April 30, imA. I 



FOREST AND STREAM 



84 1 



The Fish Laws of the United States and Canada, in the 

 " Oame Laws, in Brief," Z5 cents. In the "Booh, of the 

 '* Game Itoms " (full text), so cents. 



only a knot to mark where the leader had been tied. 



When the heau saumon is struck he rises furiously in 

 the au- and the other (already stabbed) feeling the sting of 

 the barb, jumps, so the spectacle is seen of two fish sim- 

 ultaneously madly leaping; then a quick snapping jar 

 vibrating and shivering down hne and rod, with its sud- 

 den relaxation, tells the story of both fish gone, Seldom 

 without both flies and leader. Few sights are more glad- 

 some than the simultaneous leap of two ouananiche 

 stabbed on the same cast, and few more dispiriting than 

 their loss. 



Lures, by which I mean artificial baits jother than flies, 

 may be successfully used. Notably phantom minnows of 

 any size, and spinners or spoons in any form. Indeed the 

 ouananiche seems crazed when so struck more than when 

 stabbed with a fly, and a mad battle ensues in which the 

 quarry is almost unmanageable tmtil Hterally worn out. 



Now as to flies. The beau saumon is ficlile and capri- 

 cious to the verge of disbelief. Last year at the Hotel 

 Roberval, with 70 ouananiche weighing from 3 to 4ilbs. 

 stretched on the piazza as a practical demonstrative ex- 

 hibit, I showed the flies which tempted the gamy fellows 

 and saw incredulity written upon the faces of the anglers, 

 equalled only by the quaint humor of the Indian guides 

 laughing over the struggles of the fisli to escape their 

 doom after being stabbed by such flies. Flies of such like 

 and form as ai'O indeed only seen in the shopman's win- 

 dow. 



There are times that the fish will rise all round with an 

 utter disregard for the most artistic handling of yom- flies, 

 iadifferent aUke to every combination of feather. You 

 will see them in the clear waters furiously rush at the 

 flies without at the final moment striking them, as if at 

 the last instant they apprehended the counterfeit sought 

 to be imposed upon them. They will rise to the fly in any 

 way that it can weU be cast. At times the flies should be 



OUANANICHE TACKLE. 



It is not very difficult amid these surroundings to re- 

 deem the promise made Forest and Steeajvi for some 

 details of the practical work and of the tackle and flies I 

 have successfully used in ouananiche fishing. 



A caribou head with snowy neck and thirty-fi ve pointed 

 antlers, shot on the Himiber, looks down with superb 

 disdain for the fate that hung him on tlie walls of my 

 den. 



Over the mantel is the tip of a "Wells" split-bambo rod, 

 which was riven and twisted until its fibres hxing like 

 threads iu landing on Pine^Lake, with Dick Jessup, of On- 

 tario fame, two black bass at the same time, one weighing 

 3f and the other 3Jlbs. 



Up there is the little 4i-oz. rod which stabbed and landed 

 the ouananiche at Cinquieme Chute, wielded by the dainty 

 hand of the Lady Rose. Feast your eyes upon it! Rod, 

 reel, hne and cast, it only weighs 14oz. 



Yonder, amidst a galaxy, hangs in particular a fly tied 

 on a 2-0 hook, which made Mr. Smith laugh xmtd. the tears 

 came when we were exchanging views over the camp-fire 

 on the Nepigon. Nameless, giant-proportioned, fashioned 

 after no living thing— the creation of some girl in the fac- 

 tory. But still the fly that allured and stabbed trout after 

 trout, four-pounders at that, at far-famed Pine Portage, 

 with Louis Bouchard, no less famous as a guide, in the 

 stern of the canoe. When every fly of distinguished make 

 or name had swept the 

 waters in vain, until 

 Mr. Smith was ready to 

 give a king's ransom 

 for the prodigy. 



