The Osceola times., 1882-07-29
AN OLD ANGLER.
Taking Three-Pound Trout-A Lover of tho
Art.

uati OAS VI llOte uaNS MneT
one is glad he is alive. The wind was
blowing freshly down the valley, the
horses were in good order, and the coun
Hy was sprineing up everywhere to greet
the late but welcome spring.
My destination was nowhere in par
ticnlar. You who have read these letters
In past years do not need to be told that
TINS is way we have of taking long rides
In spring and agtumn. Mayhap the
beauty of scene will tempt us to linger
along the road, the charm Of a peaceful
village will persuade us to stay over
night, or over day or days. Perhaps
as we 60 along we will strike a lake
wherein fish may be found. More pleas
ant still, trout stream may run near
the roadside, and my horses know a
trout stream well, and are almost sure TO
stop without touch on the reins, if they
see good place for cast
And this is 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 sparkling pool, in
clear, rushing river, rod or two from
the roadside, a boy was kneeing and ad-
justing cast of flies. The horses knew
what the boy was at, and took it for grant
ed this was the proper place to stop.
Are there trout in the river" l ask
ed
"Oh, yes, lots Of 'em; but you can't
catch 'em very easy; anyhow, | can't but
granther can, and I'm learnin' how"
There was clump of bushes between
me and the head of the pool. but as the
boy was speaking | saw line with two
A;aa ,,t . la al, kaLtaI IN
bushes, and the cast fell ON the rip in the
pool, and as it came up toward the foam
there was swash and dash of the water
and the lne Strengthened out taut, and
then cut the surface as it swung across
towards US. As yet no rod or fisherman
was visible, but in few moments both
emerged to view.
An old man: a very old man, waiing
in the shallow edge of the stream, step
ping with caution, but firmly. came into
view, his eve fixed steadily on the pool
end as full of light and brightness as
boys eve 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, he nodded cheerfuly, recog-
nizing, as be afterward said, the look of
a brother angler, but he quietly held to
his work. IL is quite as pleasant to see
fish handsomely taken as to take one
yourself He held his 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 be-
fore ne came in sight, and now the trout
was hanging low down in the water and
swinging slowly from side to side of
10. l. l., 1 -, l. Ii. 4
he began to use the reel with Judgment,
and the fish came nearer. Then he rush
ed, and the fingers left the reel to run,
and the rod bowed 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
heavily. 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 it up.
In less than five minutes he lay on the
green grass, and weighed him, a plump
three pounds, and then | look ID up to
meet the smiling face OF the old angler.
"The boy says he ia learning to take
trout. fancy he couldn't have better
teacher"
"Well, | ought to know how to take
them here. I've fished this river every
spring nigh on to seventy years"
You began it young"
Not so very young. I'm 81, and I've
caught trout since ! was years old"
And like il As well as ever"
He looked first at me, then at
the riy r, then up into the sky, and swept
glance around the scene before he re-
piled. Then he said, with emphasis:
"Ges, just the same as ever. When had
hold OF HAT .r, u. was thinking of a
four pounder | took ont OF this pool when
] was II years old, and felt Just as ! felt
then. | don't believe it is in human
nature to change one bit in feeling about
taking trout, from 10 years old to 100"
There was keen pleasure in talking
with an experienced angler Of this sort,
and we talked rs cheerily as anglers love
to talk. He told me 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 ex-
perienced friend took no stock in the
imitation theory. Sometimes" he said,
"but very rarely in this water, trout
takes 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 eatable
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 three or four fish run
ming from two to three pounds, and few
Founders. There's another in the pool
as large as that one. | saw them both
rise while ago. Will you try cast?"
And he offered me his rod.
"No, will not interfere with your
sport"
"Not bit of it. | would like to see
another man take that fellow better than
TO take him myself"
"You belong to the true brotherhood"
] said; "but will use my own rod"
"Try this one. | made it myself last
wintera year ago, and it will serve you
we'll"
1t was a 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 az
shad blow. 1t does not grow large and
it is difficult to find straight trunks. He
told me he had trained and Strengthened
the growing trees for four years before
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