Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-02
Catching Trout Is Great Sport
But Requires Rare Skill.
Willy Fish and Difficult 10 Land, But Well
Worth SporEman's Efforts.

n
'nIa M IN cluded lake and
VIM i; !: !: !: 1: q: i: !"
Il.j 4 W &Ii;S stream and their
ltHia "A yAN canpfircS are illum
liIiH{ 94lHih natin" the darkness
i'll G IA Al IiH darkness Of the nyS-
Gl9N SM8 = j)teriGuS forest. And the
charm OF the wild free life which the
sport affords is in a large measure ac-
counting for its rapid increase in popu-
lar,ty, for til. real joy of fly fishing
il to fish for wild fish: to pit ones wit
against the cunning of a creature which
by nature regards man :tS lnonStrJS-
ity, because he Is unusual and fees at
his approach.
Tut above and beyond all, fly fishing
holds its admirers captive and makes
new ,rnuurstS because it is, in all
truth, both in character and environ
ment. the sport 'idcal;" because it
constantly leaves something to be at
tanned. 1t is not fishing III the general
accrptan," Of the word, but sport
which is constantly opening up greater
possibilities and in which success is
dependent upon not only kill and eX-
erience, but constant study ana care
full scheming.
y
grade upward in numbers and weight.
according to the power of the angler.
The wilderness fly fisherman is deal
ing with 4 fellow who knows his bust
ness; who is keen. alert. willy. expert
enrrd, an,! in this connection should he
emphasized the kccnn.Ss of perception
of the Wild trout-hs striking clarac-
teriStic- and which. combined with his
great beauty and table excellence make
him unuucstionably the king of in
| land fresh water game fish. The black
bass is far more logged and determine
ed a fighter. and his Vicious leap into
| the air is thrilling. but his dizziness in
| distinguishing between natural and ar
| tifcial flies is positively disgusting
VIXEN one comes to dwell upon il. The
| land-lockcd salmon is the prettieSt and
gamiest of fresh water fighters, but he
| does not rise readily to the fly, not nat
urally being surface feeder. and when
| he does, as with the bass. there is am
Elc time to strike.
| But not so with the trout. The mo-
ment he takes the artificial fly beWeen
| his lips, just that moment he knows
| that he has been deceived and diScardS
| if. and the time which the fisherman
has to fix the hook is but the fraction
| of a second, at which the trout breaks.
A fraction of a second later may be
| too late. And in addition to this. no
| matter how attractive or seductive the
| lure, il must do things in 4 natural "a
tional way, and it is, perhaps. needless
| to add that the angler should not ap-
pear in the transaction, or at least, con-
| RAJ n Il n
stcr rising from time to time near a
| bunch of lily pads at the inlet of the
pond study him carefully. You will
soon discover that he only rises at lare
occasions, usually once or twice at ear
| ~ morning or late evening. These big
| fellows take but Il little surface TODD.
| ANA merely as al appetizer or, perhaps
| for the sake of old association or habit,
and they are in consequence exceeding
| " fussy about what they take and how
| they take il. Next find out what the
| big trout is taking and how that fly
alights. and then make up your cast
with q fly which, ut least suggests the
| morscl of which the big trout IS fond.
| Then try for him, ana try early. try
late. ana thy often; just few 80 or 10
| foot casts at the proper time anu IN
| the proper way. More if you wish. but
| half q dozen at most VIII suffice. for.
| in fact, YOU might as well reel III alter
| the third cast ii there has not been
| rcsl,onse, for if the first cast is right
and the fish is ready. the problem IS
solved Above all be careful not I"
| prick" the fish or hook ami lose hiln
| for if You 10 ytAI will have To wait I'M
| til another year, and then You VIII ma
| him more difficult t" take than ever
before.
| If Won are fishing in quick or running
| water the flies must be cast above and
allowed to float down naturally and
with the current. past the retreat oil
the big trout. Experience has taught
| Them that nature sends their lood III
this way, and either intuition or caution
! makes it utterly out OF the question ~
| them TO even consider flies which dart
upward against tn" swift current Els
| zap strangely across it, or do other inn
possible things. When fishihg Tor trout
| iv;n,r ot the mouth Of cold stream,
| emptying into lake or river cast UP
| the stream and draw the flies down
| slowly.
If Won find a bunch of big fellows ly-
| ing beside the shore. underneath over
hanging branches, and rising from tllhe
| To time, watch carefully ana you VIII
| seq that they are feeding on liiSectf'
| which first light upon the bushes ana
| ,b.n fan into the water. If sou would
| ,nro them forth make your east do as
the real flies are doing; light upon the
| bushes. rest there for moment. ana
Their drop gently to the surface "t the
water. If you do not beliett TINS care
| is necessary, make a few casts direct
upon the water and note the result.
Generally speaking, a cast sh"uih
alight delicately upon the water and be
drawn slowly in. keeping the flies upon
the surface. This is the "dry' fly and
is tn. usual cast when the trout are ris-
ing. When the fish are not rising Well
the "wet" fly may be resorted to; cast