Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-06-17
A KINE0 FISHING TRIP.
The Story Of a Red Letter Day Of Brat
tleboro Fishermen at Moosehead Lake.

several years ago was contributed to the
American Fish Culturist by Maj. F. w.
Childs.
II was early in June when a party Of
four Brattleboro enthusiasts arrived at
Kineo for their annual fishing trip Of two
weeks. a half dozen fellow sportsmen-
previous acquaintanCes-were already on
the ground, and Of the party OF ten all
but two were looked upon as expert fly
fishermen-that 1t. they had long before
abandoned bait fishing and had advanced
to the point whore they could drop tail
nv in a swirl 60 feet from their canoe as
gracefully as an old-time Jehu could tap
the leaders Of his ski hand.
To land a four pound trout with a rod
exceeding in weight eight ounces was to
invite the criticism of this little party Of
thoroughbred fishermen whose tackle was
of the most attractive assortment. flies of
various kinds and makes, reels Of delicate
mechanism, multiplying and automatic,
expensive tapered lines Of silk and costly
rods galore.
The weather continued cold and forbid
ding for a week or more. during which time
grim old Katahdin was capped with snow.
Heavy ooats were a necessity in addition
to mackintoshcs, the latter as a pro-
lection from frequent dippings Of our
canoes in rough water. We were out
early and made long days, notwithstand-
ing the weather, returning to the hotel
late at night with the same daily story
mo fish" this from one and all alike, for
there was no faVoritism in our luck
What had become Of the fish, had they
gone out with the ice? (This could not
be, for the ice never goes out of Moose
head. it just wastes away in a night.) Or
had they come to the surface earlier in
the season. when bait fishermen had par
ticipated in an unusual slaughter; would
they rise again?
Some of the natives believed. or at least
pretended to believe, that we had come
altogether too late; others that no fly
fishing would be had till July. all signs
according to the latter confirming such
judgment. Most of the guides. how
ever. cheered our hearts with the ex-
preston, you just wait a bit, don't fret,
they'll come. sure But the monotony of
casting all day without a single rise was
becoming exceedingly tresome even to
reasonably patient souls
Finally. about the eighth morning, six
Of us chartered a small steam craft and
with our canoes lashed to the rails, start
ed early for the head of the lake. The
morning, like so many before it, was cold
and wet. while our spirits were quite in
harmony with the weather. All expressed
Indifference as to where we should put
from the steamer. being a little averse to
leaving the warm cabin at all We did
cast off. however near Green Point the
steamer running around into the bay to
await our return for dinner.
Three hours Of persistent casting resulted
in the taking Of a solitary "laker" for din
ner. weighing about three pounds, and
which in sheer desperation one of our
party dragged for, in order. as he ex
pressed it, Ito see if there were fish of any
kind left in the lake and to know what
they acted like, declaring that the fish
did not bite but just froze on to the hook.
l-l-
to whether it would not be better to re-
turn to the hotel without further at
tempts to fish About this time there was
a notable rift in the lowering clouds. and
by o'clock the sun came out with cheer
ing warmth. No sooner had its rays been
reflected on the water than our birches
Were noiselessly turned toward infrequent
breaks on the mirrored surface. Instantly
and almost before our casts struck the
water all had their fish securely hooked,
not one but three to cast, for we used a
hand, middle and drop fly at first and un-
til we had fairly tired of landing three
at a cast and now decided to use only the
tail-fy, the kind or quality making no
difference to the fish
simultaneously with the sun came a
world Of black flies which literally covered
the water. and in less time than It takes
to relate this story the whole surface, in
every direction and out into the lake as
jumping, splashing fish, exposing their
/ length in their evident eagerness to grab
the swarminE black flies which nature,
seemingly had provided as the first feast
! of the season.
Four hours of unprecedented sport; who
| had ever before seen its like?
\ party of Boston fishermen came down
/ the lake about sundown, lesurely padding
| while watching the sporting FISH on every
| hand. having, like ourselves, had their
! fill of pleasure, and all told Of the same
| marvellous experience. Everybody had
fish, loads OF them, all square tailed trout
| with but few fork-tails, and such mon
sters, Weighing, as they did. from one tc
| four pounds each. and what was more
surprising, they were all plump, fat and
| handsome.
Weary from incessant casting, though
| with much reluctance, our canoes were re-
| lashed to the steamer, which slowly
moved homeward while we watched
| through the twilight the leaping trout
| which piece of bark or a stick tossed or
the water was sufficient to entice a dozer
| or more hungry mouths toward the object
! with a resounding splash
1t was, indeed, sight never to be for
| gotten and the days catch of 24'
pounds, as recorded on my rubber blanket
We We're not surprised on returning to the
| hotel to learn that the guests, one and all
| had enjoyed similar sport at differen
| points about the lake, thus showing th'
| great lake to be literally teeming will
trout, fact which many were inclined t.
| discredit till now.
Our hospitable landlord. Capt. Denning
said that in all his experience about th'
lake, he had never witnessed the like be
fore.
The next day We hoped to repeat th'
sport, but strange to say our expectation
were turned to disappointment, for w
had very few strikes and while We re
NAMED at Kineo a week or so longer w
had very ordinary luck
The fish had come and gone, probabl.
to the bottom of the lake, to be lure,
rather than by the artificial and seduc
tive brown haclle.
This proved to be the most eXtraordi
nary exhibition of square tailed trout i
my experience, and l have whipped som
mighty good preserves in the wids O
Maine and Canada.
Fishermen, like other mortals. some
times enjoy being praised for their ski
and for landing the biggest fish.
Somehow, unconsciously, of course, ther
| had sprung up among ourselves !
all these years Of association a good ma
tured rivalry. resulting in the daily weigh
ing of our biggest fish.
, One especially plump trout was weighe
several times the night of the big catch,
his weight being out of all proportion
his length Nobody would have selecte
that particular fish from the rest as tn
heaviest, yet ii was fact he outweighe
the largest one Notwithstanding a lingeI
ing suspicion that there was somethin
wrong about this short but heavy spec