The herald., 1897-08-15

| Fifty yards is long line, and for most
| fishing twenty-five yards may be made
| to suffice. The Sproat ard Onslaught
messy are the. standard fly hooks, but of
late the hooks made after the patterns
of H. c. Pennell are coming much into
use.
As a general rule he who passes the
most time upon the trout streams knows
most Of the habits of the trout, yet no
zone may arrogate to himself that he
knows all about them. The fish are as
capricious as women, and quite as diff
ficult to understand. AS rule the large
fish will be found in the deep pools, be-
hind large rocks and in the quiet, heavy
swirls. The smaller fish are found in
the shallower waters. At times the
fish of all sizes take to the rifles. The
patriarchs as rule have fixed habi-
tat, and although they run up and down
the stream, they will invariably return
to their favorite pools. During the warm
months the fish seek the cooler waters
of the head of the streams. as trout can
not live in water that is warmer than
20 degrees. They do not run to the sea,
as do salmon, and yet whenever it is
possible to do so they will take an occa-
sional excursion to the brine.
Those trout streams that run into the
sea are not as easily depleted as are
the inland brooks and the trout as a rule
attain greater size. Trout feed upon the
larvae of bugs and butterflies that are
deposited in the stream for incubation;
they also prey upon the young of their
own kind, and are especially fond of
trout and salmon eggs. 1t, is. a. well re-
corded fact that immense numbers OF
trout follow the salmon in their migra-
! tions to the spawning grounds and de-
YOUR the eggs as soon as they fall from
the female. The favorite food of the
| trout, however, is the flies, beetles and
grasshoppers that fall on the surface OF
| the water. 1t is this habit OF, seizing
its food upon the surface of the water
that affords such sport to the angler, for
when fish are on the feed, they seize the
artificial lure with the same avidity as
| they do the natural flies.
Generally the mornings and evenings
are the best time to fish, although this
varies as to the time of year. Early and
late in the season the middle of the day
may be found best Sometimes trout will
be seen rising in all directions, striking
|
top of the water At such times it is
almost impossible to make them notice
any lure. Keep as much out of sight as
/ the nature of the ground will permit and
| fish with the finest tackle that will hold
your fish. The finer the tackle the more
skill is required in handling the game.
In casting do so from the wrist and fore
arm, keeping the arm quite close to the
side Do not use a longer line than you
can cast neatly. The fly should drop
directly over the spot where you think
the fish lies and should strike the water
| first and as lightly as possible. Only
| persistent trials can make a skillful fly
caster.
| In retrieving the line it should be done
with quick, rather jerky motion, but in
| sending it forward again care should be
taken that the flies are not snapped off
| Should the fish rise to the fly slight turn
or jerk of the wrist will fasten the hook
in his mouth. Should he be a small one he
| may be "yanked" out at once, but the
larger fellow must be handled carefully.
Let him have all the line he wants, steer
ing him clear of weeds or rocks as much
as possible. Keep a light drag on him,
and as soon as you think advisable. COM
mence reeling in. Should he make an
other squirt let hom have the line again,
repeating this until he turns over on his
side. Don't play a fish too long, and
large fish should be landed with net.
To do this bring the fish as close to you