May 25 , 1907 .] 
817 
1 
judges in the first event, and the former and E. 
J. Mills judged the second event, George La 
Branche refereeing both. 
Event 3, May 17. 
The rain continued through the night and the 
morning broke cloudy and cold, but the air 
warmed up later, so that it was a question all 
morning whether further deluges could be ex¬ 
pected. Fortunately, however, the day turned 
i out to be ideal for tournament work. There 
was a brisk wind during the last part of the first 
event, enough to cut down the scores of those 
who were using five-ounce rods, but toward 
( noon the wind went down, the clouds became 
thinner, giving a good light, and the afternoon 
was ideal for casting. The last event, salmon 
casting, was finished just before dark, when there 
was a slight head wind, but there was little to 
complain of as to weather, although the scores 
of photographers—amateurs and press represen¬ 
tatives-—were working under the most adverse 
conditions as to light. The attendance of anglers 
was very light, there being at times several hun¬ 
dred spectators. 
The opening event was for rods weighing five 
ounces or less, with an allowance of three-quar¬ 
ters of an ounce for those fitted with metal reel 
seats, and an additional three-quarters of an 
t ounce for rods fitted with independent handles, 
I if made in three pieces, with the usual metal 
ferrules. An event of this sort is always a pretty 
one to watch, as the rods are generally those 
with which the owners usually fish trout 
streams, the only difference being that slightly 
heavier double tapered lines are used. Only 
those who had never cast more than 75 feet 
were eligible. George LaBranche won first place 
with 83 feet and gave a very pretty exhibition of 
long casting with a light rod. Dr Held was 
second with 81 feet. Perry D. Frazer was third 
with 79 feet. The scores, in feet, follow: 
Feet. 
G. M. L. LaBranche . 83 
R. J. Held . 81 
Perry D. Frazer . 79 
F. A. Niccolls, Jr. 75 
H. G. Henderson . 71 
David T. Kennedy . 71 
F. A. Niccolls, Sr. 68 
Walter McGucken . 67 
j Mr. LaBranche took a cup given by the 
Anglers’ Club and a fly-rod; Dr. Held an alumi¬ 
num fly reel; Mr. Frazer, a cup and a fly-book; 
Mr. Niccolls, Jr., an eight-strip fly-rod; Mr. 
, Henderson, a fishing cape; Mr. Kennedy, as- 
i sorted fishing lines; Mr. Niccolls, Sr., a sub- 
I scription to one of the magazines, and Mr. Mc- 
j Gucken, a Forest and Stream bear. Dr. Heller 
1 and E. H. Myers judged the event, and John L. 
Kirk was referee. 
Event 4, Two-Handed Surf-Casting. 
This was called about 11 o’clock, attracted 
seventeen entries and created a great deal of 
J enthusiasm. The greatest speculation as to what 
j score would win was manifest. Any rod more 
than six feet long Could be used, and lines suffi- 
! ciently strong to lift 15 pounds dead weight one 
; foot from the ground were required, the weights 
1 to weigh 2E2 ounces, as in the old-time National 
j Rod and Reel Association events, in which the 
late Reuben Wood established a record of 261 
feet, if we are correctly informed. In order to 
be prepared, the committee stretched the measur- 
] ing line due west from the platform, so that all 
! casting was away from the spectators, thus lessen- 
i ing the danger incident to the breaking of a line. 
Nearly all the contestants used heavy surf-cast¬ 
ing rods, and whereas it was believed long casts 
would be made, it was not until sixteen contes¬ 
tants had finished, two tips had been broken and 
I a couple of weights snapped off that W. J. 
Moran, who is short of stature and seemingly 
! slight, had cast, that the winner was known. Lie 
: scored 212 feet, backing this with 210, giving 
Reuben Leonard second place. 
, His friends had a good deal of fun with Mr. 
