416 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[June 24, 1880, 



and the latter the four-winged insects, as the May-flies, 

 dragon-flies, etc. The larval form of fly is supposed to 

 represent a caterpillar, and is called a " hackle," or, more 

 correctly, a " palmer." It must be borne in mind in l,his 

 connection that an artificial fly, when wet, presents a 

 much different appearance from the same fly when dry, 

 and our flies should be tied with reference to this con- 

 tingency. 



It is not my intention to give any instruction in the art 

 of fly-tying, nor do I deem it at all expedient, for it is an 

 art that can not be taught by written directions, without 

 the aid of explanatory cuts and diagrams, and even then 

 in hut a moderate, degree. The best way for one to ob- 

 tain an insight into the mysteries of the art is to care- 

 fully dissect and take apart the flies of the best makers, 

 for in the taking apart one can acquire more or less of 

 the modus operandi of the putting together. 



The most approved hooks for bass flies are the Sproat, 

 OShaunessv, Dublin Limerick, Cork Shape Limerick and 

 Hollow Point Limerick. I consider them best in the 

 order named, though the O'Shaunessy is thought by 

 many to be the best. It is the same in all respects as the 

 Dublin Limerick, except that it is a little heavier in wire, 

 and it differs from the Sproat only in the barb, the latter 

 having a shorter barb, with the point straight, or point- 

 ing toward the extreme end of the shank, forming a true 

 centre-draught hook. The barb of the O'Shaunessy is a 

 little longer, and the point is turned slightly outward, 

 like the Hollow Point Limerick. But any of these hooks 

 will give good satisfaction ; they are made in the best 

 manner, and of the best material by Harrison, who is 

 head and shoulders above any hook maker in the world. 

 The most suitable sizes for bass-flies are Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 

 5, the last being the smallest that should be used under 

 ordinary circumstances, though for the smallest flies 

 Nos. C and 7 may be employed. 



Flies may be tied on a "silk-worm gut snell several 

 inches in length, or may have simply a small short gut 

 loop. Those with loops can be used as " stretchers," or 

 tail-flies, but when used as " droppers," or bob-flies, they 

 must be attached to the leader by a half length of gut, 

 say four inches long. 



Many " trout- flies " are used, and with good effect in 

 black bass fishing, for really the form and color of the 

 fly does not seem to make much difference with the bass: 

 he does not seem so " fastidious," as it is termed, in his 

 choice of flies. Most of the " general " trout flies are 

 taken as patterns for bass flies, as the Coachman, Pro- 

 fessor, Soldier, Grizzly King, Queen of the Water, King 

 of the Water, Ibis, Kingdom, Quaker, etc., and all of the 

 Palmers or " Hackles." 



As every angler will become partial sooner or later 

 to certain flies, and adopt them as favorites to the exclu- 

 sion of others, I deem it unnecessary to allude to but 

 few, except in a general way ; and those that I shall 

 particularize are such as I have used many times with 

 most gratifying results. 



I have had more uniform success, day in and day out, 

 with the black, brown, red, yellow and gray hackles 

 (palmers), than with the winged flies ; though some of 

 the latter I have employed with excellent success for 

 high or rough waters, and those with light-colored or 

 white wings cannot be surpassed for twilight fishing, or 

 for very gloomy days. 



The following flies, tied for mo by C, F. Orvis, expressly 

 for Florida waters, I found very taking at suitable 

 times : — 



McLeod.— Body, emerald green, with gold twist : tagj 

 yellow and red floss ; wings, dark brown ; tail, green 

 drake, with red ibis and mottled yellow ; hackle, yellow ; 

 antennas (feelers), scarlet. 



Imperial. — Body, red with silver twist ; tag, silver ; 

 tail (whisk), red and white ; hackle, black and white ; 

 wings, large, grayish white, bordered with black ; feelers, 

 scarlet. 



Qreen and Gold. — Body, emerald green, gold twist ; 

 tag, scarlet ; tail, white and red ; hackle, yellow ; wings, 

 olive green. 



