The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-06-10
A FIGHT WITH A TROUT.

Meantime the trout, agitated by the
appearance of these morsels just above
his head, pigued perhaps by his own
| failure to comfort his gluttonOus appe-
tite with dainty tid-bit, is balancing
himself over the hard, sandy bottom, his
| fins slowly tanning the water, his keen
| eyes turned expectantly upward. Once
more these Turing flies dance across the
water There is a sudden movement of
the broad tail, quick rush upon the
prey, which gives an instant's glimpse
:. ark, mottled-black and cleaning
ol d.: snots at the surface, and then
f5el,ile.TH tbe cheat betravs itself The angler,
every sense on the alert, s'i'Aes y qutba tba
and hard, and heavy resistant - -
bending, quivering rod tells that tnO
hook is driven home. The palate of the
trout is tickled by no choice morsel, but
instead there is sting of mortal agony.
Downward through the clear water
darts the fish, carrying that burning
pain, while on The shore the anglers
reel sings cheerily as in derision.
You've hooked him well, sir. Now
buckle your rod to him." exclaims the
guide.
A fair and honorable duel was begun.
On one side an eight-ounce rod, a thread
of silk. an almost invisible strand of
gut directed by a human brain;
on the other, the strength and cunning
of powerful maddened trout. A little
below are dangerous rapids. If the fish
bolts into the strong current and down
the rapids there is chance that he may
free himself, and at best the neophyte
must leap over the rocks or founder
through the shadows in hot pursuit.
There is reason in the guides advice,
Buckle yer rod to him." The rod is
kept up well that all the strain of its
spring may be felt by the fish. At each
wild rush there is heard the music of the
reel, but the line is reeled back when
ever q chance offers, and the trout kept
to the stiller water as persistenty as the
angler dares. And now there is silence.
The fish is sulking at the bottom, shak-
ing his head from time to time in vicious
bull dog fashion, seeking to shake out
the wounding hook or to rub it out
against a stone. A turn or two on the
reel brings a harder strain to BEAR and
there comes a rush which nothing seems
to check. The lengthening line cuts
lDlO lIiC w lilC W s'lCI eNiII ohN I1C NtOh II
ward as the fish is hurried away by the
current. "Snub him, shouts the guide,
and taking in all the line he dares, the
neophite brings all possible strain to
bear, until the rod bends perilously and
everything is taut. A critical moment
this, for if you "snub" your fish too
suddenly or too hard, in strong cur
rent, his loss may not be the greatest of
all your disasters. Rather coax him
firmly, vet with moderation, relaxing
your severest strain when the weight of
water begins to tell. Now, aided by a
friendly back-set, the trout has emerged
from the foaming water and the angler
suspense becomes more tolerable.
Who can explain the exquisite fascina-
ton of such a struggle? 1t is almost af-
lection that the true fisherman feels for
his gallant victim, and yet the escape of
that victim from death would well nigh
break the anglers heart. The two are in
close, fairly electric communion through
this delicate tackle The modes of the
fish are clearly read by the brain behind
the rod. When each succeeding rush
| grows shorter and feebler, when now
and then there comes glimpse of white,
as side Gecked with gold is turned up
| now, that brain begins TO compose a
paan of victory. The plucky trout is
| nearly done for. His strength has turn
| ed to weakness, and his free, wild life in
the clear Rangeley waters is drawing to
an end. Fainter and fainter grow his
struggles, as the line, steadily reeled in,
draws him, swaying from side to side,
| toward the shallow water where the
guide awaits him. and the meshes of the
landing net cuts short his last convulsive
fight for life. Out pocket-scalos now! Is
it a three or four or five pound trout, this
rarely beautiful prize? Let us give our
neophyte the benefit of every doubt, and
| thus forestall him when he tells this fish
| story in after daYs.-ErOnl ONtinQ