River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-30
Catching Trout.

Always fish Gown stream, if possible.
There are many reasons for this, among
Others, the following: In fishing up
stream the bait is continually coming
home to ones feet, after every east, and
the nearer it approaches the person, the
less chance for bite. The contrary is
the case in fishing down stream, the bait
is carried by the current away from the
fisherman, and his chances of capture are
each moment increased. If the brook is
large enough,-and even in very small
ones,-if practicable, it is always best to
wade in the bed of the stream, as by this
means one can keep the bait in the water
for long distances, without making cast
which, in the localities am speaking of.
almost always, unless skillfully done, ends
In ones seeing ones tackle fast to some
bough or bush overhanging the stream.
Again, in fishing up stream, it is impossi-
BILE to keep the bait stationary in any
spot one may desire to cast in, unless by
standing upon the bank, and the chances
of capture are thus greatly decreased;
while in fishing down stream, one can not
only hold the bait in one spot, but by a
motion of the arm conduct it in any given
direction--sink it toward the bottom,
diaw itup stream to the right or TO the
left-to tempt the hidden trout, the mo-
ton of the running water upon the bait
giving one complete control of it by the
slightest motion of the arm.
To be successful in this sport, first give
up all idea of using artificial flies; there
is usually no chance to cast them. and
very few fish will rise TO them, and then
L. % ar OF
Use light but very short jointed pole,
not over twelve feet in length, with fine,
delicate running gear and small, compact
reel; small hooks gagged upon silkworm
gut, of any make that one prefers, there
being great diversity of opinion on this
matter among fishermen. The Limerick
hook has gone nearly out of date, and how
it was endured so long is a mystery. The
Kirby and Aberdeen have taken its place.
Put no lead upon your line at any time +;
it kills the artistic and natural motion OF
your bait. Use, as the most killing bait
yet discovered, angle-worms; and these
may be much improved by being kept
few days upon clean moss, in an uncov-
cred, large mouthed bottle, that they may
scour themselves. In batting, do notpay
the slightest attention to whether the
point of your hook is covered or not: it is
of small consequence, or rather 1t IS more
deadly and better not to be covered than
otherwise. The trout does not nibble; he
darts; he takes, as rule, the bait at once,
or leaves it severely alone. You will find
no more taking bait the year round than
angle worms, although grasshoppers at
certain seasons are very killing. In bait
ing, take worm by the middle and pierce
the hook through small portion, say
half an inch, then put on another in the
same way at the same time. If the fish
are small, half worm treated in this
manner will do, but trout has a large
mouth, and large bait no doubt attracts.
The dangling ends of the worms placed
as above on the hook, have pecu TAR and
natural motion of their own in the wa
ter, which hungry trout is utterly una
BILE to resist, while one may, on the other
hand, cover the whole hook and part of
the gut with a worm stiffly strung on
without motion, and the same trout will
let it be carried past him in the current
without winking.
There is great science in batting, and
it chiefly rests in the skill of having the
worms lively, and with the extremities
left dangling. The bait is often carried
over little fall, into smooth, deep pool,
allow it to sink, and all the time it is do
ing so these four ends of the two worms
are moving about in the clear water in a
much too enticing way for any chance
trout to resist. When you have bite do
not pull at all, but strike your fish, as it
is called; this'is done by motion of the
wrist, sharp, short, abrupt: not jerk, a
motion which is commenced sharply, but
ends almost instantly and abruptly. |
can liken it only to quick movement of
the hand in bringing foil, in fencing
from tierce to carte. tits done by bring
ing the fingernails which are down, hold
ing the rod, suddenly to the left and up
ward, moving the end of the pole upward
and to the left some one or two feet.
Having struck thus, you, in the most
cases, have captured your fish. Be in no
hurry to land him; this is a simple thing
to do; you can do it at your own leisure,
stepping back, should you be in an I'M
comfortable position to make the cast, or
make any other disposition that you desire
before raising your fish gently from the
water, thence to your creel. The great
mistake often made by those who do not
understand this sport is to pull the mo-
ment they have bite; the result usually
is to see the trout wind himself around
some limb overhead, or if he fail to be
hooked, which is often the case in pulling,
to see the bait and hook in the same po-
sition, causing loss of time, patience,
and too often temper, especially when
you feel confident that there are other
trout in the pool ahead and become aware
of the fact that you have got to make a
dash and a splash and complete exposure
of yourself to get at your dangling line,
so that you may fish in vain in the same
pool afterward. Remember that trout
are very shy, and once having disturbed
them, it is useless to fish for them
Douglas FrGsar, an Augest Harper.