La Belle. — Body, pearly blue, silver twist ; tag, red 

 and gold ; hackle, blue ; wings, pure white: tail", red 

 and white. 



White and Ibis. — Body, pearl, gold tinsel ; tag, peacock 

 herl ; tail, red and white ; wings" white and scarlet ; tag, 

 red ; hackle, white and scarlet. 



Royal Coachman. — Body, scarlet, and peacock herl; 

 tail, pin-tail duck ; hackle, brown ; wings, white. 



Mr. Orvis also tied the, next two flies, from patterns 

 furnished by myself, and which have for years been 

 favorite flies with me, when winged flies are' at all ad- 

 missible. As I am the originator of them, I have named 

 them Oriole and Polka. They are totally unlike anything 

 in nature or art, but the bass seem fond of them, 'never- 

 theless. The Polka has .some general resemblance to 

 the Abbey. 



Oriole.— Body, black, with gold tinsel j hackle, large, 

 and black ; wings, bright yellow ; tail, mixed black and 

 white. 



Polka.— Body, scarlet, gold twist : hackle, red ; wings. 

 black with white spots (guinea hen or woodpeeker) ; tail, 

 brown and white, mixed. 



The flies which follow, are part of an assortment tied 

 by Abbey & Imbrie, and have been remarkable and un- 

 UBually successful with me, whenever winged flies were 

 called for : — 



Professor.— Body, yellow ; hackle (legs), brown ; tail, 

 scarlet ibis; wings, yellow. 



Queen of the Water. — Body, dark yellow, gold tinsel ; 

 hackle, red \ wings, mallard and mottled. 



Gi-izzly King. — Body, green ; hackle, gray ; tail, red ; 

 wings, pin-tail duck. 



Governor.— Body, peacock herl ; hackle, red ; wings, 

 dark brown. 



Soldier.— Body, scarlet; hackJe, red ; wings, gray. 



Montreal. — Body, red ; hackle, scarlet ; wings, wild 

 turkey. 



As I have described quite enough for the beginner, and 

 perhaps too many, I will only allude to some by name 

 which will often be found equal to the above, and for 

 some waters superior : — 



Abbey, Captain, Jungle Cock, California, Gold Spinner, 

 Widow, Ferguson, General Hooker, Blue Jay, Page, 

 Academy, Ruuben Wood, Blue and Drab, Pheasant, Seth 

 Green, Governor Alvord, Claret, Tippulium, Lavis, Hos- 

 kins, Tanner, White and Green, Motley, Green Mantle, 

 Premier, Black and Tan, Superior, .Black and Gold, Pur- 

 jple BftBs, etc,, eto, 



The three ••typical" hackles of Mr. H. Cholmondely- 

 Pennell, and which he uses to the exclusion of all other 

 flies, are described as follows :— 



Green. — Dark green body ; very dark green hackle for 

 both legs and whisk. 



Ermni.— Body, dark orange; fiery or cinnamon brown 

 hackle tor legs and whisk. 



Yellow— Body, golden yellow : darkish golden olive 

 hackle for legs and whisk. 



These Mies are admirable for black bass, however they 

 may be for trout, and the angler who carries but a lim- 

 ited assortment in his fly-book should include these 

 " hackles," in various sizes; they will not disappoint him. 

 J, A. Henshall. 



Texas Black Bass.— Wauahachie, Texas. June lUh. 

 Editor Forest and Stream. .—It seems I was wrong in 

 giving the name of rock bass to a fish whose proper 

 name appears to be large-mouthed black bass. I cannot 

 dispute such authority as Mr. Henshall in fish nomencla- 

 ture, and am glad to "have been set aright in the matter. 

 It is as that gentleman states, however ; I was perfectly 

 sincere in my declaration, and, according to nay authority, 

 correct also. Mr. Henshall is in error in supposing me 

 to be a native Southerner, as I was born and raised in 

 Clinton County N. Y„ and old St Regis, Long Pond 

 and the Saranac lakes are as well known to me as are 

 the vast plains and sluggish streams of niv adopted State. 

