The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-10

y
surface almost as soou as your line lights on
the water. Down he goes towards his favorite
cover. under some projecting bush or log, or by
some overhanging or bottom rock, to enjoy his
prize. Your line tightens, and you strike home.
Ten to one he has been in the same scrape before,
and has learned the proper tactics in many
pitched battle with the same sort of foe. He
knows his danger, but is never frightened out of
his wits. One or two stout Jerks by way of
feelers, and If he finds himself fast hooked now
come the "evolutions OF the Inc" and the
grand charges and skilful retreats, and the high
acrobatic feats that make the brook trout famous
among fishermen over all others of the
fnny tribe. Now he darts to the centre of the
pool, and jumps clear out of water, shaking
himself with all his might TO undx the fatal barb;
now dives, and comes up again, makes for the
toughest, swiitest water, and turns dozen
summersauts. This is the critical point, and
you must give him line, or his herce Jumps will
break your tackle or tear out the hook. He takes
advantage OF it IN an instant, and darts tor the
nearest bush or root, or some old tree.top under
water If he can find one, knowing well that If he
can hitch his line he can disengage the hook
before the slack can be recovered. But your reel
has rapidly tautened him up again, and the chef
danger is past. Perhaps, after one or two more
fierce runs about the pool, in which you give
him gently all the line he wants, he will
give it up, and come quietly to the net. But
don't be deceived. He may have other tricks
to try. Zip goes the line again, and you see
HIM charge straight at you. You cannot take
up your line, perhaps, fast enough to tauten on
this new manGuvre, and the first you know, If
you are standing in pretty deep, swift water,
where you cannot step quickly without missing
your footing, and going under yourself, fish
basket, tackle trout, and all, he has wound the
line around Your trousers leg got Off the hook,
and bid you goodby with snap of his tall as
he Whisks down the current Perhaps, having
tTipd all DOints Of fhp DOnl hp lawns IL
by you like streak, and darts up the rapids;
and while you turn him around and endeavor
to hold him, he cuts flourish at every twig or
rock along shore where he could possibly tie
the line. Bat, the game Is up. Acknowledging
that he has had a fair chance, he yields as
gracefully as he fought bravely, and allows
himself to be reeled in, and lifted home with
the landirg net with nothing more than a flop
OF his tail to show his satisfaction at being
clearly taken by fair means. II he is a
halEpound trout or larger, you can feast
your eyes now on the handsomest OF all Gods
creatures, with one exception, which will in
stantly recur 10 the fisherman, for it has been
truly said that he that loves not one loves not
the other. There are many slips between the
bite and the basket in trout fishing. The tackle
must be fine IN well-hshed streams, or the trout
Will lay close and laugh at your clumsy cheats,
and only the gentlest play will prevent the large
ones from smashing things. Often the hook is
not we'll taken, and slips out after one or two
jumps or lounges, and III many places the hsh
will find a dozen means to clear himself in spite
of all you can do. With the best OF fishing more
than half the bites are lost, and IT is this uncer
tainty that puts the angler always on his best
behavior, and gives excitement and zest to the
sport.
OF course the fly Is the finest means of catch
ing trout in the proper season Tor fly fishing
but there are bats that ale Just as iair and re-
quire Just as fine work, and VIII catch as many
ana larger trout. In 1act in stream well sup.
piled with natural iood for trout, the successful
fisherman must not only use bait, but must
In
suit their vary ying and delicate notions OF ''good
| vlctuals." The writer went 10 Rush river fully
| determined and, as he thought, well prepared
| to rely mainly on the fly. His flies, however,
! proved worthless, having been got up to sell,
| and not to resemble any natural fly, at least IN
| those waters, and he was Obliged TO resort to
| bait. His tavorite bait is got up as iollOws:-
| Take q small trout and with sharp knife slit
| down the ventral tin near the middle, and cut
| neatly, with slight curve, a light, long bait
| from thence through the edge of the tail. Hook
! on the bait near the piece of fin, not through
| the tn, but on one side OF 1t, so as to leave 1t
| free to play in the water, and you have a bait
| that If well handled, is more nearly like min
now, in the eye OF trout, than any other. II
has this special advantage, it lasts well and
| does not require to be 'doctored" often.
1t plays finely on a rapid motion, and sets the
fish da1tng Tor it from all points, and where you
suspect big trout Is lying well under bank
rock, or a lot OF foodwood, and is too lazy to
| come out and rise for you, you can put on @
| heavy sinker and let 1t down with almost a GER
tainty that its tishy look will amuse him, and
| that he will make for it with avidity, however
| clumsily it is handled. When this bait Will not
| answer, cut a similar and darker one from the
little ornamental lin on the back of the fish, lust
behind the dorsal, taxing the whole of the little
fin, however, and Sitting through the tail as
| before. When they Will take neither OF these
| bats, which is very seldom, the grasshopper OF
some fly or worm must be found.
| | recommend Rush river to any one who
| wants a good place to go to for wild sports
| during the fishing or hunting season. II ladies
| are in the party, they can find good amusement
| about Lake City or Maiden Rock. Plenty Of
| pleasant drives, good boating, and delightful
| places to lamble about the bluffs, or ride oI
| drive along the beautiful pralres and groves on
| the Minnesota side, or the valley OF Rush river
| on the other. Take the cars for La Crosse, and
| thence go up by one OF The splendid steamers o.
| the Upper Mississippi.
must not close without referring to my friend
| Mr.. Hicks, who took care OF me while on ROCK
| river He has q clearing" and good loo house
| at the verv point on the fishing ground where
one wants to make headquarters, and whether
| you camp out or take quarters with him, Will &c
| everything to make you enjoy the fishing. The
pleasant voice OF the river pouring its endless
current of laughing waters by his door was
| sweeter music to my ear than the songs OF birds
| Even the Marine Band, that discourses such de
lighttul melodies alternately at the Capitol ana
White House ends OF the avenue at Washington
bringing out what chords OF harmony il may be
tween the Executive ana the Legislative halls,
would have been hushed in admiration there
The trout are Mr., Hicks pets and they gather
on the rippes right by hts door, waiting 10 ot
| "called to breakfast Whenever guest wants
them, they are called 'You bet.n If one car
| find better food than these, together with the
incest venison, sweet milk, that seems all cream
| to one who has been supplied from city mllI
| wagon, winter wheat bread, as white as snow