Frazer. The rod he used he had made himself, 
J and in practice he and several members had 
j east 190 to 210 feet. But he had helped set the 
i measuring line and was tired out when called 
| to cast, so that of the five members who cast 
: with his rod, all beat his score, Mr. Lawrence 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
averaging 171 feet with this bethabara rod, the 
lightest one used, it weighing 13 ounces. Most 
of the reels were double multipliers, but a num¬ 
ber had free spools. Nine-thread lines were most 
popular, some being as heavy as 14 thread. The 
line used on the Frazer rod was a braided silk 
enameled salt water 
line. 
The 
scores, 
ill 
feet: 
W. J. Moran . 
.. 202 
212 
192 
210 
195 
Best 
Cast. 
212 
R. C. Leonard. 
.. 160 
190 
190 
202 
210 
210 
L. 13. Marshall . 
.. 194 
190 
170 
170 
190 
194 
1. F. Marshall . 
.. 145 
187 
155 
177 
193 
193 
R. J. Held . 
.. 190 
160 
190 
180 
190 
190 
R. B. Lawrehce . 
.. 170 
150 
165 
180 
189 
189 
I. W. Rothschild . 
.. 170 
ISO 
170 
185 
185 
George LaBranche . 
.. 160 
110 
170 
185 
185 
E. 1. Mills . 
110 
130 
148 
i70 
170 
E. B. Rice. 
.. 160 
140 
155 
40 
160 
Perry D. Frazer. 
.. 120 
100 
40 
iso 
150 
1. H. Tripler . 
.. 125 
145 
iio 
100 
100 
145 
F. Etz . 
.. 60 
135 
70 
90 
80 
135 
II Hild . 
.. 110 
120 
120 
135 
130 
135 
I). P. Curry . 
.. 75 
100 
60 
100 
( . G. Levison . 
.. 60 
80 
90 
ioo 
100 
W. P. Durando, Jr. 
.. 80 
80 
60 
90 
70 
90 
Mr. Moran won a cup and assorted tackle; 
Mr. Leonard, a cup and a tackle box; Mr. L. E. 
Marshall, a cup; Mr. J. F. Marshall, a line dryer; 
Dr. Held, striped bass trolling spoons; Mr. Law¬ 
rence, magazine subscription; Mr. LaBranche, 
Borest and Stream bear. The judges were B. 
J. Bachman and E. H. Myers; referee, J. L. 
Kirk. 
Event 5, Trout Fly-Casting. 
Rods were not limited, but only those who 
had never cast 85 feet or more could enter this 
REUBEN C. LEONARD WAITING FOR THE JUDGES TO 
ANNOUNCE HIS GREAT CAST IN THE DISTANCE 
BAIT EVENT. 
event, which was called at 2 o’clock on Friday. 
Some pretty work was done, as there was no 
wind, but the weeds in the lake, which is shal¬ 
low near the shore, handicapped all hands, as 
they clung to lines and leaders and cut down the 
scores. George LaBranche won with 87 feet. 
Feet. 
G. M. L. LaBranche... 87 
Perry D. Frazer . S5 
R. J. Held . 84 
John L. Kirk . 83 
E. B. Rice . 79 
W. H. Ehrich . 77 
H. G. Henderson . 75 
V. R. Grimwood . 75 
R. A. Niccolls, Sr. W. 
Mr. LaBranche won a cup and a fly-rod; Mr. 
Frazer a cup and an English fly-book; Dr. Held, 
a fly box; Mr. Kirk, assorted lines; Mr. Rice, 
an automatic reel; Mr. Ehrich, subscription to 
Forest and Stream; Mr. Henderson, a fly-book; 
Mr. Grimwood, a landing net. 
Event 6, Salmon Fly-Casting. 
Contrary to expectations this event brought 
out twelve contestants, although less than half 
of them had ever tried a tournament salmon rod 
before. It was very interesting throughout, how¬ 
ever, in view of the fact that these men did so 
well while learning their A B C’s of salmon 
fly-casting. With a long line these very heavy 
eighteen-foot rods will almost lift one off his 
feet on the forward cast, and the remarks of 
the beginners were humorous. But the event 
pleased the immense crowd of spectators, as 
there was so much snap in the casting. It was 
divided, with prizes for amateurs and experts, 
or trade representatives. Of the latter R. C. 
