The New York herald., 1922-04-02
ARDENT ANGLERS
SEEK GAME TROUT
Chill and Discolored Waters
Not Conducive to Good
Fishing.
BY WILL WILDWOOD.

ny WILL WILD OOD.
Although an army of ardent anglers
attacked the brook trout in the streams
and lakes OF New York ani New Jersey
yesterday. the opening day or the season
ir the two States. many, Ii not most. Of
the rodsters returned with :roel showing
small reward for the effort put forth
and with the impression that the first
day OF April favors the f.sn more than
the fishers. This does not mean that
there was little or no enjoyment. for the
enthusiast with rod and reel finds pleas
ure In visiting the places where the trout
hide and In casting a line Of invitation.
gaining knowledge through the lessons
of the running brook. even when the
trout refuse to rise to the occasion.
The streams were high and the waters
discolored IN most instances. a condi-
tion not favorable TO good fishing and
when in addition TO this the chill air
prevalent on the first day OF April pre-
vents the possibility OF natural flies
lowering over the water Or dropping on
the surface. the wiser members Of the
u out family usually ceciae to be fooled
by any artificial substitute. TO matter
how temptingly presented.
The greedy or reckless fish does. OF
course. take n chance. otherwise the
skllful fly caster would always fail In
early springtime. no matter how album
dant the brook trout In the pools and
ripples: and II must be remembered on
drab days the fisher Is likely to find
that an angleworm has In some way
got tangled on his hook Just before
making his cast and rather than disap-
point the waiting "salmol of the foun-
tain" gives way to a generous impulse,
and Is promptly rewarded. So 1t goes.
and as the trout when taken home tell
no tales the angler tells rhe tale him
self.
Famous Long Island Ponds.
On Long Island there are trout
streams and ponds famous for many
years--the favorite fishing waters OF
william T. Porter ("York's Tall SOM.
editor OF the old Spirit of the Times :
the Rev. George w. Bethune. who
edited the first American edition OF
"Walton's Complete Angler" and It Is
reported that Daniel Webster caught a
mighty king Of the brook. ten
FOUNDER. down In that angling region
In the good old days. but nearly all
those choice places are now owned by
such clubs as the South Side Club and
by men having summer homes in that
section. To suggest a trouting trip on
Long Island at the present time would
possibly lead the nonresident on q
luckless days wandering. although the
tour IN itself Is remarkably interest
ing one, and glimpses may be had Of
the haunts of the highly priced game
fish-sometimes called the "speculatcd''
brook trout. Between Rosedale and
Islip are several trout streams open "a
the public. and catches Of moderate size
are made occasionally.
There are several nearby trout
streams. so convenient to reach that
they have been nearly depleted b. city
anglers. but through restocking every
season trout are still to be caught by
persistent fishing In such streams as
the Crotcn River. which runs from
Croton Lake and empties into the Hui.
son. Late in April or in May the Cross
River stream, which runs int1 the res.
ervoir at Katonah. Is well worth trying
Several Of the brooks entering md run.
ming around the Croton watershed con.
tain brook and brown trout. most =!
them small. but some of moderate size
Near at hand. also. are West Brook
Cupsaw Brook. Burnt Mountain Brook
and High Mountain Brook. short dis.
tance from Midvale. and only thirty.
three miles from the citv The wes'
Brook empties into the wanauue River
at Midvale. and the fishing Is good from
its source near. Upper Macopin. n stretch
Of about ten miles, therefore Midvale Is
fine center. A portion Of Cupsav
Brook Is posted. where II runs through
the Hewitt estate. but the other streams
named are open. throughout their entire
course. Large catches cannot be ex.
pected. nor should the angler anticipate
taking any very large fish. but the aver.
age. In each respect. under favorable
conditions sought to satisfy one who I.
not too exacting. Good accommodations
are to be had at any Of the points re.
ferred to.
Orange County Streams Fruitful.
A little further away In the portion OF
Orange county sometimes termed "the
valley Of abandoned farms"--a singular
appellation for locality in the midst Of
verdant. fruitful section--a number OF
good brook trout streams give perhaps
as fine sport to-day as when Henry
William Herbert ("Frnnk Forester'O
eighty years ago. wrote so entertain
fpev 30 fr al ehn tp f,x ha Ua