108 
Trout Flies and Trout Whims* 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your letter caught me in the preliminaries of getting 
read}' to go a-fishin' cm our '"annual" to the North 
Woods, and it has kept me so busy "figgeriir an' runnin' 
"round" getting' things together for a party of ten or a 
dozen for three or four weeks in the "bresh" — with only 
a short time in the shank of each evening to do it in — 
that I have had little time to think or write about the 
question of "dark flies on a light day," light flies on a 
dark day, or dark and light flies on dark and light days, 
as the case may be. 
My experience in fly-fishing has been very limited, for 
the reason that nearly, if not all, the streams I have 
fished for trout have not been "fly" streams, owing to the 
brush and trees infesting and overhanging the banks, 
and I am not competent to express an opinion about the 
merits of dark flies on a light day or light flies on a dark 
day. 
Speaking from personal experience, nry favorite fly 
for a starter is the barnyard hackle — pale red preferable 
as to color — or the festive grasshopper, and when I 
have taken the first trout I make a fly of a ventral or 
anal fin, and never fail to get some trout with it, 
whether the day is dark or light. 
I am aware that for this heresy the aesthetic angler 
of the Starbuck school (?) will read me out of the 
brotherhood (albeit they all sneak in the humble worm 
and the hopper when their "light-as-thistle-down" 
fly fails to bring a rise), but sentiment cuts no figure with 
me in trout fishing or any other fishing; I fish for the 
sport of it, pure and simple, in my way, and if I have 
to fool an old trout with a worm or a fin from one of 
his brethren by poking my rod through the overhang- 
ing bushes to reach him in his hiding place, I console 
myself with the thought that I am fishing for that trout, 
and not for sentiment ok to court the criticism of some 
budding know-it-all fly-fisher, who claims it is unsports- 
manlike to take a trout otherwise than with the fly. 
However, this is a digression from the question of dark 
or light flies. 
Looking at it from a "hoss sense" view — claiming little 
experience in fishing with the fly — I would say that Bro. 
Van Cleef's position about dark flies is about my notion 
of it, and I am at liberty to quote the Colonel in support 
of it. The Colonel is an old fly-fisher from " 'way back"; 
has fished the home of the big trout— the Nipigon River 
—several seasons, and ought to know whereof he talks. 
He says: "The tastes of trout are more mystify- 
ing than the whims of women. (The Colonel is an old 
bachelor.) Sometimes they want one thing and some- 
times another. Some dark days the trout will take a dark 
fly, like a brown hackle; some other dark days they will 
take a light fly, and some other days they will take neither 
dark nor light flies." (Mem.— This is the time to get 
in your work with the barnyard hackle, if you're not too 
aesthetic.) 
"Other days when the sky is overcast they will take 
light flies a part of the time and dark flies some other 
part of the day. i have fished persistently with light- 
colored flies all the afternoon of a dark, lowery day, 
using a white-miller at the last, with no rises; then, as 
twilight came on, I put on a brown hackle and took trout 
after trout till it was too dark to see the fly or the rise 
of the fish. You can never tell what sort of a fly a trout 
will rise to till you try; but my opinion is that dark 
flies are as a rule more taking than light-colored ones, 
taking no account of the condition of the weather or 
the dark or bright aspect of the day. 
"My experience is that trout are a mighty uncertain 
quantity, and that in fishing for them more depends on 
the humor or whim you find them in than on the deft- 
ness of the cast or the color of the fly used." 
There is an opinion that is worth far more than mine, 
and I'm going to indorse it, for I have a heap of re- 
spect for the Colonel's judgment in matters pertaining 
to fishing. However, if I find a stream while we are in 
camp next month that I can "fly-fish" I will try both ' 
light and dark flies and note the result. 
We leave here — the same old gang — on Saturday, July 
30, over the C. H. & D. and Michigan Central for 
Detroit, where we take one of the Detroit & Cleveland 
Navigation Co.'s steamers for Alpena, thence twelve 
miles by rail and thirteen miles by wagons to Hubbard 
Lake, where we bad our camp in 1894. On that trip 
we took a good many bass that weighed up to 4 and 
4j^lbs., and we want to see if there are not some left of 
the same "heft" or over. 
