AMERICAN TROUT FISHING 



By THEODORE GORDON 



■'l^ MERICAN anglers usually have a strong desire to visit 

 /^k the " Old Country," and look forward with eagerness to 



/ ^L the time when a long vacation may enable them to see 

 r ^L the chalk streams of the south, the rivers and lochs of 

 / ^L Scotland and the lakes and streams of the Emerald Isle. 



^ V^We have read books on British angling and such fine 



sporting journals as the "Field" and the "Fishing Gazette" until we 

 imagine that we know the country and would feel quite at home upon 

 many of its waters. Fly fishing came to us from England and for many 

 years rods, guns, tackle.and flies were imported. The best fly-dressers 

 in New York and Philadelphia were formerly Englishmen and Irishmen. 

 I am not sure that Englishmen have the same familiarity and wishful- 

 ness in regard to the United States or even the Dominion of Canada, although 

 they may know rather more of the conditions and sport to be found in the 

 latter. A good many have come over for big game or big fish, but not a 

 large number with a special view to trout fishing. Probably they do not 

 think much of it, yet very fine sport is to be had, if one is in the right 

 place at the best season. It is a big country and conditions vary greatly; 

 speaking roughly, one might begin fishing in March in Western North 

 Carolina; try the best streams in New York and Pennsylvania in May 

 and visit the Maine lakes in June. Good sport is to be had in Colorado, 

 and further west and north, in July, August and September. The Lake 

 Superior region is celebrated, particularly the rivers of the north shore. 

 California is a great trout -fishing State, and so is Oregon. Personally, 

 if I travel a long distance for sport, I want big fish, not a great number, 

 but wish to kill them in the usual interesting and exciting way — with the 

 floating fly if possible, but at least with an artificial fly. In some waters the 

 best flsh are only to be got by spinning; in others many sorts of natural 

 and artificial baits are extensively used. One's route should be carefully 

 laid out, in order to avoid disappointment, and to reach the finest streams 

 at the season when they fish best. In many rivers on the Pacific slope 

 the big rainbows and steelheads go to sea and the former do not return 

 until July. If one arrived too early he might find very few trout. In Maine 

 the big fish seek the deep water of the lakes in July and August and remain 



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