From the Archives - Nov. 2, 2023
Ralph Anglen, who wrote a weekly fishing column, "Anglin' With Anglen" in the Bonners Ferry Herald, is pictured outside the old Herald office.
(Courtesy photo)
On Feb. 8, 1973, 50 years ago, Ralph Anglen began writing "Anglin' With Anglen," a fishing column that ran weekly in the Bonners Ferry Herald. The articles are being reprinted weekly in the Coeur d'Alene Press.
This was his first column:
"This is my first article on fishing in Boundary County, and I hope I can bring you the news as I see it and do it. I am not an expert but probably nobody likes to fish any better than I do nor does any more of it than I do.
It will have a lot of spiny rey fishing in it because I just plain like to catch bass, crappie, and sunfish. I catch a lot of trout but the others are my true love.
McArthur is coming into its own for perch. Saturday two of us caught 46 and we were off the ice at noon. Of that number 15 ran over 10 inches long and most of the rest were 9-10, with a few smaller.
There were over 30 people on the ice while we were there and everybody was catching a few fish. In checking in the evening, fishermen were coming and going all day. Everybody had a mess of fish. Most of these fishermen are from Sandpoint and Hope. Had one car from Spokane — he has been there before and some from Coeur d'Alene.
They had fished it before and tell me it is some of the best perch fishing they have had. One wants to remember that trout are a "no-no" out there. If a trout is hooked deep the best method to release it is to cut the line. The lake is checked quite regularly in case you are tempted to salvage a few of them. Any kind of fishing gear is alright to use. I see regular ice fishing poles two feet long used, along with kokanee handlines. I use my spinning gear because I like to feel them bite ...
There have been four perch 14 inches long checked out of McArthur. They weighed just a pound and a half. Personally the biggest I have caught or seen was 12 1/2 inches long and weighed just a pound. I would like to see some crappie planted in this lake as there is a world of feed in it and perch will overpopulate it if we don't get a good predator fish in there.
I don't know the answer to overcrowding these lakes but I know the addition of crappie really made a good fishing lake out of Dawson.
This is all for the first article and I would appreciate any fishing information I can get from anybody."
(Remember, this was written 50 years ago. Check the current fishing regulations for 2023 information.)
The rest of Ralph Anglen's articles can be read at the museum.
The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column.
Visit the museum in person, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; or online on its website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org; or the museum's Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can also be reached by email at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or by telephone at 208-267-7720.