Upon the floor He a 

 half dozen rods put to- 

 gether for a sibilant 

 switch for inspiration. 

 Upon my table lie so 

 many fly-books that it 

 shames me to think that 

 I have not yet stopped 

 laying up treasures 

 wherein verily the 

 moths will revel. 



If, however, I should 

 only speak of trite mat- 

 ters which all anglers 

 know, I can only ex- 

 press regret and hope 

 that some one not so 

 happily situated may 

 fall across these lines. 



First, and foremost, 

 let us talk of the rod. 

 A 10ft., 6oz. rod is, aU 

 thing's considered, the 

 best adapted for work 

 in the heavy waters in 

 which ^the ouananiche 

 lives. A heavier rod 

 is likely to fail to yield 

 pliantly and quickly in 

 the frantic leaps of 

 the flLsh, or apt to tear 

 out the fly in the mad 

 dashes through the 

 rapids often 30 to 40- 

 yds. , sometimes fully 

 60yds. As the ouanani- 

 che oftenest fight to- 

 ward the angler, the 



rod should be held . ■,,^n^^Ju^f^■ 



thrown well backward, with a large bow. In holding ' allowed to sink a few mches and then ttickea aheacl a toot 

 the fish in and preventing the dashes, more should or two— then cast hke salmon fishing— the long cast far out 

 depend upon the management of the reel than in any | in the current with the dip, dip of the rod when the art is m 

 greater resistance of the rod beyond that mherent in the | the strike rightly following the rise, then casting upon the 

 6oz split-bamboo. It stiU needs delicate touch and good | surface and making the flies leap or skitter \ipon the ioam 

 iudirment when to let the reel free or to hold the or eddies, wlien the grandest of all sights is 8een,_ the leap 

 strain on the struggling salmon. of the ouananiche takmg the fly fairly m the air witti a 



Let me not be vainglorious and unduly boast of my savage ferocity mfiicting a stab by the automatic action 

 favorites as I speak of my own treasures. A 4ioz. of the rod. 



ash and lancewood rod with lancewood tip (Mr. Wood's At the Fifth Falls (winch I wrote up for Forest akd 

 design) is the favorite among favorites. It is very Stream, Sept. 8, 1892) I had three rods rigged up with dif- 

 light and slender, pliant as a coach whip, but in good f erent casts, one m hand and the others lying on the 

 hands wiU stand all tests, afford keenest sport and excite rocks. When the saumon rose at the flies but did not 

 deepest admiration. Indeed the wonder excited by its strike, I immediately took the flies from the water and 

 frail appearance when shown has given me a great deal laid down the rod. After waiting a few mmutes 1 took 

 of pleasure. ufi one of the other rods and cast with it for about five 



A Leonard 6oz. split-bamboo rod is one which I have minutes and then picked up the rod having the fly at 

 put to severest strain right under the falls and found it I which the rise had been made, and seldom mdeed did 1 

 maintain the line with that tension which holds the fly in fail to get the fish. 



the salmon's mouth thirty, aye forty minutes, though it Under such circumstances the angler should have a 

 drop out, as I have seen it do over and over again, the in- variety of files in the camp and not at home when seek- 

 stant the strain relaxed as the fish was netted. | ing the ouananiche. The new-comer at the Island House, 



For one who likes the quick, lively fight, I would not, < Grande Decharge, goes to Paul Savoir, the head gmde. 



NOW FOR TROUT. 



Fifth Equal Prize, Forest and Stream Amateur Pliotography Competition. 



Photo by Dr. J. J. Mills, Poughkebpsie, N. Y. 



however, advise a fighter rod. 

 - How necessary the proper tension is, may be reafized, 

 when you find that tlie foiu--pound ouananiche wiU often 

 only rise to a fly tied on No. 10 hook. I believe the ioz. 

 split-bamboo rod wfll afford the greatest sport and I 

 have ordered one without windings for the trial. It is 

 not likely that the fish can be quickly kiUed or that the 

 rod may not be too fight, but the fight will be evened up 

 so as to' make the rod do its best. 



