Judge Woody’s Whopper – Montana’s 1st Fly Fisherman

ANGLERS ENTERTAIN ROYALLY

Trout Banquet, Trout History and Trout Lies Fill A Happy Evening

The banquet given last night by the members of the Western Montana Anglers’ association was in every respect a success. More than 150 of the members and their friends sat at two long tables, laid in the Palace café, and partook of red-bellied trout, cooked to the queen’s taste. The fish were delightfully served, the accompaniments were dainty and the sweet cider which washed them down was fine bait. Good fellowship prevailed and good music added to the enjoyment of the good food and the good talks. It was all right. It advanced the cause of the anglers’ association a long way. Rev. H. S. Gatley asked the blessing, which preceded the meal.

Walter M. Bickford, the father of the association and the good friend of its work, was toastmaster and filled the chair at the head of the table in inimitable style. At the outset of the after-banquet program, Judge Bickford explained briefly the purpose of the association and reviewed the work that it has done. He said that Missoula has the best bunch of anglers in the state and a fine lot of fellows who don’t fish but are willing to help the cause along.

The toastmaster read telegrams of regret from Representative Charles N. Pray, Game Warden Avare, Chairman Mathewson of the state game and fish commission, and D. Gay Stivers of Butte, all of whom were sorry they could not be present. Then, very appropriately, Judge Bickford introduced Mayor Evans to respond to the toast, “How to Protect the City Sewers From the Invasion of Trout.”

The mayor aptly replied that he believed a more vital topic to be, how to keep fishermen out of the sewers and he would agree to use his influence with the police judge to have the morning-after fines made as light as possible. He expressed approval of the work of the association and satisfaction at being present at the banquet.

Jude Woody was the next speaker. He told about “Old-Time Sport With the Rod.” He described the excellent fishing which western Montana streams afforded when he first came to Montana in 1856. He said the Missoula river was then as clean and as full of fish as the Bitter Root. It was no trick to catch fish then. The judge said he believed he was the first man to fish with an artificial fly in Montana and he told about it. He was fishing in the Deer Lodge river. He had a horsehair line and had filed a hook out of a wire that he got from an old tin pan. He got tired of catching grasshoppers for bait and proceeded to cut a lock of his own hair which he attached to the hook and which he found served admirably. He caught 100 trout with it before he quit. The judge told some other stories but this one started the yarns of the evening and the judge set such a good pace that it was hard to follow him.

John M. Lucy came next, with “Irish Fish and Blue-Eyed Girls,” as his theme. He said there were no fish in Ireland and he’d rather not tell about blue-eyed girls as he wished to avoid trouble. But he told some good stories and sailed into Judge Woody’s yarn in a way that was scandalous. He asked why the judge didn’t use a hairpin instead of digging a wire out of a tin pan. He talked about ministers and beer and everything but fish and made a fine speech.

John H. Tolan responded to “The Fish I Never Caught.” He told about the fish and paid an eloquent tribute to the pastime of Isaak Walton.

Tylar B. Thompson, called upon to tell “The Difference Between a St. John Salmon and a Digby Chicken,” told some ancient Montana history that crowded Judge Woody pretty closely and contained some clever reminiscences. He had some of the fellows scared lest he tell some things which he didn’t.

William L. Murphy responded to “The Man Who Never Caught a Fish” and before he got through made some of the regulars look sick. His was a specially bright and witty speech and captured the house.

A. L. Stone was asked to define “The Difference Between Ananias and a Missoula Angler.” He contended that there might be a difference, except that Ananias was stricken dead.

Dan O’Hern’s toast was “The Missoula Anglers’ Association,” and he illustrated his reply with some clever stories. His early training in fishing was in Iowa and it’s different fishing for trout and bobbing for catfish. But Dan was able to discuss the subject just as well as if he had been born on the banks of Lolo.

Frank McHaffie was given a minute and a half in which to tell about two months of fishing on the Blackfoot. He started in but the bell rang before he had warmed up. He did mighty well as far as he got.

Dan Heyfron in a clever speech presented the famous Lemley cuff buttons which McHaffie caught this summer, sixty miles from where a fish swallowed them, three years ago; and caught them in the same fish that swallowed them. Lemley wasn’t there to receive them but Bill Cave acted as his proxy.

The toastmaster attempted to dismiss the banquet at this stage, but President Heimbach of the association persisted, and said that the judge was very arrogant in not permitting those to speak who wanted to do so. For one he wouldn’t stand for it. He then made a neat speech, in which he referred to the splendid service which Judge Bickford has rendered the association and then presented the toastmaster with a diminutive hand reel, a tapeline with which to measure his trout, and a handsome flybook. Judge Bickford’s response was graceful and the session closed with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”

There was music during the evening by a quartette composed of Messrs. McCarthy, Jeancon, Bowling and Harrah, which was much appreciated, and in the gallery a mandolin singing orchestra rendered delightful strains. It was a happy occasion. Piquette & Carter provided the smokes.

Believe it or not, the above article appeared in The Missoulian on September 30, 1911.

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