Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-06-04
A DELIGHTFUL DUEL.
SPORT WHICH THRILLS A MAN
TO HIS EINGER-TIPS.
The First Trout Caught by an Enthu'
STA site AngIer-A Vivid Descrip-
tiOl of the Struggle Be-
tween Man and Fish.

In breezy article on trout-fshing in
the OHiinJ the writer relates the expe-
rience OF a novice at the sport He says:
And now the neophyte is to test his
proves and his newly pa chased tackle.
Secretly trembling at the enforced COM
parison with the casts of veteran breth-
rem of the gentle craft, conscious that
his guide waits to assign him his rank as
angler, he takes his rod in the right
hand, holding the leader, already wet,
for an instant in the left until the back
ward sweep of the rod straightens the
line, for he wisely makes but short casts
at first.
There is nothing close to the shore,
save, perhaps, en- intrusive club. The
! reel yields more line, and the cast grows
longer. How easy it looks, that slight
motion of the rod which sends the line
flying backward until it straightens out
well up into the air, returning obedient
to the easy forward movement of the rod,
and uncoiling above the water, until
leader and flies drop gently on the sur
face. Tie current sweeps the flies a lit
tie downward. Then the leader straight
ems itself, and the flies, drawn easily
across tempting eddies and patches OF
dark water, leave tiny wake behind.
Then suddenly the tension of suspense
is broken by a splash and a glimpse of
dark form Just behind the stretcher fly.
The reopythe strikes somewhat ner-
vousIy, do doubt, but flies and leader
come dancing hack alone into his very
face. His speech is plain and emphatic.
His excitement is not soothed by the
guides "Thar's no fool of trout
But the guide does not confne him
self to words. He straightens out line
and leader, marks down the exact spot of
the rise and says: Cast over him again,
sir. You've stirred him up" Once
more the line is gradually heightened I'M
til the flies skim the water over the very
place. One cast is perhaps fruitless.
The angler bitterly curses his failure to
hook his fish on the first rise.
Meantime the trout, agitated by the
appearance of these morsels just above
his head, piqued perhaps by his own fail
ure to comfort his gluttonous appetite
with dainty tid-bit, is balancing him
self over a 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 3 sudden movement of the broad
tail, quick rush upon the prey, which
gives an instanI's glimpse of dark notified
black and cleaning vermillion spots at
the surface, and then the cheat betrays
itself
The angler, every sense on the alert,
strikes quick and hard, and a heavy re-
sistance to the bending, quivering rod
tells that the 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 derislon.
"You've hooked him we'll, sir. Now
ouckle yer rod to him" exclaims the
guide.
A fair and honorable duel has begun.
On one side an eight-ounce rod, thread
of silk, an almost invisible strand of gut,
directed by human brain; on the other,
the strength and cunning of a powerful
maddened trout. A little below are dan
gerous rapids. If the fish bolts into the
strong current and down the rapids,
there is a chance that he may free him
self, and at best the neophyte must leap
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 whenever
a chance offers, and the trout kept to the
stiller water as perSistently as The angler
dares. And now there is silence.
The fish is sulking at the bottom,
shaking his head from time to time in
vicious bulldog fashion, seeking to shake
out the wounding hook or to rub it out
against stone. A turn or two of the
reel brings harder strain to bear, and
there comes rush which nothing seems
to check. The frightening line cuts into
the white water, and is swept downward
as the fish is hurried away by the cur
rent.
"Snub him." shouts the guide, and
taking in all the line he dares, the neo
phyte brings all possible strain to bear,
until the rod bends perilously and every.
thing is taut. A critical moment, this,
for if you "snub" your fish too suddenly
or too hard, in a strong current, his los,
may not be the greatest of your disasters
Rather coax him firmly, yet with moder-
alton, relaxing your severest strain when
the weight of water begins to tell.
Now, aided by friendly back set, the
trout has emerged from the foam!ne
water, and the anglers suspense becomes
more tolerable.
Who can explain the exquisite fascina
ton of such struggled 1t is almost af
lection that the true fisherman feels fol
his gallant victim, and yet the escape Of
that victim from death would we'll nigl
break the anglers heart. The two are
in close, fairly electric communion
through this delicate tackle The moods
: of the fish are clearly read by the brar
behind the rod.
: When each succeeding rush grows
!, shorter and feebler, when now and thcr
there comes glimpse u white, as side
; flecked with gold is turned up now, that
, brain begins to compose pGOn of VIZ
tory. The plucky trout is nearly done
for. His strength has turned to weak
ness, and his free, wild life in the clea
; 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 tn
shallow water where the guide awaits him
and the meshes of the landing net Gu
short his last convulsive fight for life.
Dat pockets scales now! Is it tire
!, or fanr Or five Innnn1 front this rnrnl