The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-07-31

4 HOW to ttsu sos sfohts
Always, il possible, fish down n
stream. There are many reasons for
this, among others the following: In
fishing up stream the bait is continual
ly coming home to ones feet after every
cast, and the nearer il approaches the
person, the less chance OF bite. The
contrary is the case fishing down
stream; the bait is carried by the eur
rent away from the fisherman, and his
chances of capture are each moment
I increased.
IL the brook is large enough--and
even i'm very small ones-if practica-
! BILE, Ii is always best 10 wade in the
bed of the stream, AZ by this means
one can keep the bait in the water for
! long distances without making cast,
which. in the localities L am speaking
of, almost always, unless skillfully
done, ends in ones seeing cne's tackle
fast to some overhanging bough or
bush overlapping the stream. Again,
in fishing up stream, 1t is impossible to
keep the bait stationary in any spot
one may desire 10 cast in, unless by
standing upon the bank, and the
chances of capture are thus greatly de-
creased; while in fishing down stream,
one can not only hold the bait in any
one spot, but by motion of the arm
conduct it in any given direction
sink it toward the bottom, draw il up
stream, 10 the right or TO the left-to
| tempt the hidden trout. the motion of
the running water upon the bait giving
one complete control of il by the
arm. To be successful in this sport,
first give up all idea OF using artificial
flies; there is usually no chance To east
them, and very few fish will rise to
them, and then only, usually, at early
morn or sunset. Use light but very
short jointed pole, not over twelve feet
in length, with fine delicate running
gear aud small compact reel; small
hooks, gauged upon silk-worm gut, OF
any make that one prefers, there being
great diversity of opinion on this mat
ter among fishermen. The Limerick
hook has nearly gone out Of date, and
how il was endured so long is a mystic
ry. The Kirby and Aberdeen have ia
ken it's place. Put no lead upon your
line at any time; il 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 10y being kept few days up
on clean moss in an uncovered, large
mouthed bottle, that they may scOur
themselves. In batting, do not pay
the slightest attention To whether the
point Of your hook is covered or not;
il is Of small consequence, or rather 1t
il more deadly and better not To be
covered than otherwise. The trout
does not nibble, he darts; he takes, as
a rule, the bait at once, or leaves il Sc
verely alone. You will find no more
taking bait the year round than angle
worms, although grasshoppers at GER
tain seasons are very killing. In bait
ing, take worm by the middle and
pierce the hook through a small por-
tion, 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;
hut front has large mouth, and
large bait no doubt attracts. The
dangling ends of the worms placed as
above upon the hook have a peculiar
aud natural motion OF their own in the
water, which hungry trout is utterly
unable 10 resist, while one may, on the
other hand, cover the whole hook and
part OF the gut with a worm stltlly
strung on without motion, and the
same trout will let IL be carried past
him by the current without winking.
There is great science IN batting,
and it chiefly rests IN the skill OF hav-
ing the worms lively, and with the ex-
tremities left dangling The bait is
often carried over little fall into
- oil 4 ~ mi
and all the while il Is doing so these
four ends OF the two worms are NOV
ing about in the clear water in much
too enticing way for any chance TO re-
sist. When you have bite, do not
pull at all, but strike your fish, rs 1t is
called; this is done by a motion of the
wrist, sharp, short, abrupt; not jerk
"A motion which Is commenced sharp
ly, but ends almost instantly and alb
Tuptly. | can liken IL only TO a quick
movement Of the hand IN bringing
foil, in fencing, from tierce 20 carte
II is done by bringing the fnger-nails,
which are downward, holding the rod,
suddenly TO the left and upward, NOV
ing the end of the pole upward and to
the left some one or two feet. Having
struck TINS, you will in most cases
have captured your fish. BE in no
hurry to land him; that is simpler
thing 20 do; you can do il at your leis-
ure. stepping back to a sure founda-
tion should you he in an uncomforta-
BILE position in reaching 10 make the
cast, or make any other disposition
/ that you desire before raising your fish
I gently from the water, Themes to your
creel. The great mistake often made
| by those who do not understand this
1 sport is to pull the moment they have
"A bite; the result usually il TO see the
! trOHt wind himself round about some
I limb overhead, or IL he fail 20 be hook
1 ed, which is often the case in pulling,
Z TO see the bait and hook in the same
1 position, causing loss of time, pa
! tience, and too often temper, especial
ly when you feel confident that there
are other front in the pool ahead, and
| become aware Of the fact that you have
got 20 make a splash and dash and
complete exposure Of yourself to get
at your dangling line, so that you may
| ish in vain in the same pool afterward.
| Remember that trout are very shy, and
once having disturbed them, II - use
| less 20 fish for them. ri Douglas Fra
zar, in Harpers Magazine for Aug.