The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-04-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THIS CoLUMH Is OPEN 70 ALL.
For Tn" Cecil Whig.
TROUT FISHING ON THE NEEPIGON.

Pleasures Of tie Trip ErcHiag E'rsnt-1r-
rirat at tie Fishing Grounds First Day's
Success $ Grandeur Of the .Sport-II1io the
1roW 'fere Taken, Sc, Sc.
Tuesday morning we awokc with the sun,
washed in the crystal stream which lay laz
lily behind our tent, as if resting after its
terrible fall over the rocks, and at and en-
joyed our breakfast of bacon. We soon
were off again, skimming the surface of the
limpid stream, our canoes speeding swiftly
under the strokes from our 1.-the guides.
The enjoyment OF an early mornings pad
die over such course as that, and under
such circumstances as surrounded us, Is
simply iudescribabe 1t is of itself de
light to sit i'll your birch bark canoe and be
impelled over the waters as only those born
and bred on the stream can do it: but when
you pass through magnificent and hewil-
dering scenery, and are urged on by visions
of trout double the size of any you ever
have seen, the sense of pleasure is too great
for Ineligible expression. The rest of the
course to our permanent camp | will pass
over, as it was repetition of the expert
ences of The last days trip.
AS we were nearing the point where we
were to pitch tent, an event occurred which
illustrates the excitements of a trip to these
regions. which happen daily and serve to
keep the spirits from tagging. Seemingly
as if DESTROYS of making a final exhibition
of that skill with the paddle which had
marked every mile of the way, but realty
on account Of an exceedingly rapid current
which met us here our guides padded mp
the stream about fifty yards beyond the
point they desired to reach upon the oppo-
site side. The crossing i'll the face of such
current requires not only strong arm
and steady nerve, but an accurate calcula
ton of the swiftuess of the water. The
first canoe made the start a little ahead of
ours and was in the middle Of the river
(which was here about 700 hundred yards
wide when ours left the bank Our guide
{" Moses y made nicer calculation and
poled up higher before making the start.
This was WE'LL for the first canoe lost con
siderable water and missed the point they
aimed for, by several rods, and had hard
paddle up the opposite shore until they
reached it. "Moses' had judged the cur
rent wisely, for he landed us at the rock
which stretches its flat surface out into the
river the finest landing we had yet found.
This ferry WAS not such an one as every
body would relish, but it was a delight to
us hardly expressiblc. Here were the far
famed fishing grounds. Our first days
sport brought us more fine, large trout
than eight hungry men could eat. We had
them for breakfast, dinner and supper, ex-
cept when away on a little "tour," our
midday meal would be taken upon some
sheltering rock, while resting from the ex-
hilarating sport; at such times we would
eat crackers, and cheese, and make cot
fee, and keep the finest specimens of the
"spotled beauties - for our supper about
the ''camp fire
The sport was truly fine. The reputation
of the Neepigon had not been too highly
painted. We would sit in our canoes and
"strike" some of the finest trout it ever
was our privilege to see. We would throw
our flashing "tiy" out upon the silvery
surface of the stream, and as soon as the
brilliant bait would touch the water a
streak of light would seem 10 dart up from
the quiet depths of the river, and the pow
erful Jaws of a three pound irOW genuine
salaao tontanalis) would come together
around your hook: and then how the reel
would spin as the gamy beauty would dart
away like a flash to the depths from whence
he had come: and now begins the fun. He
will go until he runs out considerable line,
when, as you Tighten on him, he will
tug and pull like a dog, at the end of the
rope. In the excitement yCnl have arisen,
and now stand up in your boat, watching
and studying the movements of your game:
you wind him in slowly and skillfully until
you see the cleaning sides of the fish
The guide pow gets the dip net ready and
you need a II the skill you possess 10 man
age him You are standing erect. Your
line has been Teeled in as far as it will go;
the handle OF the rod is thrown forward,
the "tip" is bent until it nears your wrist
the trout seems to know that the crisis in
this singular contest has come, and wrig-
giles and tugs away to break your rod. If
the hook is firmly set, his only safety lies
III one of two courses either to snap your
pole by severe Juggling, or by darling under
rock or the boat to rasp your line off
against the edge: so i'll this crisis every
thing depends on your tackle and the skill
you display III its management. The ex-
element has sent a high color to your
cheeks, and your arm already aches with
the long continued position: but hold on,
for it is pluck against pluck. If your rod
is ,rltat il oHght 10 be, and your position is
unchanged, strength will gain the battle,
and you will have the satisfaction of feel
ing the line suddenly slack, and your fish
will give up and turn on his side in despair,
when quick dip with the net will land
him at your feet. Persons who never have
fished for large brook trout will wonder
why you cannot "pull them in as one
does other kinds of fish. But this is i'm
possible with trout tackle. \ good, light
rod is as thin at the tip as the small end of
your pen holder and bends ike willow,
and you are unable to reel your fish in
nearer than four or five feet from the end
of the rod, and everything is SO delicate
that you can't lift him out of the water; so
he must be dipped as we get crabs in Elk
river. OF course small fish can be landed
easily, but when they run from two to four
pounds, you will require the best of tackle
and a good measure of patience.
w w r.