The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
FEEDING TIME FOR ADIRONDACK TROUT
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B,RyEvrLp. Y. Y, April SIT some.
times happens, az II does this year, that
the opening day for fishing for brook trout
In the North Woods falls on Sunday. April
10 Il, the talismanio date which moves the
anglers northvard TO the streams. and
while II s likely that as many as ever will
follow the impulse not to lose an hour Of
the precious season, the anglers In the
omen country will be more cautious In show
ing themselves owing TO the fact that It Ia
an offence against the laws Of the State
10 fish on Sunday.
Spring came early in the mountains this
year freeing the streams Of Toe and snow
water. b. May /, when the lake fishing
opens. all the lakes south Of the Canadian line
are likely 10 be clear. There will be warmth
In the sun everywhere, and a man may
MI his creel with the least effort OF any
time Of the season. Il Is then that the bare
footed. agile varlet, whose head is crammed
full Of scraps Of information, who angles
with a worm and spits on his lure, will dis
cover that trout bite on grubs, and before
nighfall will have a lordly collection 20
dispose Of 20 the man who, yersed in the
scientific possibilities Of the intricate
switch cast, the Zip" cast, the sover-
head and the wheel, indulges in all the
action and display Of tinsel Of the so-called
higher forms Of the anglers art.
At this season il requires no dexterity
10 catch fish. and therefore the ranks
Of It's votaTies stand twenty deep. Where
there il a fy caster there are four bait cas-
ter- and where there are four bait casters
there are sixty-fow still fishers. To drop
g hook baited with a piece Of sucker or q
worm into tho water end wait for some
thing TO come along and take hold of It
Is the reflective art Of tho free people, and
nothing so rests tired nerves as to angle
in the lotus land of the bobting cork and
the slack line while the boat drifts peace
fullyoyCr the water and tie calm 4 the lake
and the fore st enters to chase dull care
away
The scientific sharp VINO is able 20 get out
hundred feet against the wind and cover
the water with gaudily colored CRITICAL
simulstions Of insects cannot compete
with the man who lets a sinkCr followed
by hook and worm fan into the water
with a 'ker-chug' that attracts the at
teniion Of TIE free folk 80 feet O. way. The
trout are hungry, they have thrown eau
ton to tie four winds. Il Will be the
latter part Of May before they learn the
lesson over again and take to gaudy
plump bugs.
Some Of the best fishing to lie had in the
early part Of the season, and Of which few
city sportsmen are aware, is to be found in
the upper reaches Of the streams which
serve as a highway for the log drivers and
their charges. The Raquette River, which
worms it, way out from the heart Of the
region northwe-tward to the st. Lawrence.
with many wild plunge. alternated with
still water; the Black River. which with
its important tributary, the Moose River,
drains the southwestern side Of the Adiron-
dacks the Schroon River in the south
east the Boquet River in the cast and the
Saranac River in the northeast are among
the especially fine streams early in the
season.
In these waters millions Of feet Of cut
timber are foated down stream to the
waiting mills. These logs or spars have
lain half the winter on the ground, and
between the bark and the wood are hundreds
Of worms-white fat slugs, coooons and
insects. In the humping. grinding and
rubbing together Of the logs, or under the
force Of their impact with rocks and lodges,
the bark is frequently ripped of and the
hapless insects tumble into the water
profuse and dainty banqueting for the
trout, which leave their hidden retreats
beneath the deep worn lodges Of rocks
to follow the logs IN the annual drives.
1t Is then that the record catches Of the
year are made, not by sportsmen Of the
city, but by the native anglers.
Anglers Of modest aspirations and mod
crate purse may satisfy their quest on
other waters Of the North Woods, which
have happily been rehabilitated by the
provident State Fish Commission, cay. at
Paul Smiths in the systems Of the St. Regis