The reel should be multiplying, holding sixty yards (I 

 believe in the Silver King) and, of course, a waterproof 

 silk line, not larger than "F." The leader should be of the 

 best salmon gut Mnth not more than two flies tied about 

 f om- feet apart. I take a six foot salmon leader, tie a loop 

 on it so as to give the dropper an independent swing of 

 about 18in. , and thus give the two fish plenty of room to 

 play, with the strain direct from fish to rod. I warn you 

 that the gut and tie must be of the best quahty, for I have 

 had it snapped like thread by two gamy ouananiche 

 stabbed on one oast. 



I^-aixkly, I do not believe two 31b. ouananiche can be 

 brought to net on one cast at the same time. I, at least, 

 have never succeeded, although many times have I stabbed 

 two on the same cast and seen the line come back with 



for judgment on the flies in the book! Times past num- 

 bering Paul will say, "Him no good. Some good las' 

 year— not noAv," so on through the book, condemning 

 favorites, shattering hopes and rudely crushing many a 

 hobby! 



As a general rule the ouananiche seeks winged flies and 

 will not rise to hackles. My favorite sizes are tied on No. 

 6 and 8 sproat hooks, a little extra winged and full- 

 bodied, and above all tied on the best salmon, muid you, 

 salmon gut! 



Stfil, I carry flies tied as small as No. 12, although it is 

 exceedingly difficult to net the fish because the barb is too 

 small and tears out. 



The sober-hued flies are the best and most reliable, yet, 

 mirabile dietu, 1 have stabbed them on flies that made my 

 giudes shout, "Fooled the salmon!" What better can I 

 do than quote Jlr. Roosevelt? "One-half the most skillful 

 fishermen assert that the fly need resemble nothing on the 

 earth or in the waters imder the earth!" 



One thing in particular I have noticed which I intend 

 to put in practice, that flies with green as the prevailing 

 color were especially attractive and successful in luring 

 the salmon. Tom Conroy is tying a fly on 6 and 8 

 sproat hooks under these ideas, which will be called the 



"Roberval"— a dedication to the Hotel Robeiwal. The 

 bodv wiU be Nile green whipped with yellow silk cord 

 and" dark green tail; green wings with dark mallard over 

 wing; hackles of green and gray hues. I hope to report 

 the practical success of these theories. 



All salmon flies tied on No. 6 to 8 hooks are worth 

 carrying, in particiflar I recommend Jock-Scott, Silver 

 and Blue-Doctor, Durham-Ranger, Cock-Robin, Thunder- 

 and-Lightning, Admirals, Lion and Captain. 



Among the trout flies I have successfully used are 

 Professor, Grizzly-King, Conroy, Dark-Caddis, Romaine 

 (which are dark green flies), Montreal, with jungle cock 

 wings, Bees and Parmacheene-Belle. 

 Again I advise you to have yom- flies tied with a helper. 

 Now as to the places or pools. I hke "ledge fishing" 

 best. I mean either on the rocky points jutting out from 

 the shore or upon the reefs rising through the foam in 

 the swirl and eddy of the rushing waters below the falls. 



This gives one terra firma beneath him and enables the 

 angler to give undivided attention to the rod and to mark 

 the movements of the fish. I believe it is tlie best, if not 

 the onlv way that the ouananiche can be landed on the 

 fight rods. Usually I select a place where I can work the 

 files against the current to a point where they would dis- 

 appear in the surge and swirl of the falls and then cast 

 back down the cm-rent, and when the rise came it was 

 with such force and vigor that I seldom failed to hold the 

 fish. Or get some spot where the flies would pass around 

 a point or rock, and then in the eddy and bofi of the 

 waters the ouananiche would dart at the fly with a 

 momentum that took the tip under the water ere one 

 could realize the fight was on. 



