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

this fly to make viii prove positively ir-
resistible. but never try 10 initiate the slug
gish June or trout fly. which lights upon
the water and waits patiently for the trout
10 gather him in. When this fellow is plent
iful, hang up your rod and climb a noun
tain or visit a deer pond, or else make up
your mind to fish and be satisfied with
small crees. These insects come annually
in great numbers but fortunately last but
few days, and while they invariably SPOIL
the fishing, they demonstrate very Clearly
the truth of what has already been said.
These flies simply glue themselves to the
water, and it takes the wiley trout but
very short time to discover that there Is
no occasion for haste and when they reach
this condition Of mind the artificial fy is
useless.
AS matter of experiment, I even went
so far as TO tie up a number of flies which
were perfect replicas of the June fly. but
they were useless Then l wound them
with cork bodies and weighted rhe tips 50
that they would st upright on the water.
exactly like the real fly. The trout saw
them TO be sure, but a moments cxaulna-
ton was enough. They did not even take
the trouble to take hold of them.
Remember also that there will be other
for all fishing, and fly fishing in particular,
is dependent upon conditions 1t is posi-
lively amusing to see the number of these
things the enthusiastic novice, think ng that
trout may be taken anywhere and any
time. will run up against in the shape OF
water too high or too low, too cold or too
warm, too still or too rough; working water,
muddy water; days too dark or too bright
and no end of complications as to the earli-
ness or lateness of the season. the direc-
| ton of the wind and the fullness OF the
moon! The Maine guide has a fertile i'm
| agination in this particular and he usually
| finds ready listeners; nevertheless, IL the
| angler goes to the right place he may rest
| assured that the trout are there, and II he,
| fishes patiently and well he will sooner or
| later be convinced of this. and the memory
| Of one days catch VIII linger forever after.
Fly casting is in itself easy to acquire.
| merely a quick motion OF the wrist and
| forearm, not the entire arm. See that the
| flies are we'll up the surface of the
| ter and that the rod is at angle or
| about forty-fIve degrees, and then whip the
| rod back TO a position at the same angle
! In the rear of the body, give the line sec
| ond or two to straighten out (the time re-
| qulred depending on the length of the cast
| and then whip the rod forward to the same
| angle again. letting the line straighten out
! some feet above the water, and fall gently
| and naturally TO the surface. The trick
| can be learned by the use of a cast made
| up OF barbess flies tthe barbs being re-
| mover TO prevent their catching), upon the
| lawn as well as water Distance comes
| from practice after requiring the knack OF
| handling short line Do not attempt to
| handle too much line at nrst
| The strike requires patient practice and
| excellent self-control; 1t must be quick but
! not severe. Too much force will either
| tear the hook from the jaws OF the tish or
! weaken the hold and as for too little. well.
| its an exception that proves the rule that
/ anglers invariably strike too hard. If you
| wish to see how very little force is necss-
sary to set hook. try it on the feshy part
OF the thumb, but don't try too hard,
Strict attention is necessary at all times
Always remember that the big FISH usually
| come when you least expect them, and con-
| centrate your mind upon the flies Don
| whip a single spot too much, cast In
! circle or semi-circle three of four casts
i in a place. When trout are rising freely,
| cover these rises. or II it is evident that
/ they are moving In a certain direction, CO ST
| trifie ahead OF where they broke When
| fishing from lake shore and trout are
| distant In deep water, cover their breaks
| bit shorter and so on and the chances
| are that the trout will be taken on about
the tenth cast. having followed the fiss In.