Evening star., 1935-04-28
By Donald ". CARPENTER.


V nearby Maryland and Vir-
4 u ginia in quest of brook and
rainbow trout. Every week
end during April. May and June these
anglers climb rocky streams and cast
their fys-some with skill and others
without, but all with enthusiasm for
these game fish. which although small
In size are real scrappers if given only
half q chance. Amid surroundings Of
great beauty this sport is carried on
and the large demand that grows
daily for more fish and fishing is
easily understood The sport itself is
extremely fascinating.
The fish stocked regularly in these
nearby streams are of good size and
the llatcheries are hard put to keep
up with the growing demand. On
opening day in Maryland this year,
which was a Monday. one Maryland
stream was SO crowded that many
anglers jokingly said that II you
wanted to fish you would have to
bring your own rock to stand on
and there are plenty of rocks along
the banks of this stream.
Trout, like folk. are queer. There
Is no guide who can tell exactly how
or when you will catch them. 1t is
generally conceded that they bite
when hungry, also when irrltated,
or when prompted by idle curiosity.
In early morn or late evening the
largest fish are brought to net, but
not always. So, like the dog chasing
his tail, we find ourselves right where
we started. Then why write about
trout? Simply because another's ex-
periences will furnish ideas that can
prove to be valuable at times when
ones own are exhausted. Experiment
tation and knowledge go hand-in-hand
to make up this gentle art, and to-
gether form potent factor for sue
cess.
EOR those who are not hampered
L by experience, these words are
written Events as chronicled by my
fishing diary have aided me from year
to year in making successful decisions
afield. So for what they are worth, l
herein set forth few incidents that
should be helpful in your selection OF
q lure under the given conditions.
Tuesday. April 1: Temperature, 80
degrees, Maryland cold rain followed
by sunshine, slight breeze; water clear
and high.
At $50 am. opening day Bill, the
captain, and pulled on our boots and
waded into Big Hunting Greek after
q wakeful night spent in our car be-
side the stream. Midstream boulderS
glistened with ice in the early morn
ing light. Hands, pliable as an.
Egyptian mummys, to rig our rods.
MY first choice, a gold Colorado spin
ner, No. 0. Second cast, half-ounce,
six-and-a-half-fo foot fly rod to the limit.
I followed, stumbling over snags and
rocks in the pool. I landed my prize,
the first trout of the season. Another
fish and the warming sun seemed to
slow the action. I changed to fly
rod size Shimmyite with a tiny strip
of pork rind with good success. At
midafternoon I examined my catch
and found seven good trout IN my
creel. Enough for my needs and had
had q days sport, having caught
and released uninjured many fish. A
3-foot-level leader was used and. both
lures mentioned were fished deep and
slow, with occasional jerks and long
casts. My partners, likewise, found
the same lures most effective.
Sunday, May T. Temperature. SO
degrees, Maryland. Clear, hot, slight
breeze. Stream low and clear.
Fishing creek, am. Started up
stream. using dry fiys. Lots of ac-
ton from young, inexperienced trout.
Brown and white bi-visible, good, but
largest fish was 9-inch brook trout
which rose to a carpenter fly, a
pepper and salt spider of good float
ing quality in rough water. Stopped
to eat lunch and caught a bull frog
with an ibis fly. In the afternoon, on
the small right fork on the stream, I
added two good keepers to my bag,
using the Pflueger artificial white
grub. Fished wet and dry. Engrossed
in my sport, I did not heed the un-
natural darkness of midafternoon
down among the rocky pools of the
canyon. I finally became aware that
something was wrong, and on looking
UP, saw heavy clouds of brown,
ominous smoke just overhead. Dis
turbed, but regretful that must give
up the sport, I first ascertained the
direction of the wind and then climbed
out of the steep canyon and made
my way downstream. A raging for
est fire was fairly on my heels as I
walked back to the reservoir. Only