The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-16

from the Brule and the Baldwin,
the Pigeon and the Pine, the Manis-
tee and the Muskegon had come
reports of trout rising to plentiful
matches of early insects.
1t was an almost unbeard Of sit
uation. 1t meant, if it continued,
chance to fish with dry fly on
opening day" OldSterS scratched
their heads and allowed that there
hadn't been an honeSt-to-God hatch
of flies on May l since 1907-or
maybe it was 1910. An opening
day. hatch is the dream of every
trout fisherman.
But it was TO good to be true. BY
noon a strong north wind accom-
panied by gray sky had killed the
most stubborn hopes. AS we turned
into Dawes Lite South Camp, near
Baldwin. Mich, we were doubling
the wisdom of draining the anti
freeze solution from the radiator just
before we left. -
While there was still light We
drove into town for the fishing Ii
censes. At every bridge. carloads of
newly arrived anglers were studying
the waters of the Little South
branch. the Baldwin and the San
born; the three streams that con-
verge at that point to form the Pere
Marquette.
Before every fireplace and around
every stove the questions were the
same that night. What would "go"
tomorrow, dry flies, bucktails, feath-
er minnows, nymphs or bait?
The dry fly boys, the purists who
fancy themselves a good bit above
Tire wet fly artists and not in the
same fishing class at all with the
''plunkerS" or worm fishermen,
bravely signified their intention of
trying the floating feathers if they
had to create the impression among
the trout that there was a hatch of
insects by drifting their lures over
the same hole hundred times. But
as the mercury fell and the north
wind whistled higher their conf
dence waned and they gave silent
thanks for the can of worms Sc
creted in the rumble seat.
IT is hard to sleep the night before
Il ''the opening" There are lines to
grease again. leaders to test and tie
and the inevitable discussion about
what stretch to hit the first thing
in the morning. The idea, of course,
is to outguess the others and have a
mile or two of water to yourself
That's the hope but it's seldom rea-
lized. No matter how far back into
the woods you wander. it's two-to-
one you'll find another working your
favorite pool.
Dawn of the opening day" was
gray and chill. We broke the ice on
the wash bucket, gobbled a huge
breakfast and set about the fright
full task of assembling all the tackle
that comprises the outfit of the we'll
dressed trout fisherman.
And if you don't think that is a
task, consider this list of items,
without any one of which a respect
able angler would feel practically
naked.
WaoerS. wading shoes. wading
socks. the OLD fishing hat with the
f1y-bedight band. creel, net. rod.
leader box. several leaders. several
silkworm gut tippets to repair
leaders. reel. line. line grease. dry
flies, wet flies. bucktail spinners,
split shot. dry fly dope, hooks, clip
pers for trimming fly hackles and
cutting leaders and lines, knife.
wader repair kit. needle for punch
ing shellac from eyes of new flies
and untying leader knots. stone for
sharpening hooks and insect dope.
These are the bare essentials.
/ Other gadgets include pocket
thermometer for locating spring
/ holes in hot weather. Ctrout congre-
gate in these spots). twig clippers to
free snagged flies. tiny net to
catch natural insects during a
hatch. (the object IS to initiate
them with your artificial fly) paper
napkins or other absorbent sub
stance TO dry flies. ,nee pads to pro-
tect waders while creeping along
open stretches OF small streams and
possibly jar of picked minnows
along with the can Of worms.
oh. yes, since the latest theory is
~ that fish (even inland fish
feed best at low tide. many Waltons
will be equipped with tide tables this
year.
We won't dwell long on the actual