336 Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope 



and blueback habitually ' run ' iu the spring, the 

 others in the fall." 



In the rivers near Mount Shasta, such as the 

 Pitt River and the Macloud, the strength of the 

 current and the numerous obstacles iu the streams 

 and along the banks add immensely to the sport. 

 More than one angler has had to swim to save his 

 fish, and if you happen to hook a ten-pounder in 

 the rapids, you will be ready to swear that he is 

 three times his actual weight. Accordingly, the 

 sportsman who is unable to leave California would 

 do well to make Sissons his headquarters. Sissons 

 can be easily reached by train from San Francisco 

 or Portland ; but it is hardly necessary to add that 

 if you want fishing extraordinary you must be pre- 

 pared to camp out. There are very few places on 

 the Pacific Slope where a man can enjoy first-class 

 sport and sleep every night in a good hotel near the 

 railroad. 



Most men have their favourite spoon, but I pre- 

 fer what is known (I think) as an Eel River spoon : 

 of the size used for large steelhead. Sometimes the 

 salmon only take a lure that looks as large as a 

 sardine tin, but my brothers and I have had better 

 fortune with the small article. It is impossible to 

 lay down any rule. For the rest, ordinary salmon 

 tackle is required. A Greenheart rod — about 

 fourteen feet long (with several tips) — is more 

 likely to stand rough usage than a split bamboo, 

 and is easily spliced if broken. The simpler the 

 reel, the better. Some American anglers use auto- 

 matic reels, but for salmon spinning and trolling, 

 the stout winch which was good enough for our 