I intend spending a week on a stream that is said to 
be a fine trout stream, about eight or nine miles west of 
our camp, in the heart of the wilderness — I don't know 
whether it can be fished with a fly or not — and will likely 
drop the readers of Forest and Stream a line to tell 
them of the luck of an old "trout crank," who believes 
there is as much "art" in fooling a trout with a fin from 
his mate as there is in buncoing him with a "bunch o' 
fool fe'thers." Kingfisher. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Anent the discussion of the article of Mr. Van Cleef 
upon the use of dark and light flies on light and dark 
days respectively, I would merely state that that theory, 
like some others, belongs I fear to the past, and which 
close students of the apt of fly-fishing in these latter 
days of angling on well-whipped waters and less abun- 
dance of fish may truthfully testify to. 
It is a rather dangerous undertaking for any one to 
refute the universally accepted rules of the old masters 
of the art, and with all credit to their teachings not all 
of these established rules emanate from them; but ad- 
mitting that this is a progressive age, it should not be 
supposed that successful angling has failed to keep pace 
with the period, for we do know that fish are not as 
abundant as formerly: and (if we may believe) by reason 
of increased fishing each generation of the species fished 
for becomes more shy and wary for the matter of self- 
preservation. 
Without any desire to encourage a discussion of the 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
subject and with the same hesitancy as that with which 
Mr. Van Cleef offered his suggestion, from my own ex- 
perience I would place more of these theories beside 
the generally accepted one of light flies on dark days 
and vice versa in the category of changed conditions, 
just a few of which most frequently met with are these: 
1. That in waters in which fish are not specially 
plentiful or otherwise it is possible to take them during 
the middle of the day, also in low water and in bright, 
hot weather. I refer of course to stream work, and 
class this as a consistent practice except in muddy 
water. 
2. The utter impossibility of raising for a second or 
third time a fish once scraped I have long since from 
experience been inclined to doubt; and this dangerous 
assertion is not vouchsafed from isolated instances or 
from such where the one particular fish was not always 
in view. 
3. That fish may be taken when not strictly feeding 
or hungry can be proven by any one possessing knowl- 
edge of their habits and skill in manner of manipulating 
to surmount such an obstacle. 
4. That in working for a fish from below or across 
the fact that the fish sees you offers little obstacle to 
his capture, if you understand the art of approach and 
know just how far, in order to manipulate the drop 
and play a fly as nature alone instructs. This is one of 
the essential points of dry fly work, the shorter line es- 
pecially in stubborn cases; and don't spoil an oppor- 
tunity under the mistaken theory that the fish does not 
see you: he is sharp enough, that is admitted; but he 
has a streak in his make-up called in English "curious," 
and has also foolish moments — and there's the rub. 
It is not to be expected that the great majority of 
anglers are or would be converts to these and other 
changed conditions, brought about by the evolution 
from prolific to almost depleted waters, for the acme of 
angling with a fly — a sportsman's share under any con- 
ditions except muddy water — is not to be learned in a 
week, a month or a vear. The exactions of a business 
career in this age of keen competition are too severe to 
permit every angler time and opportunity for such close 
study; hence it is dangerous to mention any of these 
subjects without calling down criticism. However, it 
may be stated that no angler has a license to continued 
success unless he possesses full knowledge of the re- 
sisting powers of his tackle, the good quality of which 
should create trust therein. This trust in turn quietly 
but surety affects the creel; and when one is confronted 
bv adverse conditions the reduced percentage of loss in 
chances is apt to bring angling nearer to the happv 
medium than all the cry of depleted streams. A rod 
especially should be of such pitch as to respond to all 
the various evolutions necessary to work out success- 
fully the problem which each separate pool presents as 
to rapidity of surface water and obstacles of brush or 
overhanging tree and bush; for the first principle of 
the cast forward and back is not a positive preventative 
of the possible loss of flies or leaders; and anv closp 
student has a stock of other casts which will, and 
thereby finds many fish in difficult spots unsought by 
others. Certain patterns of flies known to the oldest 
answers are still doing duty. That thev have been super- 
seded by others more successful in taking qualities needs 
no argument. That these same flies fail to be catalogued 
in tackle stores is easy of solution from the fact that 
they are for the most part originated and tied bv the 
close student of insect life, though they are not alwavs 
a representation of known species. The many able 
English works on that subject cover a wide field. They 
have their origin in the ability to focus nature's pan- 
orama into a delicate harmonv of color with material 
most of which, as some of us know, is to be found and 
procured with the greatest difficulty. 