Leonard took first, E. J. Mills second, and H. 
W. Hawes third. V. R. Grimwood won the 
amateur first prize, H. G. Henderson second and 
E. B. Rice third. The scores, in feet, follow: 
Non-amateurs: 
Best 
Cast.. 
R. C. Leonard . 
.. 132 
137 
i4oy 2 
138 
i4oy 2 
E. T. Mills . 
. 121 
119 
133 
131 
i39 
139 
1 [irant Hawes . 
. 133 
136 
136 
Louis Darling . 
Amateurs: 
. 100 
101 
iio 
... 
110 
V. R. Grimwood . 
. 90 
94 
... 
108 
108 
H. G. Henderson . 
. 101 
107 
107 
E. B. Rice. 
. 86 
97 
98 
i04 
io5 
105 
1. P. Kirk . 
. 98 
104 
104 
Perry D. Frazer *. . 
. 94 
96 
100 
100 
G. M. L. LaBranche... 
. 80 
90 
100 
100 
R. 1. Held . 
. 93 
99 
95 
99 
C. A. Bryan . 
. 87 
89 
89 
Messrs. Leonard and Mills won cups. Mr. 
Grimwood took a fly reel; Mr. Henderson, a fly- 
book; Mr. Rice, fly-book; Mr. Kirk, assorted 
lines; Messrs. Frazer and LaBranche, assorted 
tackle. 
Event 7, May 18. 
This event was started shortly after 9 o’clock 
on Saturday morning, and was dry-fly casting 
for accuracy. To the spectator this was the 
prettiest exhibition of all, for it was the nearest 
possible approach to actual trout fishing of any 
event of the tournament. Dry-fly casting for 
trout is practiced more in England than in this 
country, but it is coming into greater vogue 
every year with us, and its advocates claim that 
in many cases the dry fly will attract trout that 
cannot be taken with the wet fly. The semi- 
educated trout in the clear trout streams of 
England will turn tail to a wet fly, but there 
the angler goes on a still-hunt for his fish, and 
when one rises he, using a slender but rather 
stiff rod, thin line, the finest gut leader and a 
paraffined fly made to imitate the natural flies 
of the season, casts his dainty lure just over the 
spot where the fish rose, and few trout can re¬ 
sist taking it, so delicately and naturally is it 
presented. But if the trout has moved on, the 
angler must retrieve his fly without splash or 
fuss, dry it in the air by means of one or more 
false casts, and drops it again over the fish. 
In this event thirty-inch muslin-covered rings 
were used, at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 feet. Start¬ 
ing, the contestant was required to extend his 
six-foot leader and line the length of the rod 
only, and to cast at the 20-foot mark without 
any preliminary practice. If the fly fell within 
one foot of the mark, the accuracy was con¬ 
sidered perfect provided the fly floated long 
enough for the judges to see it. He 'was then 
directed to retrieve, and could make one or more 
false casts before casting at the 30-foot mark, 
but if the fly touched the water on any forward 
cast, or failed to float on alighting, a demerit 
for each fault was scored. Extending the line 
in the air only was permitted, and this is an ex¬ 
ceedingly difficult thing to do at 50 to 60 feet, 
particularly as there was a brisk cross wind that 
interfered with the back cast and sent the fly 
off to the right on the forward cast. The work 
of Messrs. Brotherton and LaBranche was very 
creditable indeed, they tying with only 7 demerits 
each, the former winning the cast-off. F. A. 
Niccolls, Jr., a novice at this game, was heartily 
applauded for his nice casting. Lie, and E. B. 
Rice and Perry D. Frazer as well, had the ill 
luck to cast while a puffy wind was blowing, 
and all were heavily handicapped by this element 
at the furthest mark. J. Rice, Jr., scored higher 
than he might otherwise have done had the 
judges called him to strict account, for on one 
occasion he retrieved his fly and immediately 
cast at the next mark without the false cast re¬ 
quired by the rules. Mr. Niccolls used a leader 
listed as six feet in. length, but which was a 
y 