Often wlien you have failed in this method (or are tired 

 of it) you will see the ouananiche rising through the 

 patches of foam often as large as twenty to thirty square 

 yards! Then let the guide take the canoe, lay in the bow 



for a cushion a quan- 

 tity of fragrant plumes 

 and branches, nicely 

 stripped from the large 

 wood, go out and cast 

 your flies upon the bril- 

 liantly gleaming sno^vy 

 mass of bubbles. It is 

 unalloyed pleasure to 

 see how fifeUke flies 

 look as they pass upon 

 the foam. You can 

 make them jump, leap, 

 fly. flutter or wearily 

 drag — see them reflect- 

 ed in cormtless bubbles 

 and enjoy the apparent 

 inteUigence of rod and 

 cast. 



The canoe dextrously 

 managed by master 

 hand circles around the 

 white patch as you cast 

 your flies whirling over 

 and lightly falling upon 

 a white mountain of 

 yeasty foam. A dorsal 

 fin clearing to the 

 strained vision for brief- 

 est interval, the hea^i 

 saumon, between the 

 rise and stab. And 

 then — and then. 



Ere j^ou know it the 

 guide has squatted in 

 true Indian fashion in 

 the stern and you are 

 on your knees. The tip 

 of the rod phantly 

 yielding is bathing in 

 the waters and the reel 

 chanting a melody that 

 is now a cUrge to the 

 sinking heart— then a 

 hymn of praise to the elated soul. 



In the midst of the whirKng, surging, angry flood, with 

 the canoe dancing hither and thither like a cockle shell- 

 now drifting down the flood so quickly that the shores 

 seem like a fleeting j^anorama — now forced against a cur- 

 rent that sweeps the foam to its gunwales, so angrily, so 

 flerce, so tiu-bulent, that the shores looked never so safe 

 to your wistful gaze — around and down the torrent — 

 around and against the cm-rent — up in the teeth of the 

 waters, until the spray of the falls beats against your 

 face and drips from yom- mustache. A mad rush 

 straight toward the canoe, a sweep of the paddle, the 

 canoe wliirls round and goes down on the flood, the sau- 

 mon dashes on and you breathe more freely. Up now 

 with the rod, quick down with the tip as the saumon 

 leai)s, now in with the slack, let the reel free, in with the 

 slack, and finally and at last — how long it seems in com- 

 ing — in some quiet cove Josef Robinson (if you have 

 been lucky enough to get him) is asking for the balance 

 to weigh "the conquered warrior, and you are wondering 

 how he netted the &eau saumon. 



A word more. What is the best hour? I believe 

 cloudy days are the best. Keep your flies idle and then 

 get the hour or briefer interval just before the storm 

 breaks, when the clouds axe lowering and the mist from 

 the falls is swept down upon the waters. When the 

 insects flutter helplessly in the windy gusts and are beaten 

 down upon the foam. That brief prelude when the 

 scattering drops indicate the approach of the storm and 

 the ouananiche seem imbued with electric life. Then the 

 dashes for the flies are fiercest and the fish fights with an 

 inconceivably savage ferocity. Then the fight goes on 

 amid the drenching rain, to which you axe oblivious, but 

 which is more detested by yom- giudes. Then you go 

 back to your camp tinghng with excitement over the last 

 brush, though you are wet through and through. And 

 you feel that you will mdeed enjoy the last cigar in camp 

 whfie le j)(itit saumon, spitted with striiis of breakfast 

 beacon, is being ijrejjared d la irochette for supper. 



Rowdy Rod. 



Where Rainier Liooms. 



Seattle, Wash., Feb. 22.— Edito}- Forest and Streavi: Please find 

 postal note for §4 for renewal of paper. I wish to say that I hke the 

 papex much, and do not fear to have it in my family, neither am I 

 ashamed to have it seen on the center table. D. T. Denny. 



