FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 

 One will find much variety in size and colouring in different parts of the 

 country, but if natural flies are plentiful the angler has a guide that may 

 be followed with confidence. I have several artificials nearly as large 

 as humming birds which were used on one of the big rivers of the north- 

 west. Here we have the principle of the salmon fly again: movement, life 

 and colour. Scotch salmon flies are often sparsely hackled, and on some 

 rivers these may be preferred, yet a rather full hackle gives life to the fly 

 if springy and put on the hook correctly. Flies without wings often kill 

 well, and I fancy that if one has not the right colour or feathers he had 

 best leave them off. 



Too great pains cannot be taken with body and legs, and you will note 

 that the best fancy flies are usually harmonious in coloration. In Nature 

 this appears to be always true. The natural flies are dressed to perfection 

 by their Maker, in the most delicate and perfect colours; all are in harmony 

 with no glaring or unpleasing contrast. 



I much prefer to use small floating flies, yet if it is necessary to use 

 a salmon fly to rise the largest flsh of any water, I would put aside my 

 fancies and adopt local methods. If there are enormous trout in the neigh- 

 bourhood, we want at least one of them as a sample product, provided 

 that it is taken by fair fishing. It would give me little satisfaction, would 

 afford small pleasure in the retrospect, if it was killed with bait. This may 

 be a silly notion, but that is the way I feel about it. It is said that the 

 Dolly Varden trout does not rise at files and that there are rivers in the 

 west where the best fish can only be got by spinning. The spoon is much 

 used in salt water and also in rivers and lakes for salmon and steelheads. 

 I have heard that Devon minnows are useful, but the record rainbows 

 were killed on spoons, in lake fishing. These trout weighed over twenty 

 pounds each. 



The Government established a hatchery at the Sault Sainte Marie (the 

 outlet of Lake Superior) about twelve years ago, and now magnificent 

 rainbows are killed on the rod, minnows and spinning bait being the 

 favourite lures. Large native trout are occasionally taken in the rapids. 



There is usually a prejudice against strange trout in any district where 

 the native fish were formerly abundant, but brown trout and rainbows 

 have wonderfully improved the sport to be had in many waters. Where 

 conditions are at all suitable and food is abundant, they thrive and grow 

 amazingly. Big, hard-fighting fish are taken in places where trout of 

 heavy weights were rarely or never seen. They can endure higher tem- 

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