SECRETS OF THE SALMON 



come down to the gaff in the shallow water at the 

 tail of the pool. In this way I hooked and landed 

 five, none over ten pounds or under eight pounds. 

 A scow with horses then came through the pool, 

 and scared the fish so that I could not get any more 

 before we were obliged to leave. I was convinced 

 that I could not have raised any at all in this pool 

 with any ordinary leader. I never use a leader 

 any finer than necessary, but always try very fine 

 tackle if fish will not rise with my regular leaders. 

 Of course I lose a lot of fish, but don't I have a 

 good time doing it ! Recently on the Spring Pool 

 of the upper Restigouche I lost five fish in succes- 

 sion and then two more on the next pool, yet 

 with all that I brought home two fish, which is two 

 more than I should have had if I had not used 

 fine tackle; besides I had a splendid day in place 

 of a complete blank. The important thing to re- 

 member in dry-fly fishing is that the fly must pass 

 directly over the fish. Near him will not do any 

 good at all. For this reason the angler must know 

 just where the fish is. This is generally accom- 

 plished by looking the pool over and seeing just 

 where the salmon are located. It is an easy matter 

 to do this with a canoe without unduly scaring the 

 fish, and it often saves a lot of useless casting. 



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