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.

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May 17, 1973

This is our final goodbye to “Slim” Allured. The world is a better place to live on account of you having been here Slim. I knew you only casually as I came to you for advice, which you freely gave! You gave me a lecture quite often on taking care of my fishing tackle, which I never did, but you always repaired it. In the fishing paradise I’m sure you’ve retired to, if you see old Brock up there dunking a few worms or casting for bass give him my regards and tell him I’m just a little lonesome!

Had a real good week. Was on Smith Lake Tuesday and used everything in my tackle box — never got a strike! Anchored and salmon egged them until I got my limit. Was on Sinclair Wednesday and got rained, hailed and blowed on. We didn’t fool around with the fish there — we just salmon egged them and got off the lake.

Was back up there on Friday and the fish would not hit any trolled lure. Thanks to salmon eggs we scored again. Want to Robinson Lake Saturday and I just rowed the boat. Three of us got six trout, six sunfish and one bass. I caught one trout and a sunfish. Was with my son and grandson and I let them fish the front of the boat or I would have done better. Excuses, excuses! Got the trout on Carey Specials and the sunfish and bass on nightcrawlers. It is quite provoking to be fishing for bass and see them up to six or seven pounds swimming around and never get a strike. I have a date with them in another month about daylight with plastic worms or porkrind, my heavy gear and then they better watch out! Hope springs eternal in the hearts of a fisherman!

There seems to be a little misunderstanding about the public ramp and camp at Bonner Lake. The ramp, toilets and picnic area are for the public. Once you cross the fence you are on private land they charge for fishing there. There is a fishing dock and looks like it is in fair condition. I would like to see more of these docks go in as it is real hard to fish these lakes without a boat and dock fishing is the only way a lot of people will get to fish.

I should change the wording of the above. They can’t charge to fish the lake as the lake is public, but they can charge for access to their property. They have to police their grounds and clean up after the public, which is no small chore, carry insurance and I don’t think their $.75 cents a day is a bit out of line for a day’s outing.

We spent a nice evening driving around the road at MacArthur, had our binoculars and spent some time watching the geese and ducks in the field. Saw three elk tracks and big bear tracks made since the last rain. A drive up Myrtle Creek right now is beautiful. You will see lots of mule deer and probably bear as we usually do.

Scuttlebutt: Smith Lake produced real good all week. My neighbor’s folks were here from Washington and they got their limits up there Saturday. Fishing is tough for some at Brush, Perkins, slow, no report on Bonner, fisherman did better on Robinson than I did. Mr. and Mrs. Bossee from Michigan are spending the summer here just fishing. I ran into them on Smith and Robinson. If you run into them say “hello” — they are nice people!