JUNE, 1917 
FOREST AND STREAM 
285 
tfngle. At his almost incoherent solicita¬ 
tions I increased my catch to forty. I 
could have filled the canoe. 
The same rapidity indicated in the onset 
of this tumultuous rising was the feature 
of its termination. All the evidence points 
directly to the fact that it was a nervous 
overflow in the fish, and more, that it was 
of a playful character. 
N analysis of this fishing will teach 
us several lessons that it will be well 
worth while to remember. They 
were not “tailing” natural flies, for if my 
eyes did not deceive me there were no 
flies on the water. You will say that they 
took the artificial flies; they did not, they 
merely played with them. They would 
have played with anything to which motion 
was imparted, provided there was nothing 
in it strongly to engender fear and dis¬ 
trust. The artificial fly in this case was 
not playing the very important part it usu¬ 
ally does. The evidence of everything in 
their actions points to the fact that the 
intensity of this nervous action obliterated 
for the time being the usual caution of the 
fish. To what extent, I cannot say; for 
the flies on all the casts employed on this 
fishing excursion were of my own make 
and design, a sufficient guarantee that they 
contained nothing in their make up to en¬ 
gender fear. 
Let us examine the rods. 
My fishing rod was made by myself, de¬ 
signed to meet all the indications of fly¬ 
casting. And right royally did it sway its 
scepter over this red-letter period of 
sport—the finest I ever experienced. My 
son’s rod was a Castel Connell rod of 
three joints and two ferrules, ill balanced 
and clumsy. My friend’s rod was of split 
bamboo, with two ferrules of fair quality. 
Either of these rods would hook a fish on 
the steady unobtrusive rise I have referred 
to. But in the rise of a fish under the 
influence of playful nervous overflow, 
which my story illustrates; in the rise of a 
fish which we compel him to make, by the 
charm of color exciting in him a moderate 
nervous overflow; in the peculiarity of the 
movement of the fish in the “short rise,’ 
which I have explained, the two rods above 
described are about as efficient to fulfill 
the requirements as a hoe-handle. 
TRUST the practical remarks I make 
in this article are not wearysome. I 
have endeavored to make the reading 
both instructive and agreeable. If it is not 
so, my apology is that consideration of the 
interval between the regular hours selected 
by the fish for feeding, is very difficult to 
handle. 
If my next letter is devoted to detail, it 
will be because it is necessary. To con¬ 
dense, or otherwise “boil it down,” will 
mystify but not elucidate the points which 
are of paramount interest. 
What will be the practical result of the 
consideration of these important items? 
Heretofore the slip-shod manner with 
which this subject has been handled placed 
the angler in such an uncertain position 
of chaotic indecision, that his only resort 
was to try one fly after another, in the 
vain hope that he would be fortunate 
enough to secure one that would give him 
a rise in response to its presentation. In 
my next letter, which will deal particularly 
with the flies, the patterns of which will 
be ilustrated, I will endeavor to show you 
that a correct cast can be selected with 
almost unerring certainty to meet any and 
all indications required. 
* * * 
J UST below us there is a curve in the 
river, where bending beeches arch 
across the stream. The charm and 
beauty of the spot woo us to enjoy its 
pleasant shade. And one inducement to 
beach the canoe here will be that we can 
pay passing tribute to a Highland soldier 
whose grave is nearby, and is identified 
with the earliest history and legendary 
lore of the locality. 
When England and France contended for 
the mastery of this Arcadian land, its 
woodland solitudes flashed with the pano¬ 
ply of war-like attire and gleamed with 
glittering steel. The Highland soldier 
whose grave we can visit was found in 
full regimental uniform, by two wanderers 
over at that time a pathless wilderness. 
Death had suddenly overtaken him; their 
kindly hands had laid him here to rest. 
And surely he sleeps as securely if not as 
peacefully in this lonely grave on the bank 
of a flower-gemmed stream, as he would 
beneath the heather-scented sod of the 
land whose memory was perhaps the last 
long lingering effort of his mind. The 
romantic bravery and steadfastness of pur¬ 
pose which are characteristic of his coun¬ 
try and his countrymen, assure us that he 
trod the shining path of loyalty and duty, 
and with unflinching courage kept here his 
tryst with death. 
“For toilsome the journey he journeyed 
To serve his liege and lord 
’Til the single belt that encircles him 
Cut sharp as a two-edged sword. 
But here, on the Eastern mountains, 
Near the awful pass of snow, 
He halts on his onward journey, 
And bulids him a dwelling low.” 
—Old Japanese poem. 
He awaits a reveille, that will reverber¬ 
ate with more clarion distinctness than the 
bugle note that lured him from his native 
glen to participate in the changes and 
chances which are the charm of a soldier s 
life. He was no laggard on a well con¬ 
tested field; the ravens know the deadly 
import of the martial notes that bid Clan 
Alpvn’s warriors close. W e pay our trib¬ 
ute to his valor and his constancy, and our 
farewell is mingled with the wish that his 
sleep may be deep and dreamless. 
“Soldier, rest!—thy warfare o’er 
Sleep the sleep that knows no waking; 
Dream of battle-fields no more, 
Days of toil, nor nights of waking.” 
FLY-TYING FOR AMATEURS 
“How to Tie Artificial Flies and How to 
Make Your Own Leaders” is the title of a 
little booklet which is being distributed by 
C. H. Shoff, 405 Saar street, Kent, Wash¬ 
ington, dealer in fly-tying material, to his 
customers. It describes the material con¬ 
venient for use by the average angler who 
wants to tie his o\’/n flies, and methods for 
assembling them % imitate well-known 
types of flies. 
Illustrations show the simpler materials 
and the best knots to use. The booklet 
will be sent free upon receipt of a stamp, 
addressed to Mr. Shoff, in care of Forest 
and Stream, 118 East 28th street, N. Y. 
(Cljestci'ftcl.1 
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