 I first met with the large-mouthed black bass in Lake 

 Emma, a small sheet of water in Portage County, Wis. 

 The waters of this lake abound with these fish to the en- 

 tire exclusion of every other species. My attention was 

 first called to the extreme voracity of this fish by the 

 following interesting incident : One evening, about the 

 middle of June, while walking along the shore of the 

 lake, accompanied by a friend, I observed a young kil- 

 deer running on the sand ahead of us. We captured the 

 bird, and after examining it I opened my hand and al- 

 lowed the bird to go, but instead of Hying bade to the 

 beach it started directly out over the water, going prob- 

 ably fifty feet from the shore, when it became exhausted 

 and tumbled into the lake. It then began fluttering to- 

 ward the shore, but its struggles had barely commenced 

 when there was a mighty rush and swirl of the water, a 

 splash that threw the spray four feet in the air, and with 

 one mournful despairing squeak our bird disappeared for- 

 ever from mortal sight and ken. 



The next, day I caught five fine specimens, varying from 

 one to three pounds in weight,and as they were strangers 

 to me I immediately consulted my sporting Koran, 

 Frank Forester's " Fur, Fin and Feather," and there 

 found it so accurately described under the name of rock 

 bass that I have ever since been ready to take issue with 

 anyone who called it otherwise. But if Frank Forester is 

 no longer authority on these matters, I'll put him on 

 the shelf along with my muzzle-loader and obtain the 

 newer lights. Mr. C. L. Jordan, of Willis, Tex., has been 

 recently making some praiseworthy efforts through the 

 columns of our local press towarcf the establishment of 

 societies for the protection of fish and game and the pas- 

 sage of laws to that end. It is to be hoped his en- 

 deavors will meet with encouragement and success, 

 and he certainly will receive the hearty support of' all 

 sportsmen in this section. C, S. W. 



^ Florida Black Bass Fishing — Turin Ldlces, Fla..June. 

 Wh.— Am glad to see that Mr. Henshall, in his second 

 article on "Black Bass Fly-Fishing," advocates the hand- 

 ling of the reel on the under side of the rod. It seems to me 

 that anyone after fishing with the leel on the upper side 

 a half hour would very willingly allow the reel to turn 

 the rod where it belongs, and so relieve the strain on the 

 wrist and help the balance of the rod, Your Texas cor- 

 respondent wished to hear of some experience in fly- 

 fishing for Southern bass or " trout." I had considerable 

 sport last year in this way, killing sixty-eight, weighing 

 from a half pound up to four and a half. Caught them 

 in clear water lakes and St. John's. But the waters of 

 Florida are so rudy and grassy that fly-fishing is attended 

 with difficulties, and is rather expensive in lossof flies 

 and leaders. I have found the " Uoaehuian" the most 

 killing fly. Any combination of red and white, not too 

 brilliant, is good. But the most royal sport is with the 

 Phantom Minnow on the upper St. John's and tributaries. 

 It is rare until it gets to be labor, and then it is time to 

 quit. S. 



A Rare Opportunity.— Prof, Linden should have no 

 difficulty in finding a companion for the attractive trip 

 described below. He writes : — 



I intend to revisit the shores and islands of the lower 

 St. Lawrence, and want the company of a thorough 

 sportsman, willing to endure the roughness of the journey 

 as well as to participate in its pleasant attractions. The 

 objective chief points are the southern coast of Labrador, 

 and one or more localities on the island of Anticosti, with 

 incidental short stays on the trout rivers, near Dalhousie, 

 . i Uaspe. The route will be via Quebec to Catnp- 

 belltonand Dalhousie, and thence by a local steamer to 

 Gaspe. From the latter place a convenient mail 

 schooner runs twice in the month to Anticosti, Mingan 

 and Natashquan, on the southern shore of Labrador, 

 Tox harbor, on Anticosti, with the near-by east point of 

 the island, affords fair trout fishing and an exceedingly 

 rich field in the way of seal shouting and the many 

 species of sea birds which frequent it by r thousands. 

