Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-05

but pleasant interview with one of the
principal inhabitants of this stream when
| was here before. If SO, you know that
one of his successors 10 office is there
now, for among the trout there are no
vacancies left in the best places. and the
biggest one takes his choice. The eovet-
ed spots are where the cover, is best, and
where there is the sharpest lookout for
floating flies and grasshoppers, near the
main current.
You know where to make your cast
just above the brush, but as close to it as
YOU can throw and well under Che bank.
One or two passes at the stream little
way of, to get your line well out. Now
"go for him!" Hardly time to compli-
ment you for the good cast before the
water breaks vigorously under the bush;
your line tautens; quick as lightning a
wide tail flaps out of the water. we catch
a glimpse of speckled sides, and then the
trout darts for his cover and gives you
your hands full of business to keep him
out of it. This is the trial Of your rod,
at this moment of his first deep run for
the bank. 1t bends to the waters edge,
but the recoi is quick and firm, and the
first danger is over. You get him q
yard or tive away, and then he turns and
darts for the bush top. The rod springs
on him again, anu be just misses the top
of the bush and sails more leisurely out
into the open stream, Now, take your
time, General; gentle play, steady
hand, and sharp eye for his sudden
tricks, and there is no danger. What is
the use of my telling you what maneu
vers that trout will perform before he
comes TO the landing, gently as a pet
lamb? dent know what be will do.
Never saw two of them act alike. Look
out there! He's making for the bush
again. ALI right, you turned him neat
| ". You may be certain he will do all
that can be done under the circumstan-
stances; for Rush River trout are we'll
fed, muscular fellows, and every large
one has been in similar serape before.
Now see him jump out of the water and
shake his head. Once, twice-a green
hand would lose him now. Down no
goes Another jump. This time he be-
begins to feel discouraged, and gldes
slowly up the current. You commence
gently reeling him towards you. Anoth-
er plan occurs to him, and he makes a
quick turn and strong run down stream
TO feel the end of your line. Ten, TWEEN
sy. perhaps thirty yards spin out. No
use; he can 90 no further against the
strain, let the line DO ever so long. He
yields partly. and allows you to reel him
toward home again. One trial more.
He notices a little bush in the waters
edge and runs for it. If he can give
your line one hitch over that, he kaows
he can break off. Again you foil him.
He makes few spasmodic darts to re
cover it, as this is the last maneuver laid
down in bis book of tactics. They fail.
He makes a show of strength and reso-
luton as you reel him up the stream,
then throws himself upon his side, fops
his tail once or twice in token of surren-
der. and allows himself to be led into the
net without further resistance. You walk
proudly with him to the bank, and if
you have the spirit of man about you,
as you deposit him safely thereon, care
ful listener will hear some noise in your
vicinity resembling an Indians war
whoop. We will not tell any one how
large this trout is till we find whether
there are any better ones for us; but it is
not less than two pounds and quarter,
and may be good deal more. This is
very heavy and fat one for his length,
and the weight of such trout is " so de-
ceiving" Anyhow you have come the
General Grant on the hero of hundred
battles, and, if you never catch another
large trout in your life, will not have lived
| in vain.
There are not many such trout just
around here. This fellow, you sec. had
an obscure cover, which the greater
number of fishermen would overlook in
their ambition to fish all the deep, large
pools of tho stream in one day. 1t is
no. likely we shall find many trout as
large as this anywhere in the stream, un-
less we hunt for them specially in spots
where ordinary fishermen dislike to 60.
or cannot reach, or in covers overlooked,
like this one here. Still we may; five
and six Founders are here. / shall show
you one spot to -morrow, where they lay
out in open but deep water, away out of
the common reach; but we will contrive
a plan to drop them line, and see what
comes of it. We shall find George Niclf-
OILS of Prescott, either at Hicks tonight,
or somewhere up stream tomorrow. He
knows the spot, and aided by his genius
we shalt be likely to have a days good
sport, there and Whereabouts.
Now fish your evenings fishing by
yourself, General, around this bend.
You will have the bottom of your basket
well covered with handsome fellows, from
quarter to three-quarters of pound
weight. / will return and have visit
With Mr.. Hicks and his wife; look out
for Nichols and prepare for the morrow.
OLIVER.