Admitting that good flies are a necessary part of the 
outfit, their selection or use, in fact in all fly-fishing there 
is no better instructor or tutor than the one which is 
alwavs with you on the creek — nature herself, just 
watch closely and imitate; and as to some of the 
axioms born when fish were more plentiful, and when 
less study and conniving were necessary to success, you 
will first learn to doubt them, then to believe in that 
doubt, and not because, contrary to all precedent, so and 
so said so. 
Referring to the early da3's of fishing when prohib- 
itory laws were unknown, what the writer would like 
to trace through the assistance of these columns is the 
identitv of the notorious individual who counted his 
catch by the so many dozen, and set that method of 
work up as an everlasting pinnacle of skill — a fad which 
unfortunately for the good of sportsmanship is still in 
evidence. In the old days mature fish were prolific, a^d 
the great bulk captured was of that kind as a rule; the 
decrease was therefore not so sudden, but the latter d^v 
slaughter of the infants by the fish-hoe is a blow at the 
very foundation of future suppl}\ and for what? 
M. G. Sellers. 
Philadelphia. 
Vermont League Meeting. 
St. Albans, Vt., July 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The midsummer meeting of the Vermont Fish and Game 
League will be held at Isle La Motte, Aug. 3. The 
invitations include all members of the League and mem- 
bers of branch clubs with their lady friends. Members 
of the League or of branch clubs are also requested to in- 
vite any friends who have made application to join the 
League upon this occasion and have signed the form of 
application inclosed herewith. 
The steamer Reindeer has been chartered to take the 
members of the League and branch clubs, their guests 
and the ladies to the island and return. The dinner will 
be served in a tent with large seating capacity, and the 
business meeting will be held immediately after the din- 
ner. The place of meeting, at Lieut.-Gov. Fisk's. is 
the same as on former meetings, and the Ladies' Aid 
Society will furnish the dinner as heretofore. No fur- 
ther particulars on this subject are necessary for the in- 
formation of those who have been there. There will 
be no unusual departure from programmes of former 
midsummer meetings except that the invitation includes 
the ladies, and it is hoped that they will honor the League 
by their presence. T. M. Deal, Sec'y. 
[Aug. 6, 1898. 
A Summer Idyl among the Sea 
Trout* 
Ocean Grove, N. J,, July 28. — Editor Forest and. 
Stream: I think I am a dabster with a rod and reel!. 
And for more than a quarter of a century I have found 
no one to beat me when "armed and equipped as the.i 
law directs," for the sleepy flounder at Cape May, or' 
making ready at Anglesea for the bounding mackerel or 
the skipping sea trout! Alas! I have had to lower my 1 
colors; I am no longer "high hook." And it was Rev.- 
Jos. G. Reed, of St. Paul's Church, Ocean Grove, N. J., 
who reduced me to the ranks (figuratively speaking) by 
catching this week eighty-eight sea trout to my sixty- 
four. 
But, in extenuation, I must "have leave to print my 
remarks" and defend myself, by saying this gifted disciple^ 
of the good old Izaak Walton, Bro. Reed, is a piscator 
from way back! I knew him in my youth. His father 
was a veteran and ever successful angler at Atlantic City ; 
and it was the late Dr. Reed, who died full of years! 
and of honor at ninety-two, and myself who first taughf 
the Senatorial Matt Quay to stand in the surf of the) 
sounding sea off Brigantine Beach half the day in order 
to bag half a dozen black drum; no mean sport, for it re-^ 
quires endurance and real sportsmanship and staying 
qualities! 
I ceased to be "high hook" in the following manner: 
Geo. Bennett came to my cottage in the Grove and 
said: ""Colonel, I am now ready to show you where the 
sea trout doth most abound. Be ready at 6:40 A. M.1 
Friday." This was a beastly hour to get up and dressl 
and make ready my Bethabara rod! But what is that to! 
a wide-awake angler in touch with the sea when sure; 
of > full day's sport among the finny denizens of the 
deep. And I now recall, en passant, what President 
Arthur said (and he deserved the "grand old name of 
gentleman"). "I have always made it a rule," said: 
Chester A, Arthur, "to trust a woman who loved flow- 
ers, and to tie to a man who loved a rod and reel." 
