Postcard from the Past: Best Catch of the Season

Hatchery officials hold the record for making the largest catch in the shortest time

Thus reads the headline on the front page of the Nov. 15, 1917 issue of The Saratoga Sun. The news item follows:

Superintendent O.N. Baldwin and a crew of men from the federal hatchery near town furnished amusement for a considerable audience when they seined the river above and below the bridge last Friday afternoon to procure a stock of rainbow trout for use at the hatchery.

Many local fishermen, who observed Baldwin’s preparations for seining the pool above the bridge, offered varied opinions as to what his catch would be, the general opinion being he would do exceedingly well if he brought out 50 trout from a pool which had been fished so continuously throughout the season. 

Some even declared he would do well if he caught 20, and all were indeed astonished at the large number of fine trout – mostly rainbow, with a few of the Loch Laven, German brown and speckled varieties – which were captured.

Over 100 of the largest and best of these were saved, and another pull made, this time below the bridge, when fully as many more were secured. A great many of the smaller trout were returned to the river, as well as hundreds of pounds of suckers.

About 300 rainbow trout of suitable size and condition for breeding purposes were secured and removed in cans to the fishery station, a couple of miles from town.

On Thursday afternoon, the men had seined a couple of pools in the east branch of the river above town, where they secured 200 or more, bringing the total for the two days to about 500.

Baldwin was well pleased with his catch and expects to soon be able to supply young fry of the rainbow family to various other hatcheries, which have heretofore been unable to get sufficient rainbow spawn to supply the demand.

The National Fish Hatchery four miles north of Saratoga was opened in 1915 and has been in continuous operation since. Rumor has it, it may be shut down in the near future, but then, that’s another fish tale.