Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-04
Salmon Fishing.

The following graphic and lively sketch
OF salmon fishing is from an entertaining
article in the -dtiantic for August. entitled
Ten Days Sport on Salmon Rivers" by
Dean Sage:
Il hooked him in front of Mowat's house
he rose to the same small dark Nicholson
fly | had killed the other salmon with.
His first run was not rapid as he started off,
but steady, lasting gait that showed con-
scious power. As he went on his speed
increased until he was about sixty yards
of line out. Which was obliged to give
him i'll order not to take the canoe past the
only spot where, for some distance, we
could land. When he jumped he showed
larger than any fish have seen. and made
me doubtfulof my ability to land him. As
s)on as l reached the beach l It r;ed down
and began to reel in but had only gained
Il few feet of line when the fish took an
other rush down stream, and for a couple
of hundred yards kept me going at full
speed over very rough country composed
chiefly Of driftwood, stumps. and large
rocks. When he halted, which he did
after jumping twice more. l had about
ten yards of line left. and despite my IA
tigue and bruises Il had fallen flat over a
large flat rocky had to keep on rs fast rs |
could reel up. had hardly gained half
my line when off went the fish again, and
| had another ioot-race which left my reel
almost bare. At the conclusion of this
burst he jumped again and then began
coming towards me. This is an exceed
ingly dangerous thing tor Il salmon to do
and if not soon checked certainly results
in his breaking loose, As the current makes
the sag downstream, and II Is sure TO catch
on some of the rocks. which have All their
sharp edges pointed in the direction of the
current. Fortunately the canoe was some
distance above me, and the Indians brought
it over the fish and turned linn down
stream before he had done any harm. He
then took refuge behind Il rock aud skulk-
ed for half an hour. being perfectly will
ling to have him DO so until could get my
second wind. 1t took a good deal of
>toning and one pike-pole TO start him 60
ing again, but at last after rs arluous an
hour and Il half as | ever spent, during
which the fish had jumped nine times and
fought with unsurpa>Sable resolution and
intelligence. he was induced to come with
in ten yards of me. where held him, fins
erect and his Wouth open, while Peter with
many 4 caution went Just below to gat1
him. When he got in position cased up
It ilttle oll lllC reel, lllc usll Slll uoN IL
stream, Peter made 4 dash at him out of
reach and missed; the salmon made one
last effort, parted the frayeI gut, rolled
o 'er utterly exhausted, and disappeared.
! Mowat saw him that evening laying by n
large stone at the edge of the rapid Just
moving his fins, and with about a yard of
my leader hanging out of his mouth So
severe were the ru>hrs of this fish that
found the brass RING at the end of my rod
tip cut so nearly through by the friction of
| the line that | was afraid to use it again.
| sincerely hope that salmon lived and will
populate the Ro>tiyouche with his kind,
for a nobcr and gamer one never swan.
Mowat thought he would weigh above
forty pounds. the Indians over fifty. and |,
at least sixty. don't think had hold OF
SO large a salmon Is this again, though
the next Monday lost two leaders with
heavy fish did not see, which started up
stream instead of down. rs soon rs hooked,
and could not be checked"