The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-06-21
Landing q front.

.
Adirondack" gives the following graphic
account OF the catching of an energetic trout:
Reader, did you ever land trout? do
not ask II you ever jerked some poor little
fellow out OF brook three feet across, with
q pole six inches around at, the butt, and SO
heavy as to require both hands and feet to
hold 1t out. No; that's not Landing a
trout" But did you ever sit in q boat with
nine ounces Of lance wood for q rod and 200
feet OF braided silk on your dOuble-acting
reel, and hook trout whose strain brought
tip and butt together as you checked him in
some wild flight, and tested your quivering
line from gut to reel knot? No one knows
what game there is in trout unless lie has
fought 1t out, matching such rod against
three pound fish, with forty feet of water
underneath, and clear, unimpeded sweep
around him. All then it is that one dis
covers what will and energy lie within the
mottled skin Of trout, and what a miracle
Of velocity he is when reused. l love the
rifle, and have looked along the sights and
will, steadying myself for the shot, when my
veins fairly tineled with the exhilarating ex-
element Of the moment; but If one should
ask me what is my conception OF pure physi-
cal happiness, I should assure him that the
highest beatitude | ever expect to reach is,
on some future day, when the sun Is occa-
sionally yelled by clouds, to sit in boat
once more upon that little lake, and match
again Conroy rod against three pound
trout. That's what call happiness.
Well, as I said, I struck, and as we after
ward discovered, the huge salmon hook was
buried to the shank amid the nerves which
lie at the root of trout;s tongue. Then
came fight for the mastery, such as never
before had waged with anything that
swims. Words should have life in them to
depict the scene. Quick as flash, before
had fairly recovered my balance, partially
lost by the energy with which I struck, the
trout started, and before could get pres
sure upon the line, not twenty yards were
left on the reel. A quick stroke from John,
and the boat shot to one side. and bearing
stoutly on him, tasking the rod to the last
ounce of resistance. slowly swayed him
about and recovered u little slack. After a
few short sweeps he doubled on the line. and
shot straight for the boat as an arrow from a
bow. 'a
- Double, and be hanged to you % shouted
John, as he SHE'D the light shell to one side
and swung it round SO as to keep me facing
the fish. q If you get under this boat, it
will be because this paddle BREAKS"
Failing In his attempt to run under US, he
dove to the bottom. $ Let him rest mo-
ment," said John :" recover your line
you'll need it all when he rises. He's big
and ugly, and his next rush will be like
Aghtning."l M i9
After had slowed away some forty yards
upon the reel, windingi it on hard and evenly.
Sd that it would render well, began to feel
Of the fish. The first pressure elected only
shake. Atithe next he described circle,
still keeping to the bottom, then came to a
stand still. He acted ugly. felt that when
the rush came, it would try nerve and tackle
alike. Enjoining John to watch the fish and
favor me all he could, and by no means to
let him pass under the boat. l gave quick,
sharp jerk. My arm was still in the air, and
/ the rod unstraightened, when / caught
glance far below me, and before l had time
to wink the huge fellow parted the water al
most within reach OF my arm, and when
Thigh up in mid air he shook himself, the
crystal drops were flung into my very face.
Perhaps shall live long enough 70 forget the
picture, as that trout for aninterval hung in
the air, his blue black and azure sides spot.
ted with gold and agate, his fins edged with
snowy white, his eyes protruding, gftls dis
tended, the leader hanging from his jaws,
while a shower of pearly drops were shaken
from his sides. He fell; but while still in
the air the boat glided backward, and when
he touched the water was thirty feet away
and ready for his rush. 1t came; and as be
passed us, some forty feet off, he Glove the
water as bolt from cross-bow might cleavt
the air. Possibly for five minutes the frenzy
lasted. Not a word was uttered. The whil
Of the line through the water, the whir; o.
| the flying reel, and an occasional grunt from
John as the fish doubled on the boat. wert
the only sounds to be heard. When sud.
denly in one Of his widest flights the terri
| bly, taxed rod Strengthened itself out with 1
spring, the pressure ceased, the line slack
| ened, and the fish lay again on the bottom
Wiping the sweat from my brow. Lturned t.
John and said, '.What do you thinkof that?'
..Mr. Murray" replied John, laying tn
( paddle down and drawing the sleeve OF nj
| wooden shirt across his forehead, beadet
| with perspiration, ''that fish is ugly; if b
should get the line over his back, he'd sEasl
| the rod like pipestem."
| HE won't get it over his back, = replied
Ready with your paddle; he's getting to-
s'But say" said John, looking affection
ately at the rod, as he took up the paddle
| ''If [ was in your place, and he did get tn
line over his shoulder, | would part m
tackle before I smashed that rod
81 WON'T do either, John, and as an
1 swered I gave q jerk, and the trout starte'
again. Twice did he break the surface
hundred feet away, flinging himself out lik
a black bass. Once cid he partially get th
leader over his back and dashed away lik
lightning, while John, anxious to save IS
itrue rod from ruin, shouted to me, "Par
the gut" But who ever knew fisherman
when his blood is up, refuse risk to saw
1.the game? screamed to John to shoot tn
boat one side, and when the last foot OF sill
was given advanced the butt. The heav
fish and plant rod were pltted one agains
the other. For a moment the quivering u
| ratified upon the bars of the reel. The MS
struggled and shook, himself, but the tena
cious ibers would not part. BE, ceased
battle, came painting to the surface, an
rolled over upon his side. The boat snot &c
ward him, and, as it glided by, John Passe
the landing net beneath him, and the pray
lighter lay upon the bottom board. his tan
across Its base, measured i've inches. an
his length from tip to tip was seventee
inches and thrce-quarters.