The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-27
ANGLING.
An Expert Trout Catcher Explains Why Fish
ing Has Been Poor-The Lakes.

fishing in coast streams has been so very
poor this season. Possibly the reason why
so many people have met with inferior
luck can be attributed to the excessive
amount of food that has been washed into
the main streams through the many chan
nels or feeders that have kept the larger
bodies OF water far above the usual mark.
There can be no gainsaying that coast
streams are much higher now than they
were at this time year ago. Experienced
anglers are thoroughly aware that the
larger trout will not rise to fly as long as
they are supplied with bottom food. There
fore, the statements so frequently heard
that the streams have been tished out,
must be accepted with some degree OF sus-
picion, as the evidence OF proof has yet TO
come.
Jabez Swan, a sportsman who has wet
lines in almost every coast stream OF note,
gave as his reason for believing that excel
lent sport would result during May ana
June the following explanation: NV nile
angling on the Sonoma Greek last week l
caught several small fish, some OF which
| opened for the purpose OF discovering
what kind of larve they were existing
upon, and the analysis proved to my salts
faction that fiy-fshing was yet too early TO
reap satisfactory results.
II found that the fish were feeding on a
gelatinous larvG of the creek snail, which
IS quite prolific on the stones OF the creek,
and as this matter is not protected by a
hard crust the trout can enjoy bottom
luxury to their hearts content. This IS an
excellent reason why fly-fshing has been
poor since the SEASON opened. Any person
who will take the trouble to dissect his
catch will readily find the absence OF any
solid food in the stomachs OF the hsh
caught, and what better argument is neces-
sary to prove that when the larve will have
become protected by shell covering,
which viii result in a few weeks of tine
weather, the anglers will have very dlf-
ferent tune to whistle? Once the shell OF
the snail becomes hard and indigestible
the festive beauties OF the babhling brook
will look up to the anglers fly as some
thing worthy of consideration in the way
OF a change of food"
There is unquestionably considerable
good material for sober thought in Mr.
Swans remarks, and the gentleman's
many years experience in stream whip
ping should be in itself sufficient recon-
mendation TO satisfy all doubling
Thomases that the coast streams still
contain numbers OF trout which will make
a good showing later on.
1t is only reasonable to surmlse that
good stream fishing will be enjoyed by the
whippers of flies when the food now so
plentiful in the streams Will have disap-
peared. The season, up TO the present, has
been very favorable to fish in every stream
that empties into the bays and ocean.
Small trout-fngerlings- snap at any
thing, but as they grow old they become
wise and cautious, and then the test of
anglers skill and experience will become
manifest.
He who fogs the water when casting for
trout, although successful in bait or bot
tom fishing, will discover, much to his
chagrin, that a brother angler who hap
pens along with a neat and well placed
cast can open a basket OF surprise If called
up TO present beauties.
Professor Noble, a well-known Scotch
angler, caught nine trout last Sunday at
Point Reyes with broiled liver and shrimp,
which he used for bait.
Readers of this department should not
neglect TO cast their eyes over the notes re-
ceiYed from correspondents in the country,
as many little tips are given to anglers re-
garding STREAMS that pan out best.
The gun club recently organized in the
Olympic Club in this City will lease from
Charles Webb Howard 10000 acres of land
in Marin County. The Lagunitas and
Liberty creeks will be included in the
lease and it is the intention of the lessees
to stock the streams and prevent all fishing
in them for two years. 1t is expected that
everything in connection with the lease
will be settled in a few weeks hence.
Fish Commissioner Emeric states that
Chief OF the Patrol Babcock returned few
days ago from Truckee with the very ex-
cellent information that the Truckee
Lum Der Company has built repository
for its sawdust and that further annoy
ance to anglers who whip the Truckee will
not be experienced this season from saw
dust and shavings.
Owing to the amount of fish that is
taken annually from Paper-mill and So
noma creeks, it is hoped that the Fish
Commissioners viii not neglect to keep up
the supply by liberal stocking OF those
waters. Those who angle and take fish in
the near coast streams are taxpayers, and
as a matter of fact are entitled to consider
alton. They cannot afford the time and
expense attached to a long trip in the
country.
1t is stated on excellent authority that
the steelheads in Lake Lagunitas are
in splendid condition this year, not para
site having been found either in their gills
or fins. The rainbows, which, as the CALL
has always contended, are different vari-
ETY. of like species, are not in such fine
condition, vet they are far superior in
every particular to last years fish.
Lagunitas Lake will open on either June
or June 10, possibly the former date, and
Lake Pilacitos will be opened on May l..
This announcement is authoritative.
James Watt, one of the leading mem bers
of the Rod and Gun Club of this city, re-
ceived the following clipping recently from
Abereeen, Scotland.
A novelty in the way of sport has been
inaugurated at the Royal Aquarium, West
minister, by a series OF curious angling con-
tests in the swimming annex. Fishermen
of reputation demonstrated their skill
with rod and line in attempts to bring
to land human fish, who, having been duly
hooked, cleverly initiated salmon in their
efforts to regain their freedom. The result
was always entertaining and frequently
very exciting, especially when the angler
and the fish" were fairly matched. In
the first competition, although Mr.. Hardy
of Alnwick, with 7-ounce trout rod and
line, essayed three times to overcome
Ives, strong swimmer of IA stone weight,
the latter on each occasion succeeded in
breaking the line. Miss Burnett. whose
weight is II stone, proved an excellent fish,
and Mr. Slater of Newark, who angled in
the Nottinghamshire style with a greenhart
rod and spinning undressed line, had not
succeeded in landing her when time was
called, after ten minutes hard fighting.
Another lady, Miss Sylvia, of slighter
build, however, gave in to the angling of
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