Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-25
Soule, Charles Haley, Of Rangeley, and Cornelius
Richardson Of Kennobapo

Soule, Charles Haley, of Rangeley, and Cornelius
Richardson. Of Kennebago.
After dinner We started on blackboard, ten
milee to Kennebago lake, arriving about Up.
m, over pretty rough road for rdlting, after
being bounced on the blackboard. The camp at
| the head Of Kennebago lake consists Of COM
| Portable quarters for about twenty-five sports
men, and has regular mail communications
through the sporting season. The proprietors.
Grant Richardson are well known guides,
| and have control of most of the camps on the
kennebagO lakes and ponds above. Mr.. Grant
| Is also proprietor of the Oquossoc House, at
Rargeley, where the sportsman will find clean
beds, abundant and well-coOked food and
pleasant surroundings. Kennebago lake is about
five miles long by one mile wide. and, as viewed
from the camp is bounded by primitive forests
| of solid green to Che waters edge. with bold
and precipitOus mountain at the foot. making
most charming vista. Here, year after year,
come the same people. men and women; some
distinguished, some unknown to fame, but all
lovers Of nature.
The sun was shining on the mountains, and
| rapidly covering the surface Of the lake, while
| the tall f1rs and spruce trees cast their long
Shadows about us as we pushed off the beach on
the morning of August 1st, our packs filed with
provisions for ten days, and necessary change
| of clothing. together with guns and rods, Sc
| curely packed and stored in the bottom of the
boats Our course was to the foot Of Ken
nebago. thence into Little Kennebago stream,
two miles to Little Kennebago lake.-a perfect
gem. Quickly padding over this, we enter the
stream which flows from the ponds above.
Here the guides. by alternate polling and row.
ing, gain two miles on our course to the foot Of
the trail Arriving here at 1880 a. M. We eat
our lunch, and are eaten in turn by flies and
mosquitoes. We began our tramp of ~ miles
at IL o'clock, all heavily freighted, each guide
carrying pack weighing about IS pounds.
Owing to fallen timbers and the general rough
ness of the trail, we were five hours in covering
the ~ miles to the foot Of L pond 80 called
because it has bend in it not resembling the
convey our party the length of L pond; short
carry of half mile brought US to the foot of
Big island pond; then ~ miles over the pond
to our camp.
Excepting Kennebago lake, this pond is the
loyeest sheet of water ever saw. The water
Is deep, clean. cold and of peculiar softness and
purity, and is, par excellence. the home of the
speckled trout. Our camp consisted of good
log house, IL feet square, with large stone fire.
place in one corner. raised beds of spruce and
fir boughs; windows, tables and chairs enough
for comfort; coOk-house of similar size and
construction for cooking, and guides quarters.
1.-THE little landscape round
Was green and woody and refreshed the eye;
II was spot which you might aptly call
The valley OF seclusion.'
The water, the atmosphere the relaxation
from care and the sport combined gave keen
relish to our fare and rare enjoyment to every
ID,
and then went to camp on Beaver pond The
arrangement of all the camps on the ponds is
similar to the one described. We visited and
f1shed on ELL Big Island Rock, Grant, North
crust, Little Island, and Long and Beaver
ponds. During our visit we sighted plenty OF
deer. one black bear, and numerous cartridges,
but as the season was closed for killing we have
no account to give in this line.
After five days on Beaver pond our return home
was compulsory and at Phillips we reclaimed
ltyRA a md 1o1fn oc
tive vOcations with our clean linen; ALL however
feeling younger and stronger in mind and body
We were satisfied with our guides for their skill
and willingness; with ourselves that we had
passed our Tune. not In rloting and glutting at
some fashionable resort, but in modest imita-
ton OF 80 good man as Isaak Walton, and
could say:
"Oh. how happy here's our laasurei
Oh, how Innocent our pleasureI
on, we valleys; oh, We mountains;
On, We groves and crystal fountains
How love at liberty,
by Times TO come and visit ye."
We caught no large fish. the heaviest barely
weighing two pounds. We caught great mauy
weighing one pound each and upwards the
average being about three-quarters of pound
ana no small ones. One rod landed 70 fish in
less than two hours The water at times seemed
to be boiling with trout. Frequently two, and
several times three. were captured at one cast
We only fshed with single-handed rods. and
| caught all our fish in honest casting as we came
for sport and not for meat. We only killed such
as happened to be injured and barely enough
for our table. If all who visit these ponds win
be equally careful Of the lives of these darlings
ofthe lakes, choice sport may be had for many
years, TO my mind there lis no sport so restful
to the weary mind as fly fishing. To
upon the mirrored surface of the lake,
SO deity as to deceive this gamest and shyest Of
fish. and upon the slightest indication of a rise
to fasten the cruel hook into her lips, and then
with steady nerve to defeat it's rapid and nu-
merous attempts to escape, and finally to bring
it painting to the net, then carefully removing
the hook, watch and rejoice with it when it re-
turned to it's native element, to me il enjoyment
and mental rest combined. Others may cast a
longer line or strike with greater SKILL but none
will work steadler or lose themselves more en-
tirely in the keen enjoyment Of this rare sport.
nBlest silent grovesl Oh, may you be
Forever mirths best nursery; 81
May pure contents
Forever pitch their tents,
Upon these downs, these meads these rocks theaa
mountains,
And peace still slumber by these purling fountains
Which we may every year
Meet when we come a-nShing here"
YOurS. on fly. n q n