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ANGLING
used, particularly if the fish run small; and in some pools the flies are cast up stream and drawn quickly down or across, the dropper fly being worked along the surface. There are many rules which are firmly believed in by old salmon fishers, but the salmon are constantly breaking them; as, for instance, by taking a fly floating on the surface, and by rising in pools where, according to local tradition, salmon are never caught. The height of the water has a very great deal to do with success in salmon fishing, and while, at a certain level, certain pools There is an endless variety of flies used for salmon will hold rising fish, if the water falls or rises a little fishing, but the angler need not supply himself with a these pools may become useless, and other pools come very great variety, so long as he is provided Flyfish- ^th flies of various sizes, as size is regarded, into ply. In big rivers the salmon fly is often harled, ing for py experienced salmon fishermen, as being even that is to say, allowed to trail out behind a boat which sa,moa - more important than colour. Speaking gener- is rowed backwards and forwards across the stream, dropped a few yards at each crossing. By this ally, the flies used in early spring are large, and they being means the fish sees the fly before being alarmed by the diminish in size as the season grows older. In autumn quite small flies are used for the fish which have been boat passing over it. In lakes salmon are usually fished some time in the river, and, as a general rule, the lower for with two flies, the dropper being worked along the the water, the smaller should be the fly used, and the surface. Both in lakes and rivers, the angler who fishes deeper should it be fished. For very bright weather and the hardest, other things being equal, generally succeeds clear water, lightly dressed flies, which are mainly light the best; and it must not be supposed that the fish will yellow in colour, are standard favourites, such as the not rise because the pool has been fished over two or Sun-fly and the Mystery. But undoubtedly the most three times. Sooner or later the psychological moment generally favoured of all the salmon flies, and one which arrives and the salmon rises. When a salmon misses the can be reasonably relied upon to kill, if dressed of the fly it is good policy to rest him for two or three minutes right size, and if the salmon are in taking humour, is and then fish for him again, starting a little above him the Jock Scott. It perhaps owes its reputation largely and gradually working down. If he again misses the to the fact that it is a particularly suitable fly for use fly, a smaller size of the same pattern may be tried, and when the rivers are clearing after a spate; and as this a still smaller one if he rises and misses this. Then is quite the best time for salmon fishing with the fly, other patterns may be tried if necessary. In playing the Jock Scott, as a result, kills perhaps more fish than the salmon the rod should be kept well up, with the any other fly known to anglers. The tackle of the butt resting against the hip and the left hand grasping salmon fly-fisher is simple, but somewhat expensive, as the rod a little above the reel. The line should not be the fish are so strong, and of such value when captured, touched by the left hand. The right hand should be that to use weak or indifferent tackle is properly re- kept on the handle of the reel, and the line should be garded as a foolish proceeding. The rod itself may vary wound up at every opportunity, if only a few inches, and in length from 12 feet to 18 feet, according to the strength allowed to run off the reel if the salmon makes rushes or and height of the user, and is usually made of either heavy plunges. The angler should follow the fish, split cane, with or without a steel centre, or of green- running or walking, as far as the bank will allow, and heart. It should have plenty of wood in the top joint, never give an inch more line than he is obliged to, of to give it lifting power. It should bend right away course having due regard to the strength of the tackle. down to the butt when the cast is made, but must on If it can be done without bringing the fish into a no account be weak in the middle, for the salmon fisher dangerous position, the salmon should be worked down Thus the angler when playing a salmon sometimes has to refuse the fish even an inch of line, stream. which places an enormous strain upon the rod. The maintains a position on the bank a little below the fish line is usually of plaited silk, and waterproofed, with an if he can. It is an almost impossible thing to,draw a oil dressing. It should be what is termed solid, that is, very heavy fish up stream against a strong current. A very not plaited round a core, nor with a centre left hollow. sulky fish may be handplayed. Salmon are also fished for At the end of the line comes the 3 yards of strong salmon with various baits, such as the prawn, worm, minnow, stone gut, the upper part of which may be twisted or plaited, loach, gudgeon, and artificial spinning baits of which the and then the fly. In big, fast-running rivers, treble or phantom and spoon are the best. The spinning baits are double gut is sometimes required right down to the fly. usually harled in large rivers. The prawn is, as a rule, cast Salmon flies are now very commonly tied on eyed hooks, out and allowed to float down stream at about mid-water, but many salmon fishers believe that they swim better but sometimes it is harled. It is a deadly bait in clear if there is simply a small gut loop whipped on at the water. A bunch of worms is used in thick water, while a end of the shank. To the eye or the loop is tied a single worm on two-hook tackle may be cast up stream in short length of gut which, in its turn, is looped on to the low clear water. Trout, which most modern authorities consider spring cast. There are many kinds of excellent salmon reels made in England, the mechanism of which varies. The from a common ancestor, vary remarkably in size and Trout. angler should see that there is a good strong check, and appearance. In a Devonshire brook they may average a fifth of a pound, while in lakes they that the reel itself is strongly made and durable. In working the salmon fly, the angler fishes either grow to over 20 ft). The Thames grows the largest in from a boat or from the bank, according to the river, England. One was caught in Loch Stennes which and casts over pools and other places which are known weighed 29 ft). A cast of this remarkable fish is preserved by experience to be frequented by salmon. As a rule, in the smoking-room of the Ely-fishers’ Club, London. only one fly is used, and the cast is made across and a Trout may be divided broadly into two kinds: those little down stream, the current bringing the fly round, which live permanently in river or lake, and those which when the fly is drawn up stream a little and a fresh cast pass the greater portion of their lives in the sea, visiting is made. When grilse are in the river two flies are often the rivers in summer and autumn, and while there pro-
They then begin to grow silvery, descend to the sea herring-size, and return weighing from 3 ft) to as much as 14 ft). The salmon on its first return to the river is termed grilse, as we have said; but m Ireland the corresponding name is peal, which should be distinguished from the same word used in the west country, where it is always applied to sea-trout. The capture of the smolts is illegal, but a good many are killed m mistake
