Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-24
A PRETTY PICTURE
Taking Three-pound Trout by the
Rossdside-A Veteran Lover OF the
Gentle Art.

nifty miles south Of the mountains. As usual
rod was in the wagon. 1t was brilliant day,
one OF those days when one is glad he is alive.
The wind was blowing freshly down the valley,
the horses were In good order, and the country
was springing up everywhere to greet the late
but welcome spring.
My destination was nowhere in particular.
You who have read these letters in past years do
not need to be told that this is way we have
OF taking long rides In spring and autumn
Mayhap the beauty Of a scene will tempt US to
Inger along the road, the charm Of a peaceful
village will persuade us to stay over night, or
over day or days. Perhaps as we go along we
will strike lake wherein fish may be found.
More pleasant STILL q trout stream may run
near the roadside, and my horses know trout
stream well, and are almost sure to stop with
out touch on the reins, if they see good place
for a cast.
And this was just what they did that morning,
though it was something more than a stream
and good fishing ground which arrested them
FOR, on the green grass at the head of spark
ling pool. In clear, rushing river, q rod or two
from the roadside, boy was kneeling and adj
justing cast of flies. The horses knew what
the boy was at, and took it for granted this was
the proper place to stop.
Are there trout in the river?'' asked.
ooh yes, lots of EN-; but you can't catch 'em
l.,
and I'm learnin' how"
There was clump of bushes between me and
the head of the pool but as the boy was speak
Ing saw q line with two flies go out into the
air from behind the bushes. and the cast fell on
the rip In the pool, and as it came up toward the
foam there was q swash and dash of the water
and the line Strengthened out taut and then cut
the surface as 1t swung across toward US. AS
yet no rod or fisherman was visible, but in few
moments both emerged to view.
n III n VAR ,lG Hfrn, tn kt,o
shallow edge of the stream, stepping with eau
ton, but firmly, came into view. his eye fixed
steadily on the pool and as full of light and
brightness as boys eye. He knew what he
was about, that was plain enough. He did not
look up for some time, but when his glance
caught the horses and blackboard. and met mine,
ne nodded cheerily, recognizing, as he after
ward said, the look of brother angler but he
quietly held to his work. It is quite as pleasant
to see fish handsomely taken as to take one
yourself. He held hts rod in the right hand
well up, and the bend away down to the butt
spoke OF weighty fish. The first few rushes
had been controlled before he came in sight,
and now the trout was hanging low down in the
water and swinging slowly from side to side of
the pool Passing his rod to the left hand, he
began to use the reel with judgment. and the
fish came nearer. Then he rushed, and the
fingers left the reel to run, and the rod bowed a
little down to the stream to ease the strain, and
saw his finger press on the line against the
rod below the reel to make it drag more heav-
lily. So the fish did not go into the swift water
below the pool, but, yielding to the persuasion
OF the light rod, turned and gave 1t up.
In less than five minutes he lay on the green
grass, and l weighed him, plumb three
pounds, and then looked up to meet the smil-
ing face of the old angler.
"The boy says he is learning to take trout. I
fancy he couldn't have q better teacher
''Well, ought to know how TO take them
here. I've tished this river every spring nigh
on to seventy years."
You began it young"
mot SO very young. I'm eighty-One and
I've caught trout since i was seven years old"
And like it as well as ever?''
He looked first at me, then at the river
then up into the sky, and swept glance
around the scene before he replied. Then he
saa with Then emphasis isis Yes lust the same as
thinking OF four-pounder took out of this
pool when wasn't fifteen years old. and I
felt just as l felt then. I don't believe it's
In human nature to change one bit in feeling
about taking trout, from ten years old to a
hundred"
There was keen pleasure in talking with
an experienced angler of this sort and we talked
as cheerily as anglers love to talk. He told me
a great many things worth remembering about
the habits OF the fish in that river. For the
habits OF trout. like those of men. are different
In different localities. Hence it is that books Of
instruction. and rules about flies for certain
seasons, and written ways Of fishing are Of small
account. My experienced friend took no stock
IN the Imitation theory. Sometimes" he said
but very rarely in this water a trout takes a
fly because it resembles fly of the season, but
mostly think they are tempted by the variety
which is offered them in something alive and
eata6le, which they have not tasted before A
trout is greedy eater. In the freshets he
CROWDS his stomach with sticks and stones
and everything which goes along in the thick
water"
Are trout of this size plentiful here?',
NO. no. The river Is well stocked, but Of
late years the average size will not be much
ABOVE quarter pound. But every spring get
pounds, and few Founders. There's another
in the pool as large as that one l saw them
both rise while ago. Will you try a cast?"
And he offered me his rod
NO, Will not interfere with your sport"
''NOt bit of it. l would like to see another
man take that fellow better than to take him
myself"
'You belong to the true brotherhood" said
but viii use my own rod"
TRY this one l made it myself last winter a
year ago. and it will serve you WELL"
1t was capital rod, and, to my surprise, was
made OF wood once recommended to me, but
which had never before seen in use The tree
Is commonly known as shadblow. It does not
often grow large, and it is difficult to find
straight trunks. He told me he had trained and
before cutting them. The rod was in two
pieces, spliced and wound. and weighed per-
haps ten ounces. The line was of horse hair. a
marvel of braiding, without an end out any-
where to catch in the guide-rngs; and the flies
black tail-fy and q golden hacker bobber. I
looked at him as looked at them, and he an
swered my look. YES they are all home
made"
Surely it would have gladdened the soul of
our apostle Isaak to meet this lover of the gen
tie art. For after had cast in vain over the
pool and wasted my energies for naught, as he
sent his flies deity down under the overhang-
ing bank, where had been with mine a dozen
times, up came that other trout to the golden
tackle, and, taking it, was taken.
We passed the day together along the banks
of the stream, going for an hour to his home
near by for dinner, and coming out afterward to
talk rather than fish by the side of the water.
My friend was a very gentle old man. yery
gentleman. How could he be otherwise who
had been for seventy years lover of the most
refining of all arts. The valley in which he lived
was very familiar to him, but familiarity had
bred love. not contempt. He had never desired
to live elsewhere. His life had been passed
among scenes that were full of beauty, and their
beauty had entered into and become part of his
soul. He had no very extensive knowledge of
books, but the few books he did know he knew