But to return. I renewed my youth like the eagle's in 
this wise; and since Gibbon says: "A man cannot talk- 
long of himself without vanity," I shall be short. I! 
accepted Brer Bennett's invitation and was at the Ocean 
Grove depot at the witching hour of 6:40 A. M., with 
nothing to gratify or satisfy the inner man save one cup 
of coffee (the color of Sammy Bettle's quaker coat) and 
two eggs; a light lunch accompanied the lemonade. 
The party was not too large, to wit: Rev. Jos. G. 
Reed, Geo. Bennett, Jno. M. Dey, Ed. Flitcroft and 
J. M. S. The train dropped us at Barnegat Pier in 
half an hour; a cat-rigged yacht was waiting for us, and 
for lack of wind the skipper had to propel his boal 
chiefly with a pole. 
But at 10 A. M. Bennett threw over the killick and we 
went at it. I had little doubt I should be, as was usual 
on such occasions, "high hook" of the party. And as 1 
was guilty of some badinage and persiflage at the ex- 
pense of the other anglers, I noticed the Methodist pastoj 
exchange a meaning glance with Brother Geo. Bennett 
who was one of his sheep. That glance boded no good 
for me. And it must be confessed that Pastor Reed, whc 
was a good fisherman when Atlantic City was a baby 
had his own beautiful aoz. lancewood rod with Dutch 
snoods and Limerick hooks, while the rest of us tool* 
pot luck, catch-as-catch-can as to rods, reels and Cutty- 
hunk lines; the poles so antique that Noah had doubt- 
less cut two of 'em to take in the ark with his beasts 01 
a. rainy day! 
The southwest wind fairly blew the hook into thd 
fishes' mouths. 
Brother Reed led the game from the first. "Let nc 
guilty fish escape" was his war cry, and every bite on i 
soft shell crab bait meant a lib. weakfish, which woult 
go skittering along the surface of the bay, only to fine 
the bottom of the cat-rigged yacht. In vain I did m\ 
level best to vie with this skillful scholar "in the con- 
templative man's" amusement. I put on another hook'. 
I pulled in two sea trout. Then I began to crow; bu! 
Bro. Reed caught two trout on one hook while I un- 
hooked my two fish. His score was sixty-eight able- 
bodied fish; mine was fifty-eight up to 1 o'clock, when 1 
bethought myself of a Spanish trick — a kind of a rust 
de guerre! 
I said I was hungry and proposed lunch all around, 
Up to this hour I was "high hook" next to piscator 
Reed; the other three were, on an honest count, a goot 
deal behind me. Such a lunch! Nothing stronger thar 
lemonade. Since scientific temperance is taught tc 
Hobson et al. at the Annapolis Academj r , I am for tem-j 
perance-piscatorial lunches. With a cameraderie, par 
of the inheritance of every lover of forest and stream 
or of rod and reel, we each divided with one anothei 
what we had brought, and it was good enough for th< 
President of the Sandwich Islands. 
We indulged the dolce far niente for one hour, wher 
Pastor Reed gave the order to fish! But like Bret 
Harte's hero T. J., when struck with a "chunk" of yellow 
sandstone in the estomac, the "subsequent proceeding; 
interested me no more." In this instance I was s 
"Truthful James." Bro. Reed, with his 90Z. rod, begar 
to pull 'em in till he scored eighty-eight, and there was 
fire in Brer Bennett's eye. He wanted "to wipe mj 
eye." He went on from one degree of glory to another 
He scored seventy-two. I had only sixty-four, Jno. M 
Dey had sixty-six, but Ed. Flitcroft's score was onl^ 
sixty-four. But it is not all of fishing to fish. I hacl 
enough, and carried home enough to gladden the heartw 
rf two or three Ocean Grovers. I consoled myself witrl 
the reflection that Pastor Reed had the best rig. 
was an artist after Izaak Walton's own heart, and I neveil 
pretended to be an artistic fisherman. But I have nou« 
ordered a lancewood rod, with a silk line and a Chester ! 
town hook, and I have told Bros. Reed and Bennett tcl 
beware! The skipper spread his sails; the Favoniar 
breezes helped us and we reached the pier in time for th< 
3:35 P. M. train for home long before the "looming 
bastions" became "fringed with fire"; and thus ended e 
summer idyl among the sea trout. 
Some time I may tell you briefly how Pastor Reed anc 
I have found deep pools in Deal Lake, near Benson's 
Park, when amidst "shrubbery that Shenstone might 
have envied," and in sweet sylvan shades^, more beautifn 
