Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-08-18
Trout Fishing at Might.

Trout Fishing at Night.
Une evening in June, when seated
by the fireside of the Weldon Bridge,
Charlie and l fell into a discussion
about night fishing with worm for
trout in warm weather, and we agreed
that 1t would be well to give it a trial
and ascertain how far our views were
correct. "Well, then," said L. mo
time liks the present." But Charlie
was too comfortable and too sleepy to
respond to my summons; so, preparing
my rod and line, off l started to a
stream about half a mile down the
river. The night was very dark, and
l found my way with difficulty.
Arriving at the intended spot, waded
across somewhat deep stream to
reach one still deeper near to the
further bank. Standing in the water,
i placed lively bob on the hook and
cast my line up the stream; the worm
scarcely touched the water when felt
tug and succeeded in drawing large
trout toward me. Having basketed this
l threw again with the same result,
and now establishment awaited me.
There was not breath of wind, the
water was flowing gently, and caused
but little sound, when, all at once, my
ears were assailed by such a tumult of
fish scattering and splashing as never
had before heard: the river seemed
alive with large fish. Ny heart beat,
for there seemed something uncannv
in the affair; still l persevered, and
succeeded In securing four more fish.
Suddenly all was still not a fish was
heard to move, and not another bite
was to be had. / could neither see nor
hear anything to account for the sud-
den change, so home | started, proud
of my six fish, considerably larger than
any we had taken in the river by day
light. The unpleasantness of angling
with worms in the dark is so great that
l have never tried the experiment
again, but of its success there can be
no doubt. One night at Gernsback, in
the Black Forest, Mr.. Henderson
writes, strange fancy took such strong
possession of me that felt constrained
TO bow TO it. The night was pitch dark,
and distant thunder gave the proverbi-
al warning that all fishing was out of
the question; still, mad as the idea
seemed, | determined to make an essay
in front of the hotel. So black was the
night that lighted lantern was necs-
sary TO guide me in arranging my rod
and tackle at the door. This done,
sought the edge Of the lawn, by the
side of which rushed rough. rapid
stream, which sped from mill immedi-
ately above.
Scarcely had l taken my position
near the top of the stream when the
lightning blazed forth, Illuminating
the pine-clad hills and making a sud-
den glare far exceeding that of bright
est sunshine. Each tree of the forest
might be distinguished while the
lightning quivered in the sky, and then
followed darkness so intense that 1
could not see the rod, and could scarce
ly distinguish my hand. The dark In
tervals between the flashes might be
five minutes, and it was during these
that cast my flies straight across the
mill stream. The instant flies fell upon
the water there was a tug, then rush,
and all was quiet. | was amazed, but
atiength concluded that passing stick
had struck my hook. Another cast Of
the line, and there was no room for
doubt-a heavy fish was pulling violent
ly. 1t was long before the strength of
the current allowed me to land my
prize; indeed, it was only by the light
ning's flash that l could judge where
or how to do this. l fshed the stream
steadily downward for about 100 yards;
the lightning showed me where to
throw my flies; all around was inky
blackness. | cast, and rarely failed
either to hook or take a fish. The
strength of the current enabled many
fish to get away, but at the end Of
half an hour my basket held eight fish,
and when these were tabled at the
hotel they proved to be three trout,
three graylings and two fish resembling
club. The least was three-quarters of
a pound in weight and the largest a
pound and haTf-altogether beauti-
full dish, and the fish by far the largest
in size 1 had captured during my
weeks angling. What speculations
these two experiments force upon the
anglers mind as to the feeding of fish
on dark nights, when they are COM
monty supposed to be at rest! L am
compelled to the onclusion that In these
night banquets is found the trae an
swer to the fisherman's too common
question, ''Why do the fish not take?
The water is in good order, the wind is
right, and everything bespeaks good
days sport, but they wOn'ttake." The
response should be, ''Dined already
and requiring time for digestion"