The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-12
HIS MAJESTY, THE BROOK TROUT.
NV Dear Buck:

NY 1CdI DUH.
Without doubt, oldtimer, feel
like lacking the blue ribbon on the
brook trout for being the wisest,
hveliest and gamest of the fresh-water
fish. For downright nerve and light
he is in a class by himself and he
carries more tricks in his tail than
any other fish. He is truly an Ameri-
can and of sturdy type that can
forage a living in any stream or
springfield lake that is cool. Al
though he does not grow as large as
his cousin, the rainbow trout from
the West, or his foreign relative, the
brown, or German trout, for his small
size and weight he puts up the keenest
fight of the trout family.
The trout is a trim-built fish with
graceful lines and his constant battle
with swift currents makes him a
strong, husky youngster. AS a gen.
eral thing he is found in the small
flowing streams where the water is
cool and fresh, while the rainbow and
brown trout can thrive in warmer and
deeper streams as well as lakes. AS a
rule I have found the rainbow and
brown trout in the roily waters below
falls, in the swift rapids, and the brook
trout in the quieter pools, especially
those with grassy beds. The trout
is a rapacious feeder, and takes his
food from the surface, in midwater
and at the bottom; he is, however,
tmostly a surface feeder and dotes on
flies, grasshoppers, insects, wormss
small minnows and even small frogs.
Trout Has Keen Sight.
Undoubtedly he has the keenest
sight of any fish, and he evidently
watches his prey before it strikes the
water, as he will close his jaws on
fly the instant it hits the water, often
leaping up and catching it on the
wing. It's a pretty good guess that he
watches the flies or insects as they
fly over the water and this same sight
makes It necessary for the rod WELD
er to match his wits against those OF
Mr.. B. Trout.
Trout are caught with artificial flies,
grasshoppers, worms, minnows, crick-
cts, grubs and almost any small in
sects that are found along streams,
also with very small spoons. When
fishing with fly it should be kept In
motion, initiating as near as possible
the movements of fly that has
dropped on the surface and is strug-
Cling to rise again. This can be ac-
complished by q slight broken witch
ing Of the wrist. When trout takes
the fly, strike quickly, but not with
a heavy jerk, only a slight move OF
the wrist is necessary. In taking a
fly he snaps his jaws together over
the fly, but is quick to throw out the
artificial feathery substitute for a
square meal.
Lot Depends on Rod Work.
The sport begins with rush right
after you hook your fish and you sure
have to work your gray matter,
Buck, before you can creel trout.
He seems to know every rift, rooted
hold. snag or windfall in the stream,
and you got to keep your mind
on the game to hold him from reach
ing cover, which means a lost fish and
snagged line. Let your rod do most
of the work, that's what good fly rod
is for-keep your line tight, at no
time give any slack, as the trout may
not be securely hooked, and a slack
line gives him chance to cough out
the fly. You will find the trout is more
quickly landed If worked down stream,
especially with a large fish, as the
current is In your favor. Keep the
rod well up and the line shortened,
as a short line gives better control
over the fish and you need every extra
bit of advantage, as the sole object OF
the trout is to get away and at that
game he is some little getter.
Fish Both Up and Down Stream.
If you are fishing a slow running
stream it Is best to fish up stream
and on swift-running streams fish
down, making it point to walk
around pools and fish them from the
lower end up to the head. In fishing up
stream the fly comes quickly down
with the current, this can be slowed
up by casting diagonally up and
across.
Trout Gorge AnsIeworms.
Early in the season the common
angleworm is considered a delicacy
by the trout and this bait if foated
down stream under shelving bank or
around a log, which makes an ideal
hiding place for trout, it's a twenty-to-
one shot that another fish will be add
ed to the creel. Hook the worm SO
that the entire hook is covered, using
a No. 6 or s snelled hook. Always
fish down stream with worms, as the
natural action Of the current carries
the worms down stream. Let the bait
float from about thirty feet above tho
spot where you anticipate the trout
are lying and throw in the shut-off on
all noise.
DIXIE.