The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-02-21

is deep and wild. and its branches
hang over the stream it leaps on
with silvery laughter, like youth that
bounds joyfully to the dark ocean of
age. Its smooth waters dash against
the rocks and become brawling foam,
as broken hopes are turned to raging
passions. 1t darts through narrow
places, over opposing obstacles, as
untiring energy bursts its way through
untried and devious paths. 1t gath
ers in quiet pools, and returns in
gentle eddies up the stream, as the
thwarted purpose, the disappointed
wish, recoils upon itself, or settles into
sluggish apathy. Now. put up your
pole, and take your first trout, poor
innocent. Rig on your Ay; not that
great. big, red thing-put on that
little gray one with the small hook.
Don't you know that a trout is the
daintiest, most delicate fish that
swims? You pitch at him bait as big
your fist, and he'll turn up his nose in
disgust; but just cover the point of
your hook with the smallest possible
piece of worm, or take the smallest
fly, and he'll 60 at it like a shark.
Now, do you see that dark object off
yonder, lying by the side of that stone
that's about a pound and half;
we'll have him. Pitch in your fly,
and skip it over the water lively not
that way-that's down the stream :;
cast your fly up. If you had any
sense, which you haven't, you would
know that trout always lie with their
heads up stream; and if you cast
down stream, in the first place they'll
see you and won't bite, and if they
do you'll pull the hook right out Of
their mouths; but if you throw up
stream they bite faster, and you have
a better chance of striking your barb
through their gills. There! your fly
touches the water; see those fellows |
jump at it but those are little tel
lows, and don't weigh more than a
quarter of a pound. Follow Ms
suggestion, and put up notice on the
bank: small trout are requested not
to bite.
Now heave again. See there
That was pretty jump he made; but
he missed. Try him once more and
you'll strike. Now he's on; let your
reel run there he goes up stream.
How nicely be springs out of the
water; he's got frightened, and
don't know what is the rumpus. Reel
him in little; don't pull too hard, ;
or you'll break your pole you see it's
bent double already. just hold him I
tight enough to guide him. and he'll
tirs himself out in-a few .minusas; he
can't stand il. long, -dashing about at
this rate. Don't get too msah ex-
sited, or he'll fool you yet. When
you strike fish you must be cool and
You see they are of an
,xcitable temperament, and when they
get the barb into their mouths they
,ecome agitated they are also gamey,
md make sgood fght. and conse-
luently, if youT are anywise rash, and
Ittempt to get them in too soon, ten
% one YOU'LL break your dime. Now
you see the rascal has started down
tream for the river, and thinks if he
,ets into deep water he'll be out of the
way. Let him slide; let you reel 90
tut it's full length. Now he's still;
he don't feel you pull, and thinks he's
afe. Begin and reel him up. Now
,e's walked up again worse than ever.
Don't he 60 pretty! Just hold him
teady up the stream. and as his
mouth is wide open he'll drown soon
,ecause, if you drown q trout he there-
~ becomes dead, and when dead, is
q perfectly passive state. See, his
truggles are becoming feebler and
eebler; you'll have him soon. Be
,atient: Now he's still pull him
Up to the side of the boat and take
lOld of him just behind the gills.
there, isn't he a beauty: Don't those
right spots and silver stripes 60 to
our heart! Don't you wish you were
8 good-looking as trout? Wouldn't
on captivate your friends?
The shades Of eve begin to fall. 1
it in the foot; Ma little below;
l. above. 1t is still as night, ex-
ept the repeated splash of fish as
hey rise at the fly, or as they strug-
lie in vain attempt to escape.
/ have at various times in various
laces, made various statements with
gard tooour success upon that par
cular afternoon, none of which have
} yet been believed. Friends, of
HON I had . right to expect better
aings, have upon occasions winked
when / have narrated my
some have laughed out.