Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-02
Catching an Adirondack Trout.

The following humorous stake OFF,
on the extravagant descriptions of some
writers is from the pen of Charles Dud-
ley Warner, in the atlantic Monthly:
At the very first cast I saw that the
hour had come. Three trout leaped in
to the air. The danger of this maneu-
vre all fishermen understand; 1T IS one
of the commonest in the woods; three
heavy trout taking hold at once, rushing
into different directions, smash the tack
lie into flinders. / evaded this catch,
and threw again. recall the moment.
A hermit thrush on the tip of balsam
uttered his long, liquid, evening note
Happening to look over my shoulder,
saw the peak of Marcy CLEAN rosy in
the sky Il can't help it that Marcy is
fifty miles off, and cannot be seen from
this region; these incidental touches
are always used.) The hundred feet of
silk swished through the air, and the
tail fly fell as lightly on the water as
three-cent piece (Which no slamming
will give the weight of ten) drops up
on the contribution plate. Instantly
there was rush, whirl l struck and
"Got him by ~" Never mind what
Luke said I got him by. "Out on the
fly !" continued the irreverent guide.
but told him to back water and make
for the centre of the lake. The trout,
as soon as he felt the prick of the hook,
was off like a shot, and took out the
whole of the line with rapidity that
made it smoke.
"Give him the butt :" shouted Luke.
| 1t is the usual remark in such an emer-
gency. I gave him the butt. and, re-
cognizing the fact and my spirit, the
trout at once sunk to the bottom and
sulked Tt is the most dangerous mood
of a trout, for you can't tell what he
will do next. We reeled up little, and
waited five minutes for him to reflect
A Tightening of the line enraged him.
aud soon developed his tactics Com
ing to the surface, he made straight for
the boat, faster than | could reel in, and
evidently with hostile intentions =
look out for him !" cried Luke as he
came flying in the air. | eyaded him
by dropping fiat in the bottom of the
boat, and when ] KICKED my traps up
he was spinning across the lake as if he
had new idea but the line was still
fast. He did not run far.
I gave him the butt again, thing he
seemed to hate, even as gift in a mo-
ment the evil minded fish, lashing the
water in his rage, was coming back
again, making straight for the boat as
before. Luxe, who was used to these
encounters, having read Of them in the
writings of travellers lie had aeoo,apa-
MED, raised his paddle in self defence.
The trout left the water about ten feet
from the boat and came directly at me,
with iery eyes, his speckIed! sides flash
ing like neteor. J lodged, as he
| hic1yo cd hryy nth a vi s.cn nf hIc
bifurcated tail, and nearly upset the
boat. The line was of course slack, and
the danger was that he would entangle
it about me and carry away leg. This
was evidently his game. But | untan-
gled it. and only lost breast button or
two by the swiftly moving string ihe
trout plunged iuto the water with 3
kissing sound, and went away again
With all the line on the reel. More butt.
More indignation on the part of the
captive.
The contest has, now been going on
for half an hour, and / was getting ex-
hausted. We had been back and forth
across the lake, and round and round
the lake; what I feared was that the
trout would start up the inlet and wreck
us in the bushes. But he had n new
fancy, ana began the execution OF ma
HCpuVre winch mao never READ Oh HI
stead of coming straight toward me he
took g large circle, swimming rapidly.
and gradually contracting bis orbit. [
reeled in, and Kept ii.y eye on him.
Round and round he went, narrowing
his circle. I began to suspect the game,
which was to twist my head of. When
be had reduce., the radius of his circle
to about twenty-five feet. be struck a
tremende Us pace through the water. 1t
would be false modesty in a sportsman
to say that / was not equal to the occa-
sion. Instead of turning round with him
as he expected, I stepped to the bow,
braced myself and let the boat swing
Round went the fish, and round we
went like top. 1 say y line Of Mount
Marcy's all round ths HORIZON. The
rosy tint IN the west made broad band
of pink along the sky above the tree
tops. The evening star was perfect
circle of light, hoop of gold in the
heavens We reeled. and whirled, and
reeled, and whirIea. ! was willing to
give the malicious beast butt, and line,
and all, if he would only SO the Gther
way for q change.
| When [ cane TO myself, Luke was
gaffin the trout at the boat side. After
we got him IN and dressed him he
weighed three-quarters of pound.
|