4° 



The American Angler 



three more fish were added to the string. In 

 the afternoon, however, I took twenty-three 

 trout out of one pool in the actual fishing time 

 of one hour and thirty minutes. All were 

 fresh run and proved splendid fighters. 



Their weights were as follows: — 4%', 4X1 

 4X. 3>^. 3X. 3X 3X. 3X. 3. 3, ^Ya, 2^. 2^, 

 2>2. 2>^, 2^, 2j4^, iy^, ly^, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. 

 Total, 76 J4;' lbs. Average weight, 2.7 lbs. 



The whole catch was made with a seven- 

 ounce lancewood rod, and corresponding 

 tackle. Twenty-five fish were taken with a 

 thunder and lightning salmon fly, two with a 

 butcher and one with a silver grey. 



SECOND C.\TCH. 



August 28, 1895. — Also on the Escuminac 

 river, but nearer the mouth. A beautiful 

 string of seven was obtained after about three 

 and one-half hours of actual fishing. Follow- 

 ing are their weights:— 5, 4|^, 4>^, y/z, 3, 2;^, 

 2j4^. Total weight of fish, 25;^ lbs. Average 

 weight, 3.6 lbs. This catch was made with a 

 six-ounce lancewood rod and very light tackle. 



Diverse Angling Opinions. 



In response to the invitation extended by 

 you in- your article under the title of " Diverse 

 Angling Opinions," in the November "Ang- 

 ler," I send you an opinion on the subject. 

 My ideas will not amount to anything more 

 than those of any other angler, and will 

 probably be of no use either way, as every 

 angler has his own opinions on this subject, 

 formed from personal observations and ex- 

 perience. Such opinions formed in such man- 

 ner are the most difficult to change, no matter 

 how much influence or argument may be 

 brought to bear upon them. 



In bait fishing, the Carlisle, Sneck-bend, or 

 any other hook whose point is thrown away 

 from the centre, are good, as no matter how 

 the fish may seize the hook, he is always sure 

 to feel the point. But in fly-hooks, always 

 give me either the Sproat or Limerick. I 

 have tried flies on Sneck-bend hooks, but 

 always with disastrous effects on my fingers, 

 as no matter how carefully I held the hook, 

 either my thumb or forefinger were punctured 

 many times while dressing a single hook. 

 After these flies were tied, I did not consider 

 them a success, as the weight of the bend and 

 point of the hook would always tend to throw 

 the fly on its side when in the water. An 

 artificial fly is intended to represent a natural 



moth, or living insect, and should, in my 

 opinion, be built so that the wmgs should 

 always be inclined to remain on top. .This is 

 accomplished best by a hook whose bend and 

 point are apt to drag downward one certain 

 side of the hook, thus allowing the tier to 

 fasten the wings to the opposite side so that 

 they will be on top and better represent a 

 natural moth struggling in the water. 



In dressing bass-flies on hooks from No. i 

 to 4, inclusive, I generally incline towards 

 Limerick hooks, partly from habit, partly 

 because the bend is not so wide as the Sproat, 

 and partly from the fact that, in my opinion, 

 they make a prettier looking fly. 



In trout hooks, from No. 6^ up, I always use 

 Sproat, as the point stands out more, and, 

 particularly in small flies, is not interfered 

 with by any hard fly body that I might have 

 occasion to use. 



For several years past I have used the 

 bronzed hooks. At first they were rather 

 difficult to obtain, but now are sold almost 

 everywhere. These hooks make, by far, the 

 better looking fly, and do not show so distinctly 

 in the water as the japanned hooks. 



You stated that your club members decided 

 that " tints of colors in feathered lures didn't 

 count in the allurement of fish to the surface, 

 the cardinal colors alone being factors." How 

 about the popular black gnat and the white 

 miller, or either of the coachmen? Certainly, 

 black and white are not cardinal colors. It is 

 true that both the royal and plain coachman 

 have colored bodies, but 1 claim that che clear 

 white wing is the special lure in these two 

 flies. Flies with black, white and dun colored 

 wings predominate in all fly-hooks, and are 

 probably more used than other colors, but they 

 are not cardinal colors. 



The subject is one on which I think you will 

 have a great diversity of opinions. It would be 

 almost impossible to take any company of ang- 

 lers and find any two who would agree on more 

 than one or two minor points. Each and 

 every one would have a decided opinion, 

 acquired from some special experience. 



S. K. PUTMAN. 



The O'Shaughnessy has a large wire and a 

 large bend. It will take a good hold and keep 

 it. It is not liable to break. For large fish it 

 beats them all. 



The Sproat from Nos. i-o to 9 is probably 

 the most desirable. Larger sizes than i-o are 



