The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-24
THE com WEATHER TROUT.
Mightiest Of All, He Is Giving Good Sport
In Northern Lg:;S3.

HULL, Canada, May 23.-The cold weathc:
In April was most acceptable to those trout
fishers whose desires are not satisfied
by the spotted beauties Of the fontinais
variety. The Namdvcush tuiddi, or gray
trout of the lakes the mightest OF all the
trouts, Is an inhabitant OF and cannot live
out Of very cold water. In the winter
he may be taken with ease through the ice,
using bit of sucker for bait.
Before the law was amended to stop IL
the regular way to take him was to pass wall
and trap nets through holes in the ice, III
water ranging from six to twenty ieel
On the Pemichongon and Thirty-one-Miie
lakes up the Gatineau, the writer has seen
the fish stacked on the ice like cordwood'
in tiers four feet high and sixteen long
waiting for the dealers TO come with their
sleighs and draw them away.
As soon at the water begins to get warm
the fish betake themselves to the deepest
and coolest parts Of the lake. gradually
working toward the shadows as the cold
weather comes on. This year the water IN
those northern lakes has kept cool right
I'D to the beginning Of the month, and the
fish will probably be accessible until the
middle Of June. Just now they may be
taken about gravelly bars, in eight or ten
feet of water if one has the right bait.
What that is depends upon the season
and the caprice of the fish. On most days
a small, say quarter Of pound, sucker
is the most killing thing to use. Some
times a young club will do as well. The
Indians, who are superior to law, claim
that brook trout or whitefish is always
the best lure and certainly their catches
support their theories. During the last
two weeks, however, the smaller fish have
been taking flies very well. None over
len bounds has been reported so far. but
then as a rule, the larger fish OF most
varieties are taken below the surface.
As far as fighting ability goes. the namay-
cush, whichis perhaps the heaviest OF all the
salmon family according to its SIZE, mas o rhe
heavy, pulling fish rather than a brilliant
fighter. There will be no vaulting out OF
the water, or threshing about at the surface
but there will be swift PUSHES underneath,
frequent soundings, wild attempts to en-
tangle the, line about supken tIeetops or
ward, until the fight is over and the almost
lifeless body is dragged by main strength
Let alone, the gray trout sinks to the bot
tom when killed, unlike most other nsh,
muscular activity. With ordinary running
tackle and salmon gut. ten-pound fish
will afford sport for about three quarters
OF an hour, and il he is Of sulky tenn
permanent may last much longer.
1t is Of little use to attempt 70 force tne
will strain II they do not break any roo
sensible man would take out for trout fish
ing, il the check is applied to the running
line: and many a fish Is lost by, forcibly
breaking away as he l. dragged TO the
In bottom fishing the bait is often taken
with a rush most disouieting to the nerves
and most irving to the tackle. A we'll
known New York clergyman was standine
in his boat in contemplative mood, grasp,
thought OF what might be happening at
the other end Of his tackle. when without
an instant's warning he plunged headtore-
most into the lake. When he came sputter-
ing to the top he began even before shors no nc
reproaoh his compa nions for the trick
they had played upon him, Nor could ne
t,e persuaded that he had been overcome
by a fish until he had had second ex-
perience of the pulling power OF a twenty
The commonest method Of taking these
fish is by trolling. A weight varying as TO
the season from q few ounces up to pound
and q half is attached TO the line twenty
feet or 80 before the artificial minnow. or
spoon, and lie then dragged by long line
behind a boat. The heaviest fish, thirty,
forty, or even fifty Founders, are taken this
way. But there is not very much run
about it, l.,
At present the specimens taken are IN
flrst-rate order, and the flesh is almost as
creamy as that of fresh run salmon.
Later the meat will become dn.a,r and the
fish lighter, and then the tuladi ranks as
lowest of the trout family In quality as
table fish Certainly at present 1t comes
as good second to the delicious brook
trout, than which no sweeter, more tooth
a