Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
Among the Fishermen



The weather man has been a little slow in
providing suitable conditions for this COM
munity and the mountain streams have re-
manned so cold that the trout have not
awakened to the coming of spring. Reports
from all directions indicate that flies and
lures which have generally been successful
during late May and early June are only
just coming into use.
But now that the warm summer has
truly begun the angler for trout may con-
graduate himself that the season has been
late, because the fish will rise with more
than ordinary avidity to his flies. Nearby
Pennsylvania offers some of the best fly
fishing In the east. The vicinity of Cresco,
Henryville. Delaware Water Gap and
Mount Pocono are yearly visited by many
local anglers. The Middle Branch, Goose
Pond Run. Lewis creek, the Buckhill, Brod-
heads, Paradise Heller and DEVILS Hole
are enshrfned in the memory of critical
anglers from far and near. Many of these
streams are regularly stocked by the
United States fish commission and by local
interest. and the angling Is improving year
after year.
The customary flies used during the early
spring range in variety, like feminine styles
of millinery. While the uninitiated NAV
laugh at the fine shades and meanings
with which the expert angler invests each
choice. 1t is nevertheless true that IL he
understands his art his flies will fill his
creel. Weather conditions have resulted I'm
delaying the arrival Of many OF the natural
insects which are eustomarily lowering
over the brooks and waterways The fol-
lowing flies will be found taking during
the latter part Of June
ADbey-Body of crimson silk ribbed with
gold finsel. wings of pintail duck. hackle
brown. tall three-strand golden pheasapt
and tag of tinsel
Brown hackle-Body Of peacock. hackye
Drown. wound thick. no wings.
biack gnat-Body Of peacock herI. wings
crow hackle black
COachman-Body OF eacocL bary .,.,
brown. wings white (for dark days)
Royal coachman-Body scarlet silk. two
bands peacock, hackle brown, wings white
Green drake-Body straw silk, rib loose
coils black silk. wings wood duck. hackle
brown, tail three fbers wood duck.
Grasshopper-Body brown worsted wings
jungle cocks feather above It one stirp
yellow color. swan and one red ibis three
OF each, hackle scarlet, tail yellow. tag
gold tinsel head peacock herl.
Grizzly king-Body green silk, ribbed, sill
yer tinsel. wings pintail duck, hackle griz-
zled, tail red Ibis, tag gold tinsel.
Montreal-Body dark crimson silk. ribbed
gold tfnsel. wings turkeys wing hackie
scarlet. tail three fibers ibis, tag gold tinsel
Professor-Body yellow silk. ribbed tinsel
three fbers ibis.
Stone fy-Body gray silk, ribbed silver
tinsel. wings mallard's feather hackIe gray
tail three fbers black hackle. tag silver
tinsel.
These flies will also be found popular and
killing in the waters of the western Cats
kills and the Adirondacks. For in early
season they should be tied on hooks not
larger than No 10; smaller sizes than this
even down to No. IA 10. are used by ex-
perienced and discriminating anglers.
There is a sluggishneSs about the action
of insects and flies In the early part of the
season which has been observed by every
watchful angler and which should be mi-
tated by those who seek the best fish. Later
in the season, when the sun becomes pow
erful and the warm air lasts for ten or
twelve hours of the day, insects are more
active. The casting of the artificial files
should, therefore, vary a little the season
progresses to meet natural conditions. 1t is
probably well known to most anglers for
black bass that the bass rarely takes
flv on the surface of the water. The angler
will do better. therefore. while fishing for
black bass. to allow his fly to sink couple
of inches and then retrieve 1t In imitation
Of an insect struggling to the surface. This
same proceeding will be found very effect
i've In early methods of angling for trout.
Every year the debate recurs concerning
stream for trout. Few questions associate
with angling have ragged for SO long a time
and had SO many. champions on each side.
It seems to have occurred to but few OF
these experts that the sensible scientific
ground would be found to be in compro-
mise There are times and places where
downstream fishing Is to be recommended
and, indeed, insisted upon. and there are
times and places where the shrewd angler
will see at once the wisdom of making
detour and casting his fly up stream.
In general the opinions on this subject
vary with the nationality of the angler.
Englishmen are almost universally on the
side of upstream fishing, while Ameri-
can anglers are strongly In favor OF the
downstream method. Ana the expiana-
ton Is not far to seek.
In England the streams where ny hshing
Is done are almost without exception slow
moving and placid. and for this reason IL
makes no very great difference wnether me
fly is cast up or down stream. In fact the
Englishman, on his own waters. has consid-
cradle argument in favor OF his method
Trout like other game fishes: usually lie
headed up stream The angler who APP
proaches them. therefore. from the rear,
and deftly casts his fly ahead of them
stands less chance OF being seen II may
also be said that the ny noauns aown on
little more natural than the same ny DUCK
ing his way against the current In these
respects the American. as well az the Eng
lish angler, would do well to CONSIDER the
chances OF success from both standpoints
The American angler Is accustomed to
lively. rapid water. with few still pools he
would And It dimcult. IL not impossible. 10
make his way up some OF our famous trout
waters Following the lines OF least resist
arce, he wades down the brook and casts
hfs Az before him. initiating. so far as
uossflle. its struggles on the surface. Habit
"a strong within him. and when he comes
to sfiIl water or placid pool he rarely
foIlows the Englishman's method OF going
around the pool and casting up stream. II
he an his snccess would probably be
greater.
There are not . few wen posted anglers