The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
ROD AND REEL.
Opening of the Trout Seasonal Goo
CatcI, SaIrOnn

Opening OF the Trout Seasonal Uoou
Catch of Salmon.
Although the season for hy-fshing will
not be due for several weeks, the fraternity
which takes the greatest pleasure in whip
ping streams has been for some days choos-
ing various colors of furs and feathers pre-
paratory to the opening of the season. Men
who have mastered the art of tying flies
seldom purchase ''full dress" flies. From n
book of several dozen imported flies there
may not be a set that will prove killing"
on any of the streams of this State. Every
lover of the sport of trout-fShing should be
able to tie his own flies, ami then limitations
of the natural insect can be easily made and
will always give satisfactory results. The
best hackles come from the necks of capops.
OF course, the hackles of game cocks are
more desirable but they can rarely be had
excepting by those who breed these birds,
or who are SO fortunate as to have friends
who do so.
HackieS should be narrow, tapering to
point, and firm without feeling harsh when
drawn through the fingers. Select those
which are as near as possible the same on
both sides. The most useful cOl0TS are
brown, black, brown aud gray, furnace.
that Is, brown or white witt: black streak
down the center, and white. The latter are
used for dyeing. The gray and brown NAL
lard, teal, wldge0n and redhead feathers can
also be obtained. They are found Just I'M
der the wing and on the back just above the
butt of the wing.
These are used III dressing the abbey,
professor, grizZly-king, queen Of the water,
etc. The various cOloTed pigeon wings are
also very useful, and the poultry stalls are
full of them. If the angler keeps sharp
lookout he will occasionally find a blue
heron or crow hanging among the poultry,
the wing feathers OF which are very neceS-
Sary The wood duck side feathers are
very useful, but exceedingly hard to obtain.
With the above list, including lew turkey
tails, one can tie the majority Of flies used
for trout fishing.
There are dyes sold in the drug-stores that
are very easily used; they have the Ill
Tecti0ns printed on them, aud any one can
dye their own hackleS with little trouble.
The only thing to look out for is the natural
grease on the feathers. This can be re-
moved by washing in soap and warm water
or alum water. Fix the colorS by adding
little vinegar to the dye and rinse in cold
water. The hackles sh0nld be tied by the
stems in loose punches Of dozen, tlrSt
stripping off the down.
1t is understood that the well-known
sportsman Thomas Tunstead has received
the appointment of Chief Deputy Fish and
Game Commissioner from the new Board Of
Commissioners. There can be no gainsay
ing that a man better qualIned FOR this posi-
ton than Mr.. TunSlead would be difficult TO
uIus i lie SGutltluhh 10 ldNbidbl1 hhbhu ny
all lovers of the gun and rod and 1t was
through his untirng efforts while deputy
Game Commissioner that many cOnSgnments
OF deer skins were cOntscated last season.
Tunstead viii leave no stone unturned that
will bring 10 Justice class of men who have
no respect for the game and fish laws of this
State; and it goes without saying that he
has the good will of all who are interested
in the protection of fish and game.
A letter to the sporting editor from San
Gregnro in San NJ teO County, states that
the Portuguese who reside near the San
Gregorio River have been killing hundreds
of salmon by means of spears and giant
powder cartridges. The slaughter OF the
fish is principally carried on at night The
writer says that the 2oachers arrange them
selves along the banks and then by firing
torches they spear the fish as they turn on
their sides partly dazed by the sudden flash
of the brilliant flame, presenting thereby
an easy target to the spearsmen. Several
large cases of salmon have been sailed down
during the month by those who have used
illegal means for their capture.
On Wednesday the season for catching
trout will open and a general exodus OF
anglers VIII leave this city for streams that
have IN past years given good results in the
months of April and May. Owing to the
fact that the summers of California are
seldom visited by heavy showers, the many
glens Of the counties near San Francisco
run almost dry Ill the months OF June and
July; and as a consequence the country
boys make catches of tish by means Of nets
and spears, which are the fishing imDle-
ments solely used by the bucolic fishermen
of California.
The late rain will assist very materially to
make good fishing next month. The streams,
which have fallen considerably during the
past weeks OF sunny weather, thereby max
ing the outlook for angling in April prob
lematical, have been repienished by an extra
flow Of water from the hills-a guarantee
that empty baskets will not be the rule with
all fishermen on the LIST OF April
John Gallagher is enjoying splendid sal
gurio Creek. He caught on Thursday nine
fish, the total weight Of which was S712
pounds.