The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-26

ing pools and boiling expanses that would have delighted the eye of Sir Isaak's prize disciple.
 The river is clear as crystal, rock trimmed and pebble dashed nearly all the way It's flow and force are
 ideal for the fish. with just enough sidegrowth dead timber and boulder
 distribution to provide all the cover and feeding ground a finicky trout could desire. There are no falls 70 interfere with extensive travels of
 the fish, while the scenic effects on both sides, and as far as the eye can
 reach, should stir the soul of the
 artist or quicken the spirit of the
 poet by birth. There may be more perfect trout streams in this coun-
 try than the Flat Head, but 1 have
 never seen them during 20 years cf fishing from Maine to Montana, froii
 the Great Lakes and Canada to the gurglng brooks in the Blue Ridge and the Alleghanes of western North C rolina and Virginia and in the Cumberland range of eastern Ten
 nessee Along the Flat Head you get plenty of room to cast comforta-
 bly from skiff. The stream is
 broad and swift, the water and air cold and clear, and there are no flies
 or mosquitoes to spoil the day 8
 pleasure. Woolen shirts and sweat .
 CTS are necessary to ones comfort
 on such a piscatorial excursion as
 this one.
 Within two hours nine beauties
 were decorating the bottom of our
 5kiff. They ranged in weight from one to three pounds and were of the
 steelhead, rainbow and black spotted
 varieties. All of them were taken
 with No gray hackle and brown
 ibis, with an occasional change to coachman, white miller green bottle and some other bright lures when
 clouds shadowed the waters d bit. Time and again we witnessed some spirited battles between decidedly vicious fighters and "Old Hoke" in
 the pilot boat several hundred feet aLead.
 We've gotter win, partner said Charlie, who was getting nervous over the outcome of the contest. You know, old Hoke's pretty foxy at this game. Dick amt no slouch, neither, after three years along this river. Try one o them mousecol- ored flies: the suns darkened up some. There you are, thatl git 'em," he predicted with distinct con fidence, as he selected a dark gray body, with tiny slash of white on the shoulder and dove colord wings. from the book. It's all up with a big boy when he sees othat 'un,'
 They call it De Mile, l re- piled; its new one on me- The fly had been presented to me by an acquaintance from Spokane stopping at Glacier Park hotel, who claimed . he al hi pI and to have had tackle house make him up a dozen. Twas killer" according to the donor. But it's No. 10," l protested to Charlie. He replied that this was matter of small importance. provided you played your fish right. and that he had landed an 1S-pound Dolly Var den on a 12 hook only a week pre- vious. That settled it-but 1 could not help thinking of my thin line and nine-foot five-ounce switch, even though it had stood the test of bending almost into complete cir cle more than once when fishing in lake or in stream.
 Here's where the real fighters hang out" said Charlie. See that swirler over there? Many four pounder's been hooked up just afou- of the big log. Let's get out and make few casts" We did. Plant your hoofs on that rock and sneak out to the end" Charlie went on, We had learned ere this that his com mands were law-but balancing my self on that rock was not the easiest problem 1 ever tried to solve.
 There was no wind to interfere with long casts, just gentle breeze 4L fa iSf Skirting some brisk ripples, boil Ing pool 50 feet in diameter almost completely surrounded by rocks and several old timbers, conjured images of all kinds of speckled beauties. Scarcely a half-dozen casts had been made when a splash warned me for action. It was just a momentary glimpse of a magnificent trout. The days real sport was on. It was genuine battle, with the fish resort ing to every conceivable maneuver to escape capture, and the fisher man endeavoring to land 1t without slipping off the rock for cold bath or breaking 8 companionable rod that carried genuine sentiment As well as intrinsic value. My rod was a gift from friend at Eisenbach. switzerland, 15 years ago, had stood valiant service, and several fancy offers for 1t by covetous fishermen had been spu-ned.
 Years of experience have taught me that 1t is wise to avoid Pfaying large fish in swift currents when it can be helped. It is six to one chance that your fish will wriggle shake, lunge off or tear out by main strength and awkwardness. By instinct l passed the rod from left 10 right hand and guided the fish toward the wide pool at the same time distributing about a two-pound pressure until l could start stripping and stringing for further play. Few suggestions came from Charlie He had learned I knew sonnet thing of the process, and only once he blurted out; Steady! Take your time. A bit less slack"
 Even that was useless; any experi- enced caster could have seen that this promised to be 10 to 14 minute bat tie. My position was disadvantageous and the situation required fine figur- ing, as we'll as delicate action. The fish darted. silashed, pounded and fairly sang through the comparative ly quiet waters in its efforts to re- gain the current. Time and again my rod formed almost a complete circle Four times the fish ieaued several feet and shook its frame vio- lently in it's efforts to dislodge the hook. Charlie. looking on with gus to, remarked. No use, MT. Cuttbroat, you're fixed this time.' It did look so. Then in desperation the fish shot straight to the bottom, some l5 feet. tucked its tail around rock, giving me the impression that my line had become entangled by some object.
 He ain't off--swing on," observed Charlie. Hes sulin', didn't you see your tip wabble?" Then it was Char lie declared he would fix him. And he did Taking a metal ring from his pocket, he clicked it open. then if over the line and down 1t