A Sportsman 439 



paddle, and with a light casting rod of good length, and 

 a light leader and a No. 8 or 10 fly, and a landing net, 

 one is equipped for the sport. 



It may be sunny or not, overcast or clear, it matters 

 not if the wind is absent or light, but on a bright or 

 sunny day the necessity of skilful work is more ap- 

 parent than when the sky is overcast or dull. When 

 the sun is shining or partially obscured, the boat should 

 be worked between the sun and breaks, to the advan- 

 tage of the fisherman and the disadvantage of the trout. 

 The effect of shadow is light compared with the ad- 

 vantages so gained. 



Many of the lakes and ponds in Maine where trout 

 abound are favorable localities for this sport, although 

 all are not, and there are usually quite a number of days 

 in September when the temperature of the surface 

 water and other features are entirely favorable. 



I will confess to have allowed some decades of fish- 

 ing experiences to pass before I became familiar with 

 this sport, to which of late years I have looked forward 

 with much interest and expectation. 



The trout, which were plentiful near the surface 

 from the going out of the ice until the middle of June 

 when the surface water warmed up to a temperature of 

 65°, have sunk away to cooler depths, where they re- 

 main until the surface water again becomes favorable 

 from the cooler weather of autumn. 



But in surface stalking one does not get so large fish 

 as in spring trolling, for it is the medium-sized fish that 

 gives itself the frolicsome play of surface feeding, weigh- 

 ing from J lb. to 2i lbs., and, in the waters which I fre- 

 quent, averaging a trifle over | lb. 



There are certain autumnal days when the conditions 



