The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-17
FLY FISHING

"Canst thou take out fish with
hook?" This appears in the old
testament, computed to be 1900 years
before Christ, and was asked by the
Lord of Job, possibly at time when
he was suffering from boils or "ris-
ings," and the Lord anticipated CIV
ing him a week end lay-off for fish
ing trip; this is only a surmise on the
part of the writer.
The query, ''Canst thou take out
fish with a hook?" is the very first
record we have of the anglers COM
mencement We assume there were
no dry ny anglers in those days, hence
an absence of differences of opinion
as to the logical and correct manner of
catching the scaled beauties amongst
the fishermen
! The infatuating pleasure of play
II ing it all over is in most instances the
cause of arguments, which open the
door for successful fisherman, to
again recite his prowess with rod, reel
and line in landing one or more flne
specimens which have fallen to his
/ creel. The same grand and glorious
| feeling. the same inward thrill is ex
perienced, it is claimed by those who
have been successful practicing all
methods, when a record trout or bass
| is landed, either by the dry fly, wet
fly, plug, seasonable bait, minnow or
worm routes.
Where there was one fly caster In
| America ten years ago, education has
increased them to ten today. Fly nsh-
ling is the acme of fishing or angling
ethics. Endorsed and ignored. A vast
army of fishermen have never fished
with a fly; neither have they ever
seen it in action. Yet they are ma
lures noblemen from every angle
but their surroundings and environ
ment have never introduced them &c
the fly fishing method.
In shooting circles the same line OF
caste is drawn between the twenty
and twelve gauge guns. Representa-
tives of both gauges are men OF class
and excellent sportsmen. yet theil
views are at variance as to the proper
guns with which to kill game, but re
naming within the bag limit scope
both honest in their opinions.
Trout are voracious feeders, witt
apparently two objects in life, the
Keeping of their stomachs filed tc
capacity and reproduction OF the
species. Non-particular as to the
menu O1IeTeu, ohfhiios S'eSS1hoffSA =
worms, larvae, minnows and lilies, al
serve to fill the stomach. The majol
portion of the above lures have beer
cunningly initiated in rubber, silk anc
feathers for deceiving the specklec
IbeautieS.
Patience is the first requisite O.
the successful fisherman. Tenacity
accuracy, knowledge and skill all 81
to smell success. The sloppy fisher
man" who fails to note the sun anc
cloudless sky shadows, which his bod!
casts upon the water, whose casts be
come less accurate and lack finesse
while his movements announce hi!
looming. his feet slipping about on th'
submerged rocks, whose back lash i!
frequently caught by limb, to o.
disengaged by violent jerk or pull
breaking his line and necessitatint
new leaders and flies, never brings
mich home. except his standing re
mort "fisherman's luck"
Patience His Virtue.
real angler is freighted with pa
thence and carefully selects all equip
ment before starting. even the small
chips upon which he floats his DIR.
Ifly down to the pool, there to be drop
lped upon the surface of the water