Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-24

ming Of 4 creature which, by nature, regards
man as a rnonstrosity. because he Is un-
usual anu fees at his approach.
But above and beyond all. fly fishing
holds it, admirers captive and makes new
c,uquests because II is. In all truth, both
IA character and environment. the sport
ideal, because it constantly leaves some
thIIi-; To 5e attained. II is not fishing In
the general acceptance OF the word. but
sport which is constantly opening up great
Of possibilities. and in which success is de
pendent upon not only skill and experience,
but constant study and careful schem-
ing.
Trout there are for all. but they grade up
ward in numbers and weight, according TO
the power NJ tine angler. The bucket shop
easily gathers in the few hundreds that
the small fry nave 10 squande,, but it takes
Wall street to land the millions Of the big
fellows and fly fishing as an art is no ex-
cepurH 10 the IeneraI rule. 1t is not the
wughia. of a Huaco scheme but business
proposition which must stand rigid exam
nation bv those who know. It Is not
question of letting the trout in on the
glouuj loor-the knowing ones VIII lnVari-
.lbiv lake the elevator to the roof-but OF
preseating the matter in such a way that
there is no reasonable chance for doubt
and to do this the fisherman must know
his clientele.
The Wilderness hy fisherman Is dealing
with fellow wno knows his business; WHO
IS keen. alera, willy, experienced, and IN
this connection should be emphasized the
keenuess of perception of the Mild trout
his striking characteristic-and which, com
b!ned with his great beauty and table ex-
ceilence, make him, unquestionably, the
king Of inland fresh water game fish. The
black bass is FAR more logged and deter
ruiued a tighter, and his vicious leap into
the air is thrilling. but his duliness in dis
tinEuisning between natural and artificial
flies is positively disgusting when one comes
TO dwell upon it, The land-locked salmon
is the prettiest and gamiest Of fresh water
fighters but he does not rise readily TO the
lily. not naturally being a surface feeder
and when ne does as with the bass, there
is ample time to strike.
But not 50 With the trout The moment
ne takes the artificial fly between his lips,
lust that moment he knows that he has
been deceived. and discards it, and the
time which the fisherman has to fix the
hook is but the fraction OF second, at
Inc moment the trout breaks. traction
OF q second later may be too late. And IN
addition to this no matter how attractive
or seductive the lure. 1t must do things in
a natural rational way, and II Is. perhaps
needless to add that the angler should not
appear In the transaction, or at least, con
nected with it. When you find a monster
rising from time to time near bunch of
lily pads at the inlet Of the pond study him
carefully. You viii soon discover that he
only rises at rare occasions. usually once or
twice at early morning or late evening.
These big fellows take bat little surface
food and merely as appetizer or, per-
hans FOR the sake Of Old association or
habit and they are in consequence exceed
.ngIy fussy about what they take and how
they take IT, Next hnd out what the big
trout Is taxing and how that fly alghts.
and then make up your cast with fly
which. at least suggests the morsel of
which the big trout is fond. Then try for
him. and try early, try late. and try often;
lust a few fifty or seventy-foot casts at
the proper time and in the proper way.
More II you wish but half dozen at most
will suffice. for. In fact, you might as well
reel in after the third cast II there has
not been response. for If the first cast IS
right and the fish Is ready the problem is
solved. Above all be careful not to prick
the fish or hook and lose him, for II you do
you will have 10 walt until another year.
and then find him more difficult TO take
than ever before.
If you are fishing In quick or running
water the flies must be cast above and al
lowed 10 float down naturally and with
the current. past the retreat OF the big
trout Experience has taught them that
nature sends their food in this way, and
either intuition or caution makes II utterly
out OF the question for them 10 even con-
slider flies which dart upward against the
swift current, Eg-zag strangely across It,
pr a n az her iyr1nr ia things fishing
for trout lying at the mouth OF cold
stream. emptying into a lake or river, cast
up tie stream and draw the flies down
slowly.
II you find a bunch OF big fellows lying
beside the shore. underneath overhanging
branches. and rising from time to time,
watch carefully and you will see that they
are feeding on insects which first light
upon the bushes and then fall into the
water. II you would lure them forth make
your cast do as the real flies are doing
light upon the bushes. rest there for a
moment, and then drop gently 70 the Sur
face OF the wafer. If you do not believe
this care is necessary, make few casts
direct upon the water and note the result.
Generally speaking. cast should aight
dellcately upon the water and be drawn
slowly In. keeping the flies upon the sur
face This is the dry hy and Is the usual
cast when the trout are rising, When
the hsh are not rising well. the wet fly
may be reSorted to; cast drawn very
slowly along an inch or so under the water.
These are ordinary casts. but the excep-
tons already noted are not the only ones,
and when to observe them is a matter of
Judgment.
For instance, when the natural ries align,