 Permission for trout fishing may be obtained on the 

 Labrador River, while those of Anticosti are free to all 

 comers. Expenses for passage on the schooner to and 

 from do not exceed fifteen dollars, and board at the 

 country hotels along the route range from one dollar to 

 one and a half per day. The cost of the whole journey, 

 comprising about six or seven weeks, may be roughly 

 estimated at the maximum figure of $200 from New 

 York and return. It is proposed to start from Quebec 

 about July 8th and to arrive at Mingan before July ~'0th. 

 A regular steamer now runs between that beautiful 

 place and Quebec, by which the uncertainties of the 

 journey are greatly obviated. For further information 

 address, without delay, Prof. Chas. Linden, Buffalo, 



vCFly-fishjm for StLAD.— LTartford, June 19th.— In 

 response to the inquiries in regard to fly-fishing for shad, 

 I would like to givB aiv experience. There seem* to be a 

 Widespreivd disbelief in (he possibility of taking shad, in, 



this manner, but if any one will take the trouble to go t« 

 Holyoke, Mass., on the Connecticut River, he may at 

 once have his doubts removed. In company with my 

 friend, Dr. Hudson, the President of the Board of Fish 

 Commissioners of this State, I lefthcro Friday afternoon, 

 determined to try rny new Bethabara wood nine ounce 

 rod. We reached H. after an hour's ride, and found that 

 Mr. Chalmers, who was the first to catch a string of shad 

 on a fly, had made preparations for me— Dr. H, did n#t 

 fish— and had put his man and boat at my disposal, As 

 Mr. Chalmers reported a catch of fourteen to his rod for 

 the previous evening, I expected rare sport. But, alas 1 ' 

 I had only a fisherman's luck, only one rise. To make m 

 all the more aggravating, the boats on each side of us 

 were hauling them in, though the catch was poor, A 

 strong west wind came up just at the hour for fishing, 

 from 7 to 8 P. M., and made the water very rough and 

 casting difficult. But that shad can be taken with a ily 

 was demonstrated to my entire satisfaction, and on 

 another occasion I shall hope for better luck. 



The common way of taking them is to anchor in a 

 moderately swift current some distance below the dam, 

 and then with along hand line or a stout pole to let the 

 leader, adorned with four or five flies, float down with 

 the current. The fish are then hauled in hand over hand 

 and taken into the boat with a net. 



I counted nearly fifty men and boys fishing from the 

 bridge above us. They use a long line and a sort of 

 grappling hook to lift the fish up 'with when hooked on 

 the tly. The river was also covered with boats. I counted 

 seventeen atone time, and many of them had four or more 

 lines out at once. 



If any of my brother sportsmen wish to try it they can 

 do so until Aug. 12, as fishing with lines is not forbidden 

 until that time. If they go to Holyoke they will find a 

 good hotel and plenty of boats to take them out. The 

 best fishing is in the evening from 6 to 8 o'clock and in 

 the early morning. White, red and brown flies are. the 

 favorites. Mr. C. tells me that he is accustomed to use 

 light tackle, and to cast as in trout fishing, and as he 

 catches more than anyone else, doubtless this method is 

 the best. I trieil it faithfully, but with the result before 

 mentioned, The fish are very gamy, and a five pounder 

 will give sport for half an hour on alight rod. M. I). 



v ~ Ma&alloway Ritkk.— Little Boys Falls, Marjalloway 

 River, June 13th. — Never in the history of mankind have 

 mosquitoes and black flies been so terribly nu me runs in 

 this section as at the present time. They are literally to 

 be seen by the millions. They smile at tar and sweet oil 

 and the only protection is a pair of gloves and a good. 

 head net. I started for my annual tramp May 80th, uiak-. 

 ing my first camp at the Diamonds in New'Hampshii'e. 

