Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-14

camp Use landing net. and never attempt
to lift fish in by rod or leader, for neither
will stand it.
If casting in lake or quiet river, row
quietly in deep water, following the trend OF
the shore, and cast in toward the bank Ear
" in the morning and late in the evening bass
feed in from three to five feet of water. Just
of bunch of weeds or lily-pads is favorite
spot If you fasten to a large fish have the
boatman head for deep water, where he can't
tangle you up with the bottom of the lake.
Frequently by carefully playing your fish you
can induce a second bass TO take the other
fly, which is great fun for you and good
joke on the second bass.
Fly fishing is noble sport because 1t re-
quires skill and knowledge to manipulate the
featherv lures so deity as to deceive the
monarch of the pool, and then the fish comes
10 you-you see him rise-and the deilcacy
of your tackle pitted against his strength
makes it battle of peers. 1t isn't like put
ting a COB of bait on barb and dredging on
the bottom for any aquatic tramp in search
of free lunch. 1t is a science and an art
combined, and, besides, swindles the fish,
which gives you great pleasure.
Minnow casting comes next For this you
want a first class two multiplying reel. on
eight foot three inch rod of eight ounces
weight, plant. but with plenty of backbone,
and a hard-braided silk line fifty yards
in length, unwaterproofed and as small
as possible. first class line, size
II, is strong enough for the heaviest
bass. Use sproat or O'Shaughnessy hook,
(the names refer to the style, not to makers,)
bent on stout single gut No leader is used.
Minnows should be from three to five inches
in length. The cast is as follows; Select an
active mnpow; hook him through the under
lip and out of the nostril Have very
small sink-r or two split shot on the line.
lust above the SMELL. Reel your minnow up
to the top of the rod. Place the thumb on
the spool of the reel. Extend the rod to the
right and behind you, and move it upward
and outw ard with increasing velocity. When
squarely in front of you relieve the pressure
on the reel that the minnow may take flight,
but do not take the thumb quite of, or the
reel will backlash and snap off our minnow,
and you will spend an hour in picking out
snarls When the minnow is almost at the
end of his flight apply the thumb gradually
again and stop the reel With little prac-
tice it is easy to cast 100 feet on calm day,
or $50 feet with light wind When your
minnow falls let him alone a half minute.
Your sinker must not be heavy enough to
anchor him. Then reel in few feet. Pause
again. Continue this till you are ready for
another cast When a bass strikes, which
you will easily perceive, apply the thumb
gently to the reel and raise the rod. If he
runs little let him go under very slight
restraint. As long as he jerks let him alone
he is getting himself in trouble, but hasn't
quite come to taw. Presently you will see
he is moving on steadily. Now apply pres
sure. He starts off in earnest. and you set
the hook BY quick turn of the wrist,
and there you are Sometimes bass
will trfle with minnow 20 seconds, gener-
ally about 10, but if you strike too soon
you will miss him, so hold your breath and
keep cool until he starts off. Often
it is advantageous to put on an ibis NY instead
of the plain hook and fasten your mlnnow to
that. | have known bass to be so law or
g,rged that they would not rise at plain
mInnow but couldn't withstand the trmpta-
ton of going for little fish running around
with mouthful of red feathers.
1t is easy to catch minnows in stream by
stretching a small purse seine and getting a
dog or boy to splash around above and
drive them in. Sometimes the water is
sw lift and dangerous and a swimmer might
get drow ned, so it is generally more econOm-
zeal to save the dog and get boy. Don't
crowd TOO many minnows in apail. and if you
maven Il wire UuCket, give theiu lresu wafer
every 10 minutes.
These are the elements of angling. No
scientific fisherman trolls, except while rest
ing or going from place to place. Stll-fshing
with float is good pastme for chumps, but
not for an angler. If small frogs are the
caper for bass where you are, hook them in
the slack of the trousers or upper lip, and
cast as you would minnow. Cast grasshop-
pers helgramite. crickets and worms as you
would fly. Crawfish are excellent for cast
ing in July and August, hooked ju-t forward
Of the stern sheets. Remember both large
bass and trout are old sinners and willy, and
know just what you are fooling around for :;
so make as little noise as possible, either
wading or rowing. Cast as far as possible
from you. and toward the sun if you can, to
avoid throwing shadow. II you are in a
boat sit down. When you get fish knock
him on the head and put him out of misery.
1t is humane and his flesh will be frmer. If
you lose a fish don't swear, unless the occa-
sion overwhelm you, in which case turn her
loose for all she is worth, and be done with
it.-C in Nelr York Tribune