The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-15

These are the days when the person who
loves the sensation Of nihhle at the end
of a line looks iongingly al the fish rcd
that hangs on the wall. sees that the dust
covered basket is furnished up and Won
ders IL IL is not possible 10 get a vacation
of few days anyway. 1t is the trout sea-
son, blessed period. Every angler VINO
has ever caught a trout feels the thrill
that comes to him when pursuing his Ia
yorite sport every time he thinks OF II.
Stories are coming thick and fast from
the mountains and elsewhere OF great
catches made under most exciting circum-
stances. The trout tales that are being
brought home by the fortunate men who
can go trout fishing when they Ike bear a
sufficient impress of truth TO enthuse the
most phlegmatlc.
When, oh, reader. you reach that point
when all attainment seems a hollow
mockery; when lifes endless toll and en-
deayor weigh heavily upon you, when per-
haps the search for wealth has led you on
and on until all around YOU you can only
see che quagmire OF discomfort and the
foul carnations of deceit, envy and greed
that make the head reel. then IL is indeed
time TO possess yourself of light rod
and angling outfit and HE to the mountain
brook. where the gamiest and Wariest Of
fish kind will call forth all your cunning
10 catch him. New vigor will invade yocc
frame and your laughter Will resound
through the woods as after gamey night
you land d speekled beauty.
Today the split bamboo stands at the
head Of ali rods. This, Is claimed as an
American invention, and at first was
laughed at by our English friends on ac-
count of its limberness. The last ten Years
has seen it distance all rivals. and =. man
who wishes 10 be up to date WI eiect a
split bamboo. They are made OF six and
also of eight strips. In price they may be
had from SIS up TO $50 and more. The no.
vice will do well 10 begin with a medium
priced rod. not necessarily the very cheap
est. but one that will not cost more than
three or four dollars. Dowelled feruies
are no longer considered desirable on ac-
count OF the difficulty 81 making repairs.
The simple ferule Is preferred.
Most Of the rods are ii three joints. and
these are by all means the best In Sc
iecting the rod see THAI 1t has an even
hang" That means that when 1t is
strained IL will bend In an even curve from
butt 10 tip. Care should be taken that
there are no imperfections in the cane.
The cheaper rods are made from inferior
bamboo according 10 the grade OF rod he
wishes TO produce. An expensive rod
should bend 50 that the tip touches the
butt without breaking. In buying first
class rod do so from a maker who is not
only willing To put his name on the rod.
but is willing TO guarantee 1t.
rod that Is not TOO timber win cast
well. whilst one that Is too stiff is apt 10
place too great strain upon the fish by
its quick action. Ring guides are most
~ preferred. but some still cling to the
tie guides. A rod for fly fishing should
weigh from six to eight ounces and be
from nine 10 ten and a half feet long. The
reel seat should always be below the hand
on q fly rod. II bait fishing is To be in
duiged in heavier rod is preferable. OF
late new material called paddle wood Is
being recommended but until IL is proved
superior the split bamboo had better be
adhered TO. The steel rods put upon the
market some years ago seem to give little
satisfaction, and are not used as much az
when first introduced. Yet notwithstand-
hing this fact the steel rod has greater pos
slbilities before IL than any wood rod, and
IS likely to become the rod of the future.
The problem seems TO be simply one Of
perfection OF manufacture Some years
ago many veteran anglers made their own
rods. but few have the leisure or skill TO do
so, aud moreover rod manufacture has at
talned such degree of perfection that the
amateur cannot hope to cope with the pro-
fesslonal rodmaker. who also has the ad-
vantage OF having a large stock Of cane
to make selections from
In fishing for trout a multiplying reel is
to be avoided and the preference given to
one that is narrow between the plates
with drum or spindle Of large diameter.
With such a reel the line can be wound I'D
very rapidly. The handle should be cr
such construction or 50 protected that IL
will be impossible 10 foul the line. A light
click is best, and its whirr Is sweetest n,u-
sic 10 the ear OF the angler.
The leader Is that pa-r Of the tackle that
IS attached TO the end OF the line ana 10
which the artificial flies or other lure are
attached. II IS used on account Of its in
visibility. as any line. no matter how deli
cate. would scare the tIsh- Leaders are
made from silk worm gut. and the best
comes from Spain. They are made I'm
lengths Of from three to six feet. The four
and six foot leaders are the most service
able There should be = loop at each end.
and others al distances of thirty inches
The finer the leader the better. vet II
should b. heavy enough 70 stand the strain
OF heavy fish. IN other words although
fine tackle lures best. vet Il must no, No.
100 iine % be Serviceahla Leaders are
stained IN many different shades varyir e
from light mist color which. by thu
way. Is most often used - almost black
Much study has been gfT@f 20 this sub
jsc1 % staining IN order u make the leader
as httle conspicuous As possible. Il & an
accepted rule among anglers that when
Ash VIII nos rise il ia always advisable to
change the leader. no matter what shade
has been used under seemingly similar
occa .ians The leader should ALWAYS ba
soaked before Il IL used. and should K be-
come frayed BY use should be placed aside
Pieces % leaders may b. Joined together
BY first soaking the gut IN warm water
and relying A good plan 10 prevent vexa-
tloEls loss IS 20 test All leaders to stand a
strain Of at least four pounds
The most vexstious question that pre-
sents Itself 20 the trout angler Is the one
OF flies OF course different waters require
different eses- The novice Is ap. 10 SCI
lecs too many kinds ~ fles ~. (, IS far
better 90 have too large 81 assortment,
than tao small ere. The veteran fire.
G1ently errs the other way. sni often
ccEr5eS himself to too limited an assert