The record-union., 1891-04-13

pend upon his wrist more than upon his
arm. l have many times cast while sit
ting in a boat with my elbow resting on
my knee. Learn to cast sitting down; it
is just as easy if you once learn how. A
beginner should never attempt to cast
beyond twenty-five or thirty feet, until he
can lay his line straight and without kink
upon the water for that distance. He
should then turn his attention to
THE FALLING OF THE FLIES
Upon the water. The first effort will
doubtless be accompanied by splash
he can. however, soon acquire the trick
of checking the line and so regulating
the tip of his rod that the flies will fall
gently. This is one of the most difficult
things to explain, but quite easy to exc
cute. 1t is perfectly possible at dis
tance OF fifty or sixty feet to cast check
the line, and raise the tip in such man
ner that the flies shall alight before the
line does. In actual fishing l do not
often do this, and it is perhaps more or
namental than useful In long casts the
line will strike the water beyond its mid
die and gradually follow out until the
end is reached, even the point where the
leader is Joined to the line being in adj
vance ofthe flies, until this point touches
the water, where the flies 90 on bevond
and straighten out to the full length Of the
cast. In practice casts should be made
slowly and a certain distance should be
well covered and cast with certainty
every time before any increase is at
tempted. No amount Of teaching will
make him good caster;
PRACTICE ALONE IS REQUIRED.
To one who has not acquired the art OF
fishing with the fly, let me suggest that a
day or two with an expert will save much
time and trouble. There are many little
things that cannot well be described, and
would take long time to find out by eX-
perience that can be learned very quickly
when seen. To really enjoy fly fishing.
one must be able to cast at least fairly
well; to cast a very long line is not at all
important-to cast easily and gently is.
Fifty to sixty feet is all that is necessary
for practical purposes; the great majority
OF trout are take within forty feet. After
you have acquired the skill to cast straight
1t will be time enough for you to practice
side casts. under casts, etc., that you will
have to use where there are obstacles be-
fore and behind you. The same move
ment to cast and retrieve your line will
apply under all circumstances, whether
i'll open water or in streams Overhung
with trees or fringed with bushes. Much
YeXatiOuS catching Of flies may be avoided
by not being too large, and by not using
too long q line. Let me add Just before
your flies touch the water, draw back
your rod slightly and gently; this Will
straighten the line and your flies will fall
exactly where you want them. On streams
1t is better to wade, because your feet pro-
duce no jar, for you cannot well raise
them out of the water, and dare not often;
and for various reasons a person alarms
the fish less in wading than in fishing
from the bank.
THE KIND OF FLIES TO BE USED
Vary with the locality, stream, state and
stage of the water, weather, etc. The fly
that please the fancy of the trout to-day
tomorrow perhaps, in the same stream
and under the same conditions as far as
any one could see, would fail. The ONLY
way IS to keep trying until the one is
found that does please. Don't change too
often, but give each cast a fair trial. In
low, clear water, especially streams
small flies should be used. In higher
water larger flies are better as a rule
When the water is high as early in the
season, larger and brighter colored flies
may be used to more advantage. Later
when the water is low and clear, smaller
and more sober colors are the best. ] be-
lieve that rules for the choice of flies have
great many exceptions, and the best
rule L know of is to keep trying different
kinds and sizes until successful.
KILLING A FISH.
Generally the utmost delicacy should
be shown in killing a fish, but there are
times when force must be exerted. If the
fish Is making for stump, or even weeds,
he must be stopped at any reasonable risk
of the rods breaking or the flies tearing
out. A stump is the most dangerous; one
| turn around that and he is off. leaving
your flies probably in most inconven-
lent place and many feet below the sur
face of the water. Many trout are lost by
the beginner from excitement or a lack
OF Judgment III managing them. 1t is al
ways the safest plan to handle fish as if
it was slightly hooked, and in fishing a
rift TO get him out of the rough water and
towards the margin where it is compara-
lively still as soon as possible. For in his
efforts to escape you have the force of the
current as well as his strength and agility
to contend with. If the water is still and
the fish is indispOSed to show fight, tow
him gently to one side and then to the
other as you reel in the line If there is a
slOping shore without distractions, and
you think he is securely hooked, you may
sometimes get little headway on him,
and, by steady pull, lead him ashore
HOW TO PLAY HIM.
When fish of unusual size is hooked,
and you can do so without disturbing the
lower end of the rift or pool, it is safer to
lead him down stream, for this increases
the difficulty of his breathing while you
are assisted by the current, and the strain
on your tackle is diminished. If your
reel has a moderately stiff click, and the
fish is large enough to run the line off, he
should be allowed to do so. bearing on
him with the line unchecked by the
slightest pressure of the fingers As he
SlackS in his resistance. reel in the line
giving when you must and shortening
when you can, "butting him" or bearing
hard only when he approaches some dan
gerouS place and leading him away from
it. After you have ventured TO raise his
head above water, give to any strong
effort he may make to get beneath, or to
his humor TO take another run, but bear
ing on him all the while with taut line
When you can venture to bring him
near, reel in until the end of the leader
where it joins the line has reached the
end of the tip. He is then, if the leader is
three-fourths the length of the rod, and
the rod plant, close enough to slip your
net under him. This should be done. not
with a swoop, but gently; seize him
with the left hand sticking your thumb
under his gill and taking the hook out of
his mouth, break his neck and put him
into the hole Of your creel.
IN CONCLUSION,
BE sure of all things that your line runs
easy through the standing guides, or
guide rings. like the former best. Many
fly fishermen are considered adopts ac-
cording to the length rather than the
grace and certainty Of their casts / do
not think in actual stream fishing an
average of a days casting would reach
over fifteen feet TO a cast. / never made
but one very long cast in actual angling
in my life. Once on the bank of PrOsser
Creek j saw trout in shoal water the
largest ! ever caught in that vicinity To
reach him without alarm l cast seventy
two feet, measured afterwards from a
knot on my line near my reel, and got
my fish. He weighed three and half
pounds, and | had to play him some to
save him.
And now, with a word to young fisher
! men and old beginners, I will close.