The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-06-14
When 10 get Salmon.

Nhen 10 get salmon
There are times aud seasons for sal
mon fishing as for all things. But all
times and all seasons are not alike. Nor
are all places. The best time to fish for
salmon, where salmon are to be fished
for, is the first hour the water is In con-
dition; that Is, as soon as the spring
freshets have subsided, and the water,
by falling back into it, natural channel
has become freed from the surface rub
ish washed into il, and sufficiently set
tied to render your line visible to the
eye of the fish. This time varies on
different rivers, according to their
length, their volume, and character of
the soil through which they flow. On
some rivers the drainage is so limited
that fly may be east successfully so
soon as the ice disappears. There are,
however, but few rivers ON either side
the Gulf, or i'm either of the Provinces,
where the best fishing is attainable be-
fore the first of June. The "seasOn"
continues from that tilhe on to the mid
die of August, although there is often
good sport into September, when the
last "run" begin their journey. But
no posted angler would care to be
compelled to take the chances of sport
after the close Of August, as only very
few fish come up from the sea later, and
those remaining in the river are wear
led from their long iourneyings, or are
torpid from their prOtracted absence
from the sea.
Within the period named-June to
the middle of August-salmon are gamy
and muscular wherever found,
whether one or fifty miles from
the ocean. But the pools most coveted
are those in closest proximity to salt
water. Salmon are at their best when
they begin their upward journey. The
fresh element in which they find them
selves seems to give them new life and
friskiness, and when hooked they fight
with strength and fierceness not eX-
hibited in the same measure afterward.
\ twenty pound salmon fresh from the
sea gives you the play of thirty pound
fish taken weeks after he has made his
way far up toward the headwaters of
fifty or hundred mile river.
This fact, however, is not only per-
ceptible to the novice, but the sport fur
nished by the capture of a salmon at
any point in river, or at any stage of
his sOiourn i'm fresh water, is so grandly
eXhilerating and so full of the intensest
excitement, that it is a matter of but
tritling moment where fish is struck
so long as the angler strikes him.
But the season is important. The
earlier weeks on any river are to be pre-
ferred, not alone because the fish have
more vitality, but because, as a rule,
they are more abundant. With an un-
erring instinct which is as mysterious
as it is wonderful, they seek the rivers
where they were born upon the return
of every spring. If the rivers are in
condition for their ascent, they begin
their journey at once. But the rivers
are not alway in this condition when
salmon first come to them; and if they
are not, they wait their opportunity,
and then move forward with the regu-
larity and steadiness of an army under
marching orders. Hence they are Or
dinarily found in greatest numbers at
the first rush; and they are most for
tunate who are duly placed, at favorite
pools, to bid them welcome. .-Gdlary.