The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
ART OF THE FLY.FISHER.
Growing Popularity OF the Sport-Hints
for the Angler

for the Angler.
Fly fishing in northern Maine waters
will soon be pr me. From the lst to the
18th Of June is the recognized time for the
beginning of the best Of this sport, but indi-
cations this year point to an exceptionally
fine opening, brought about by an unusually
warm spring.
The secret Of the growing popularity OF
this sport les in the fact that it is an art,
and like all art it has an ideal which one
is ever striving for but never quite attains
One who begins in proper form can with
practice continually improve in distance ac-
curacy and delicacy. Accuracy and delcacy
are the main requisites OF the practical
fisherman, distance casting fguringlprin-
oipaly in contests and exhibitions. The
distance record Is something over l40 feet,
but the average fisherman will seldom
use more than sixty and never more than
eighty feet of line.
Tly-castng is simply a motion OF the
wrist and forearm, a quick witch back
at the proper time and another forward
when the line has had time 10 straighten
out behind. The more line cast the
more time is, OF course. required for the
back cast Theoretically these casts should
be the same.
The novice bungles for several reasons,
because he uses not only the wrist and fore
arm, but the entire arm and the body rs
well; does not give the back cast sufficient
time, or throws the rod too far forward
thus making it impossible for the line to
unwind and come down easily and natura lily.
Accuracy and delicacy come from long
practice and are most essential accomplish
ments. The big trout which lie in wait
for tempting morsels under logs and lily
pads or beside rushing eddies, pay little
attention to fly unless 1t Is put down in
the right spot and in the right manner.
Long experience has taught them that
there is something very suspicious about
dainty bits which come into the water in
unnatural ways Heavy, splashing casts
may attract the small and inexperienced
trout, the kind Of trout that one may take
one minute, throw back, and catch again
ten minutes later; the frolicsome, festive
trout which jump for everything, from
tiny bits OF wood UP to big maple leaves
but the big fellows. the olitmers. do not
paw any particular attention to this sort
of casting.
And for these reasons, and many more,
there is a deal to learn in fly fishing.
In quick or running water trout will
often take the ~ when it is allowed
to float Gown past their retreat
naturally with me current, while they
will refuse to rise to the same fly dragged
against the current. In one instance the
lure is following natural laws, and in the
other it is violating them, and the big trout
have sense enough to know it,
A. IN, Cab;
it is necessary to put fly down just as a
natural fly alights, as gently as falling
feather. 1t is often necessary to make
cast so that the flies will hang upon a
bush that overhangs pool for few mo-
ments before dropping into the water below.
This trick will often fool the oldest trout,
when a cast made directly into the water
would attract no attention whatever.
The reason is plain. The trout below lie
there hiding, waiting for flies to light upon
the bushes. They see them light, and wait
for them to fall. When fly comes suddenly
into view from nowhere, and suddenly
disappears just az mysteriously, they know
something is wrong.
Big trout will not rise close TO canoe or
boat Place two fishermen in the same
craft at the right point and have one cast
twenty feet and the other fifty. Nine
times out of ten the one casting twenty
fee, will be taking, trout running six and
eight to the pound, and the one casting
Atty will be, landing trout weighing from
half pound to a pound and half. Let
two men fish from the same boat, and upon
opposite sides, and let one make bunglinR
casts and the other place the flies upon the
water with .delioacy, and much the same
There is also difference in the way
the flies must be handled when once upon
tine water. For instance, early in The
season, trout take wet fly that is an inch
or so under water, simply because they are
not rising freely, but feeding mainly under
the surface.
Later on the flies must be trolled gently
on the surface, and al times when the trout
fly is in evidence hopping fly tempts
even the most indifferent fish. This is
are very fond, diffcrs from o, her Nes in
Possessing the ability to light upon the
water, rest a moment and fly of again.
The average fly or miller is down for good
when once II strikes the surface.
The idea that trout may be taken upon
Trout will not rise we'll unless conditions
are favorable, In the ma iority Of waters.
Therelare, to be sure, places where they
seem little affected by unfavorabe condi-
tons, but they are very few, and invariably
the sportsman soon tires Of the sport where
these unnatural conditions exist Water,
wind and temperature have much TO do
with bringing about the best fly fishing,
and for just this reason 1t is not every day
that the fisherman finds the fish in the
right mood even N he IL where the Ash
are.
Early in the season warm weathe draws
tho trout from the deep to the shallow
water. but later on warm weather sends
them from shallow TO deep water, and
cool weather brings them back to shallow
water again. There are days when the
trou, are rising continually, but generally
few hours at morning and evening afford
the best fishing OF the day.
Small trout require much moro food
than larpor 0ab IL 4 rnaL;o1 =. -,