Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-07
Fishing at MOOsehead Lake.

There is grea! difference in sports
men. Your city bred man comes with
any number OF flies, with pttent rod with
all the latest Improvements He dresses
in corduroy and flannel. twi.es his extra
iles around his hat band, and tucks his
trowSerS into his boot legs with the
significant air Of knowing what he is
about. Quite another man is lh line
fisherman, whether from the pi,; or
living Al the lake. He indulg.s IL 20
superlluiiies, doesn't talk, goe- straight
tor game. He has the best GU. - the
best canoes. the bes. fishing ground.
Generous rs he may be in all things -.-,.
he Is always selfish. He can not endure
rival. Most OF the guides understand
all that can be known about fishing. IL
is one OF the strong point in their pro
tession. They invest but little in novelties.
They are not confined to the fiy. A stick.
a hook, a worm. make their equipment,
and you can always count on their sue.
cess. Many minister, apostolic with
his rod ii not in his commission. and
many lawyer have the same tact at
catching trout. They know how TO
do 1t. They can no more impart the
skill to others than you can make the
diSining rod work in uniting hands.
The birch skiils shoot out from the Kineo
pier at 9 A. NJ. or earlier, often wives
and daughters accompanying the fisher.
men, and go to the famous fishing. pools.
returning at plight with the brilliantly
spotted game, which is served fol break
fast the next morning. The guides have
wonderful skill in handling these birches
IN quick water and amidst heavy seas.
They are Yankees. Indians. and nalf-
breeds, intelligent. thoroughly wide
awake. and interesting in all that relates
to backwoods life, and capable of story
telling 10 any extent. The Day Dream
takes parties to oil points on the lake for
fishing or pleasure to the Outlet, to Lily
Bay. TO the Socatean Stream. TO the
Northeast or Northwest Garry. to Spen.
Ger Stream. and 10 the North Bay, the
Kineo Cliff A whale. boat with ssteam.
engine in it. Il gem Of steamer. The
factotum at Mount Kineo, IL works night
and day during the height of the season,
and brings the distant hooks and points
OF interest within easy reach for the days
sport. Guides and fishermen rapidly
assimilate in appearance as the days go
on, till you can hardly tell the bronzed
faces one from the other, and are forced
TO confess the truth OF the saying that
dress makes the man-certainly makes
the distinction which we too often ascribe
20 birth or fortune.
The fishing itself is hardly what it used
10 be when the lake was overful oil
specified trout. 1t now requires more
skill. The trout do not rise so readily TO
the fly, and vet the sport is not lessened !;
they are still abundant--if you can catch
them. They spawn in the brooks which
feed the lake. Spencer Stream is
famous spawning bed. 1t is filled with
liLtle mounds or heaps OF gravel stones
made by the trout. which carry the peb-
bIes in their mouths. and place theD: in
regular order over their spawn with their
.ails. The survival OF the ittest is the
law in the realm of fishes as well as in
contest of races. The male trout protects
the female. while spawning, from the
reaches and the redins, which seek to
destroy the spawn, and these mounds
are the castles of defense which the trout
erect for this purpose. Even with this
protection, it is estimated that not more
than one trout in one thousand arrives at
maturity. The little streams are alive
with the tiny trout darting to and fro in
in schools in the shimmering light. The
fish have their haunts, with which all the
good guides are familiar. They often
follow the log booms in the spring, and
have their holes as in the meadow
streams. The fy is used at all seasons.
though September is the best month.