 In the big pond I found plenty of trout from one-quarter- 

 to one-half pound, and in the little pond took a few 

 pounders. None came up to see any kind of a fly. After 

 three days I tramped twenty miles to the Wentworth 

 Pond, near [Tmbagog. Here they would not take bait, 

 but rose desperately to the " Red Ibis," "Silver Doctor" 

 and white flies at sunrise and sunset. During n 

 stay I got six trout that weighed over two pounds each, 

 and enough to cat that averaged one pound each Th,-u. 

 with Amasa Ward for guide, started for Parmachenee 

 Lake via the Magalloway River. We ran over to line ill 

 Pond for a day and had splendid sport. At Escohos Falls 

 we took a fish that pulled her hard to the three-pound 

 notch— a regular wolf. I believe that the MofulhiH^, 

 two ponds that lie a few miles east of the river, afford 

 the best trouting in this region. In one day I took 

 seven fish with the fly that averaged two pounds euch. 

 Waded in the water up to my hips to get the boat up 

 the "rips "in the thirty-mile "pull." At Parmachenee 

 — the prettiest lake in the northern woods— I had fine 

 sport, but no heavy catches. Joe Dan fort h's camp has 

 been removed from the middle of the lake, and is now at. 

 the upper end, or head. Sportsmen, on reaching the 

 mile carry, by firing two shots will recoiye two answers 

 from Joe. Then, upon firing a return shot, Joe will send 

 his wagon to bring them to camp. Shall go across to 

 the upper Connecticut Lake to-morrow. This entire 

 country is overrun with fishermen, and I am afraid that 

 nets are being used. A party came up to one of the ponds 

 at 4 p.m., Friday, and returned at 10 a.m., Saturday, with 

 oyer fifty pounds of trout. There were three "in the 

 party, and they came from Colebrook. Keep this bu«i- 

 ness up and troutiug up here will soon be a thing of the 

 past, _ K, 0. 



CAjrp Kennkbago — Indian Rook, Iiangetey, Maine., 

 JunelUh. — A large number of the members and guests 

 of the Oquossoo Angling Association have visited Camp 

 Kennebago this season. Dp to June 11th sixty-four 

 names had been registered, among them J. H. Kimball, 

 Bath, Me.; L. B. Reed and James A. Williamson of Now 

 York. Mr, Reed had an exciting experience in the 

 capture of two trout at a cast, weighing three and three- 

 quarters and one pound respectively, taken on a seven 

 ounce split bamboo rod. He was an hour and fifteen min- 

 utes in landing them. The fishing is remarkably fine this 

 month. 



Rangeley Lakes, Indian Rock, June l'lth— A large 

 number of fishermen have been scattered around our 

 lakes for the last month, and few, if any, have gone away 

 dissatisfied. Messrs. Chase & Sargent, of B 

 Mass., have probably made the largest catch. During i .heir 

 stay of three weeks they took two hundred and twenty- 

 seven trout, one hundred of which weighed respectively 

 three pounds and over ;'five weighed eight pounds and 

 over, So much for a fish story ; now for game, Two 

 days ago a large buck cariboo was seen from" fch 

 boat OqUOSSOC pwimming across the river not Bl 

 below the club house of the Oquossoo Angling Assocjjji 

 tion. and this morning two deer paddled themselvei 

 across on to the same side not twenty rods below 1' 

 house. Mr. Dana, of your city, was one of the witnei 

 Of this event and can corroborate my statement. Dor 

 this look a little as though the woods were full of th 



* Tim Tonjj—Biddeford, Me., June Uth.— The wri... 

 company with Dr. Quiruby, Frank E. Libby and j< 

 Berry, of this city, have just returned from an excui 

 to Tim Pond, in' the northern part of this State. 

 were in camp only three days and caught about 

 hundred trout, three bund red of which we were abJ 



bring home find distribute anions ow t'rieuds, 



