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.

Sept. 6, 1973

At last the rains came and they were welcomed by all; we could use some more but are grateful for what we got. Had a rather discouraging week. Monday I cleaned the fish ponds at fair grounds and turned the water on, in preparation for the fair.

Two of us went to Kerr Lake and caught about three gallon of perch, sunfish, bass and bullheads. We put them in the ponds Tuesday and when I checked them Wednesday we had lost most of them.

I tried to catch the man from the hatchery, with the trout as they use brood stock in the fairs but was just a little late and he had already put them in the pond when I caught up with him.

I told him what had happened to our fish so he said he would watch the trout for awhile and it wasn’t but a few minutes till they started turning belly up.

He immediately caught them and I took them back to Clarkfork. I sure didn’t want a die-off of them like they got at Sandpoint a few years back when they lost all their albino trout.

We never had this happen here before and we think it was to much chlorine in the water although it didn’t test any higher than usual. Next year we will check it out a week early.

In talking to the man from the hatchery he says the fish will be definitly smaller next year as it just costs too much to raise them. The bass that were planted in Perkins lake to hold down the sunfish have done a good job of hatching and should be catchable size next year. Lots of feed and they should sure grow.

I was on McArthur again Saturday morning and it treated me the same way it did two weeks ago. I got three small perch and one trout, other people there did considerably better than I did.

Hunting season is here now and I will be doing some of that right along. Would like to get a bear this year as I tanned some hides last year and did a pretty good job of it so would like to try a bearskin. Grouse are my favorite game bird and we have excellent grouse hunting here if a guy just has time to do it and I have the time.

My son Eldon transferred to Garden Valley, north of Boise about three weeks ago and Mel Branch took his place at McArthur. Welcome to Bonners, Mel Branch and wife.