than a million of
them are scattered from coast to coast Fishing for
bass and pan fish is at least fair in most of them
and the ticket is the farmer's permission.
Any list of top fishing waters should also in
clude Chesapeake Bay; Pamlico Sound, N. C;
Rangeley Lakes, Me.; Hayward Lakes, Wis.; the
upper Mississippi River; Grand Isle, La.; Lake
Texoma, Tex.; Okeechobee Lake, Fla.; San Fran
cisco Bay; Thousand Islands in the St Lawrence
River; and Kentucky Lake, Ky. and Term.
See you there!
Family WccMy, May It, IMS