The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-31
Trout Fishing-The Fly VS.. Worms.

was trout fishing. His nice apprecia-
tion of the piscatorial art gave him the
name of "The Walton of Western New
York" While fishing he always used
the fly; there are many who still remem-
Der his skillful manner of throwing 1t.
He entertained the most sovereign con-
tempt for any other mode of capturing
trout-the aristocrat of the brook, as he
termed thai fish. One day when on
fishing excursion he met fisherman
whose we'll filled basket proved his sue
cess.
"You have fine basket oftrout there"
faid the Judge.
"Yes, sir, but I should have caught
more. only my bait gave OUT said the
man.
"Bait. Bait! What, are you one OF
those fellows that kill quart of angle
worms or a peck of grubs to catch one
/ fish? One of those fellows who can't
appreciate the nature Of a trout any
more than an ape can literature" said
the Judge.
II mean to say that I caught these
fish with angle worms for my bait, and
/ I'd like to know what that is to you?"
said the man.
Don't you know that it is unmanly
and vulgar to fish for trout in that way?
I would as soon eat carrion as trout
caught with hook baited with angle
worms" said Fitzhugh.
"Who the deuce are you that goes
about telling folks what they should fish
with? Maybe you haven't read the
Declaration eff independence" said the
fisherman.
81 am gentleman, sir, and you are
not. A man can't be a gentleman that
fishes for trout with angle-worms."
as it any of your business what a
man fishes with? You talk as though
you owned all the fish in this country.
You don't though-I've a great mind to
throw you into the creek; but you are
such an ugly-looking cuss you'd scare
} all the fish out of it. l should like to
, thrash my cowyard with you," said the
f man in a towering passion.
"Attempt any violence upon me and
: I'll make live bait of you in minute
a I tell you it is my business what a man
e fishes with. 1t is the business of all
: civilized and Christianized people. Fish
:. ing with angle-worms degenerates trou
h to common sucker-a crab-it bafflei
h science-it teaches that splendid fish thu
e habits of a common bull-head, that any
e idiot can catch. Fishing with fly il
fair game between man and trout; i
gives them both a chance to eXercis'
their skill"
% "What odds does it make how yo'
: catch a trout if you only get him?
= catch fish because like TO eat them,
,r said the man.
"That's because you are nothing but
Y cannibal. Fishing with fly is a fai
n game between the man a trout; it give
II them both a chance TO exercise thei
N skill A trout darling for fly remind
re me of swoop of an eagle; there
\ something daring and brilliant in hi
o. movements; he charges on his prey lik
of hero, and if caught he dies gala Il!
= not sucking stinking angle worm lik
o a hungry Iubber," said the Judge.
~ ''See here, what's your name? By go
ly, YOU talk well. I'd like to hear thu
n over again. Tell feller your name"
ID "My name is Fitzhugh-a name
II have never disgraced, and never sha
a until am caught in the iunkey bus
81 ness of catching trout with angl,
clz worms"
H. care you Judge Fitzhugh, the ma
that can catch trout with buncomb fl
40 on his hook, where there amt any, ju
% as we'll as he can where there's plenty
6, themY'
.1- "They call me Judge Fitzhugh,"
~ "Well, I'd half mind to thrash yc
just now, you was so confounded sass
They say yon are the sassiest man in Il
of world, and I believe it. Those shag'
no eyebrows, and those great black eyes, al
-, that black hair-well, l guess l dol
be want to get hold of you, SO let's
,be friends. Judge, do you think I cou
ese learn to catch trout with fy?"
lily "Yes," said the Judge, amused at t
ced mans manner and words. "Go with n
vas and 1 will give you lesson" They We
md soon by the side of oae of those beau
his full streams in Northern Steuben, ii
the in those days swarmed with the fin
; of trout. Soon Fitzhugh's line went VIII
ght zing through the air, the swift-wing
| in fly alighting on the water full thirty f
ing distant; the next moment a splen'
try trout lay painting on the grass. The N
.cre watched the skillfully thrown line W
its darting insect, now alightning on
edge of swift-whirling eddy, now *
ping over bright ripples, now hoati
on the smooth current, then gyrati
the near a shelving rock like "strong swi
Let mer in his agony" tempting the 81
the tenants of the brook to spring at
o OF glittering bait, to find himself eau
the full surely by the fatal snare.
ad The man fingered until Fitzhug
at basket was nearly filled, then, with
y 1t miration glowing on his face, exclain
feat "Judge, that's big game between
OF and those trout--a pretty one, to
at there's science in it. Blame me if
terS' don't get the best of it, though, ev
the time. Maybe they'll be too smart
II OF me at that game; but I've done with
very gle worms hereafter. Angle-worm
pldS' hanged, if 1 never catch another tr
gag I'll try nv hand at the fly next tir
shop fish. Good-by Judge" and the m
'ush' form was soon lost in the deep forest
ald Some time during the ensuing wi
quar- Judge Fitzhugh received two splel
his saddles of venison from some person
trug- known, neatly packed in a box. O
To- moving the cover paper was discove
at II on which was written the following.
arm "From the feller that don't fish
plat angle worms any more, but goes it st
.e OF Tho Tb1a r7aat 10 for vOur