The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-04
ADIRoNDAC FISHING.


Correspondence Of the Journal Of Commeree)
PAUL SMTTA's, ST. REGIS, June 10.
As general rule the fishing this year
has been much poorer han usual, owing,
possibly, TO the lateness Of the spring, the
lingering Of the ice in the lakes, and the
consequent interruption Of the ordinary
habits Of the fish. They are plenty some.
where, but we do not know where, and
1t Is only by hard work that we are able
to make decent show OF fish Tor the
evening return home. This, according
to general principals, should make good
fishing in the summer, and ! have little
doubt that the July and August sport In
the Adirondacs will be better than usual
It's q remarkable fact that we have not
found the fish at any time yet on the
rapids. Unusually before this time they
are gathered In masses wherever the riV-
crs flow rapidly down among rocks, or
over gravel beds. Nearly all that We have
taken have been In still wAter.
Nevertheless, do not imagine that the
fishing has been 50 poor as TO make a stay
here dull. On the contrary tho sport has
been abundant for men Of reasonable de-
sIres, and the days have glidcd along
with alternate sunshine and storm, always
pleasantly and peacefully.
The first good baskets which we made
were by q severe piece Of work on
Meaoham Rapids. Thrte hours drive
from Pauls took us 10 the bridge. | de-
scribed the fearful character Of the road
In a letter 10 you last spring, Part Of
that road has been abandoned, and In It's
place Is a good level road around Noun
tain Pond. We entered the river at the
bridge, and, with considerable experience
of river fishing, am free to say that
never knew harder work than we did
that day. The river was very high and
wild. we found no bottom for our ieet,
for the rapids are over loose rocks, and
the footing was not only uncertain, but
dangerous. FiSh were not plenty, and
when we struck 0 respectable one 1t was
next to impossible, TO bring him to net
against the swift current We worked
faithfully from nine IN the morning ill
Iour in the afternoon, welding the river
Tor nearly a mile, and killed, all told,
only about fifty fish, none Weighing over
half a pound.
We then drove homeWard, and as VIC
approached Barnum Lake ! proposed to
Try some casts on the water near the in
let. Dupont didn't believe init / perse.
vered and we pulled up at the bridge,
under which flows the coolest stream
know Of in these parts. ! had not taken
off my wadlng stockings, and went out OF
once into the water, and sent couple OF
flies over three lily pads, the advance
guard oil hundreds that will appear as the
summer comes on. The result OF that
first cast Rstonished me, and induced
Dupont who remained In the wagon, 10
hurry on his Wadlng stockings.
"What does he weigh r asked Dupont,
as the trout struck the tall fly.
"NOt much over Q pound said, "but
he's strong fish, and the lVellest one ]
have felt this spring" Before had him
in my landing net my friend was Wading
out by my side and had struck another
good fish. In little over an hour we
killed aleen, running from a half pound
10 pound and a half each, and those
topped OF our baskets very handsomely.
Barnum is ono Of the best lakes for
trout in this neighborhoOd, but 1t Is not
easy TO fish 1t In all weatherS. The pro-
yailtng winds mako II rough, and when a
heavy sea Il smashing up al the inlet the
water 10 disturbed and dirty, and the
trout do not likeit. On the other hand,
Il the weather Is calm and the water
smooth, they do not come up at all, but
are more likely TO be found at the foot
ofthe pond, where are acres Of lilly pads.
Among these fishing Is far from easy, and
Il Is only by experience that one learns
how to do L. The method Is very sim
pie, and may strike some readers as rath-
or rough on tackle. But II Is the only