The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-03-29
FIGHT WITH A TROUT.

Thrilling Experience in the Adirondack Regio0
Charles Dudley Warner writes as fol-
rows TO the Atlantic Monthly:
While Luke launched my
boat and arranged his seat in the stern,
I prepared my rod and line. The rod is
bamboo, weighing seven ounces, which
has to be spliced with winding Of silk
thread every time it is used this is a
tedious process, but by fastening the
joints in this way uniform spring is
secured in the rod no one devoted to
high art would think of using a socker
joint. Ny line was forty yards of I'M
twisted silk upon a multiplying reel.
The "leader u am very particular
about my leaders-had been made to
order from q domestic animal with
which 1 had been acquainted. The
fisherman requires as good cst-gut as
the violinist. The interior of the house
cat, it is well known, is exceed
ingly sensitive; but it may not be so
well known that the reason why some
cats leave the room in distress when
piano-forte is played, is because the two
instruments are not in the same key, and
the vibrations of the chords Of the one
are in discord with the cat-gut of the
other On six feet of this superior article
1 fixed three artificial flies; a simple
brown hackle, 4 gray body with scarlet
wings, and one of my own invention,
which l thought would be new to the
experienced fy-catcher. The trout fly
does not resemble any known species of
insect. 1t il "conyentionalized" cres-
ton, as we say Of ornsmentaticn. The
theory is, that fy-fshing being high
art, the fly must not be tame imitation
of nature, but an artistic suggestion of
it. 1t requires an artist to construct
one; and not every bungler can take
bit of red flannel, a pescock's feather, a
fash of tinsel thread, cocks plume, a
section of hens wing, and fabricate
tiny object that will not look like any
fly, but still will suggest the universal
conventional fy.
/ took my stand in the center of the
tipsy boat, and Luke showed off and
slowly padded towards some lily pads,
while l began casting, unlimbering my
tools as it were. The Iish had all disap-
peared. got out perhaps Fifty feet Of
line, with no response, and gradually in
creased to one hundred. 1t is not diff
cult to learn to cast, but it is difficult to
learn not to snap off the flies at every
throw. OF this, however, we will not
speak. l continued casting for some
moments, until became satisfied that
there had been miscalculation. Either
the trout were too green 10 know what
was at, or they were dissatisfied with
my offers. / reeled in, and changed the
flies Chat is, the fly that was not
snapped Oft. After studying the color
of the sky, of the water, and of the
foliage, and the moderate light of the
afternoon, put on series of beguilers,
all of subdued brilliancy, in harmony
with the approach of evening. At the
5SCVii1 Cs1obs hnNn vas a oAAOA OAC5 saw
a splash where the leader fell, and gave
an excited Jerk. The next instant Iper-
| ceived the game, and did not need the
unleigued "dam'' of Luke to conrince
NC that had snatched his felt hstftom
his head and deposited it among the
lilies. Discouraged by this, we whirled
about and padded over to the inlet
where little ripple was visible in the
tinted light. At the very first cast I
saw that the hour had come. Three
trout leaped into the air. The danger
of this maneuvre all fishermen under,
stand it is one of the commonest in the
woods; three heavy trout taking bod
at once, and rushing in different direc-
tons, smash the tackle into flinders
l evaded this catch, and threw agaia 7
recall the moment. A hermit tbruab on
the top of balsam uttered his lone
liquid, evening note. Happening tn
glance over my shoulder saw the nesk
of Marcy CLEAN rosy in the sky q can't
help it that Marcy is fifty miles off and
cannot be seen from this region; these
incidental touches are always usedl
The hundred feet of silk swished thron oh
the air, and the tail fly fell as lightly on
the water as a three-ceut piece (which no
slamming will give the weight of q +an,
drops upon the contribution plate. In.
stantly there was a rush, a swirl 7
struck and Got him by-!n Ney.r
mind what Luke said l got him nv
"Out on fyl' continued that irrsvar.
ent guide, but I told him to back water
and make for the center of the loke
The trout, as soon he felt the prick Of
the hook, was off like shot, and took
out the whole of the line with ran;d;tv
that made it smoke. "Give him the