Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-24
TROUT FISHING.
Something About the SpOrt-IHOw {.
Catch Trout.
y. wHITMOR
Publisher and Proprietor


A writer in one of the August
magazines says:
Always, if possible, fish down a
stream. There are many reasons
for this, among others the follow
ing: In fishing up a stream the
bait is continually coming to ones
feet after every cast, and the nearer
it approaches the person the less
chance of a 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 mo-
ment increased.
If the brook is large enough
and even small ones-if practica-
bic 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
a cast, which in the localities [ am
speaking of, almost always, unless
skilfully done, ends in ones seeing
ones tackle fast to some overhamg-
ing bough or bush overlapping the
stream. Again, in fishing up
stream, it is impossible to keep the
bait stationary in any spot one may
desire to cast in, unless by standing
upon the bank, and the chances ol
capture are thus greatly decreased
while in fishing down stream ono
can not only hold the bait in any
one spot, but by a motion of the
arm conduct it in any given direc-
tion-sink it toward the bottom,
draw it up stream, to the right OF
to the left-to tempt the hidden
trout, the motion Of the running
water upon the bait giving one com
plete control of it 10y the slightest
motion of the arm. To be success
full 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 only usually at early
morn or sunset. Use a light but
very short iointed pole, not over
twelve feet in length, with fine deli
cate runningg gear and small compact
reel; small hooks, gauged upon silk
worm gut, of any make that one
prefers, there being great diversity
of opinion on this matter among
fishermen. The Limerick hook
has nearly gone out of date, and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 a few days
upon 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; it is of small con.
sequence, or, rather, it is more
deadly and better not TO be covered
than otherwise. The trout does moi
nibble, he darts; he takes, as a rule,
| the bait at once, or leaves it severely
alone. You will find nomore taking
bait the year round than angle
worm, although grasshoppers At
certain seasons are very killing. In
batting, take a worm by the middle
and pierce the hook through q small
portion, say half an inch; then put
on another in the same way at the
same time. If the fish are very
small, half a worm treated in this
manner will do; but the trout has a
large mouth, and a large bait nc
doubt attracts. The dangling ends
of the worms placed as above upon
the hook have a peculiar and natu-
raj motion Of their own in the wa
ter, which a hungry trout is utterly
unable to resist; while one may, on
the other hand, cover the whole
hook and part Of the gut with
worm strung on without motion
and the same trout will let It b