Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-12-25
BIG SALMON FISHING.
FLY CASTING IN CANADIAN WATERS
THAT MUST BE SPORT.

FLY CASTING IN CANADIAN WATERS
THAT MUST BE SPORT.
"A Pennsylvania Sportsman Tells About
His Phenomenal Success-Fishing in
Private Waters-How the Annual Prep
arations Are Made.
J. Upton Myers, of Bethlehem, is a
mighty fisherman as we'll as Nimrod of
much repute. He plies his reel and shot
gun from the head waters and primeval
forests of Canada to the lagoons and pines
of Florida.
He said: II don't know much about
tarpon fishing, but want to learn. Salm-
on fishing is my favorite sport. Tell you
about it? With pleasure Two New York
ers, two Canadians and two Pennsylva-
|, mans comprise our club Some years ago
we purchased the fishing rights of the
Moisic river in Canada, opposite Anacosti
ilisland, and on what was formerly the
Hudson Bay company's trail. To reach
the grounds we take little mail steamer
that leaves Quebec every two weeks at the
beginning of the fishing season, which is
about June l. although it varies somewhat
according to the condition of the river.
s'There are six fishing pools in the river,
OF one for each member of the club. In
most salmon rivers these pools are widely
scattered, but in the Moisic they are all
within hailing distance of each other. The
pools begin at point twenty-three miles
from the mouth, where we leave the
steamer and finish our journey in canoes,
propelled by Indian oarsmen. We draw
lots for the pools, each one of which is
numbered, and then change places in rota,
ton each day, so that at the end of the
week each man has had a days fishing in
each pool This prevents kicking, as the
sport varies in different pools.
CATCHING SALMON.
"After reaching the grounds, we often
have to wait several days, or even week,
before the fish begin their journey toward
the rapids, or before they will consent to
take the fly. As soon as they begin, how
ever, the sport improves steadily until the
water reaches a temperature of e. degs.,
and then they stop biting. The sport is
fast and exciting for from two to four
weeks, and during this time you can see
them jumping from the water in all direc-
tions.
'sThere are different theories to account
lOT GulS udUlU VI UtIC III
from the water. The most popular one is
that they take this exercise to train them
selves for their trip up the rapids, just as
an athlete would before undertaking
contest of strength or endurance. Each
fisherman has two guides, who act as bow
man and gaffer. The former manages the
anchor and the latter nails the fish after
he is hooked.
cfor t 4 hoh no 10 mol Oft ho
upper side of the pool You first throw
45 degs The current carries the line back
of the boat. This is repeated couple of
times, the line being heightened after each
cast. If they don't come for the fly after
few casts there is no use waiting. You
drop down the pool until you have thor
oughly fished it and then you can retire
for the day.
"The salmon takes the fly quietly and
goes to the bottom. Then the bowman
takes up the anchor while the fisherman
raises his pole and brings the line taut.
Then comes the run, the salmon throwing
himself out of the water in his efforts to
break the line. This be repeats six or
eight times and makes break down stream
for the sea, while the boat follows. Some
salmon fishers like long fight, but don't.
You can easily kill the biggest salmon
within half an hour. He will go deep and
Jig there for two hours if you want to wait
for him, but l like to get him within reach
of the gaff as soon as possible.
PACKING SALMON.
almost every salmon fisher has a differ
ent preference as to flies There are hun
dreds of varieties. All that ever needed
were couple of Jack SCOTS, some skies,
tours, and twos, some silver kings, and
brown dose. The best catch we ever made
in the Moisic was three years ago when, in
eighteen days. we landed 404 salmon, ag-
gregating, 9,847 pounds in weight. My
largest individual catch for one day was
fifteen fish, weighing 345 pounds. As the
fish are caught they are packed in the snow
houses.
eve have three houses which are filled
with snow by our men during the winter.
Ice is not good for packing salmon. 1t cuts
the flesh. When the season Is over the fish
is packed in snow, sent to the mouth of the
Moisic, where it is repacked in snow and
sent on to Quebec, where it is again i'm
bedded in snow.
"Our fishing grounds are in a wild, IN
inhabited country, but every season the
Indians come down from the north in their
canoes on their annual visit to the priest.
They are poor, half starved people, who
look like cross between an Eskimo and
North American Indian. The moose and
deer are killed out, and the poor creatures
have little left to live on. We fed six boat
loads at our camp. and l thought they
would eat us out of house and home. Fish
is about the only article of food they have
left"
.How do the Canadian salmon differ
from the Oregon fish," was asked.
i'They differ in the very material fact
that the Oregon fish will not take fly
Otherwise they are about alike. The larg-
est Canadian salmon | ever saw weighed
thirty-eight and half pounds. The aver
age will be about twenty-five or twenty
three pounds. "-Philadelphia Press.