Feb. i, 1908.I 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
181 
Fly-Casling in Australia. 
The Town and Country Journal of Dec. 5, 
just received, contains an illustrated article re¬ 
lating to the first fly-casting contest to be held 
by the New South Wales Rod Fishers’ Society. 
This tournament took place on Nov. 30 in 
Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, and although only 
a few of the anglers present took part, no 
little enthusiasm was manifested, and it is likely 
other affairs of the kind will follow. The Journal 
says of the tournament: 
“What was probably the first event of the kind 
ever held in this country took place at the ponds 
in Centennial Park, Sydney, on Nov. 30. A 
roaring nor-easter interfered sadly with the at¬ 
tempts of the competitors to drop their arti¬ 
ficial flies within the narrow limits of the 30-inch 
hoops which marked the various distances from 
20ft. to 60ft. in the first event. A spot was 
finally chosen, where the wind, though less 
boisterous, proved to be very tricky, the puffs 
from the left landing the flies, in many cases, 
yards to leeward of the mark. 
“Anglers are known to be very modest, ex¬ 
cept in the matter of fish stories, and members 
seemed shy of exhibiting their abilities in com¬ 
petition. 1 his may account for the compara¬ 
tively small number of ten entries, also for the 
fact that many did not manage to get in the 
fine strokes which, in the calm retirement of a 
trout stream, added to the incentive of raising 
a fish, they are capable of doing. 
“The result of the first event, casting for 
accuracy and delicacy, was: Dr. Maitland firsr, 
126 points; C. F. Lindeman second, 116 points; 
C. H. Gorrick third, 112 points. 
Long distance casting: C. F. Lindeman 
first, 79ft. ioj^in.; C. H. Gorrick second, 71ft. 
nin.; A. D. Hall third, 70ft. nin. 
“Dr. Maitland’s win was somewhat of a sur- 
• prise, as he is not one of the old hands, by any 
means. His performance is the more creditable 
on that account, though he did not show so well 
at the longer distance as at the 20ft. and 30ft. 
Mr. Hall equalled him in points for ‘delicacy,’ 
but lost on accuracy. With the wind playing 
tricks with the fly, and owing to its unsteadiness, 
it was impossible to analyze or criticize closely 
the casting. 
In the long-distance event, Mr. Lindeman 
got wonderful work on to his line, forcing the 
fly forward against the wind at times. Mr. 
Gorrick handles his rod splendidly, putting great 
power into the cast, but had bad luck with the 
gusts, and lost time having to clear his line.” 
Another report of tho tournament says too 
.much force appeared to be used by most of the 
casters, who used the whole arm rather than the 
wrist, which the critic considers inferior style. 
Needless to say, he was new at reporting cast¬ 
ing tournaments, although a good fisherman. 
Mr. Lindeman, who won the long distance event, 
and Mr. Joseland, he says, depended on wholfe 
arm work, while Mr. Gorrick depended on his 
wrist and forearm alone. Mr. Gorrick cast 
nearly 100 feet in practice. Dr. Maitland, this 
writer thinks, will be Australian champion in a 
few months. American rods and rules are, 
nuch favored in Sydney, whose anglers have 
jood trout fishing near their homes, but who 
ippreciate the advantages of practice. 
The Forest and Stream may be obtained from 
my newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to 
■ upply you regularly. 
Little Talks About Fly-Fishing. 
Sullivan County, N. Y., Jan. 15 .—Editor 
Forest and Stream: A year ago at this time 
we began to think of spring, and how we would 
enjoy ourselves when that charming season ar¬ 
rived. Truly, we had long to Wait, as in-this 
region we knew not the fickle goddess called 
spring until about the middle of the first month 
of summer. Human nature is optimistic, and 
despite experience we are again making plans 
for a perfect vernal season. We are thinking 
of fresh yet balmy breezes, clear-rushing streams 
and deep, dark pools flecked with foam. The 
widening rings made by rising trout are easily 
seen if we shut our eyes for a moment. The 
duns are sailing down like tiny yachts with sails 
erect, and the little caddis flies are struggling 
and skittering on the water.- 
Let no man bury the pleasures of anticipation. 
When we cease to look forward we grow old 
rapidly. Not that we would forget the pleasures 
of past seasons. Every good angler’s brain is a 
storehouse of happy memories. Without these 
how could we paint pictures of the good time 
to come? Not that we expect anything won¬ 
derful in the way of sport, but we may reason¬ 
ably hope for a few days when we shall be in 
tune with nature, when soft airs are rippling the 
bright waters, and the stream is neither too high 
nor too low. A few flies should be hatching 
out, just enough to keep the fish interested in 
what is going on at the top and make them rise 
occasionally. The sport depends more upon the 
size than upon the number of the trout taken. 
We never forget the rare days when the big fish 
are feeding. 
Last spring the weather was cold and the 
“time of the take” unusually short. The small 
insects did not appear until midday or later, and 
the rise was over by 3 o’clock. Odd fish were 
to be had by the strenuous angler all day long, 
but I did not see a good rise of flies and trout 
in the morning until the month of June. Some¬ 
times when there are quantities of tiny flies on 
the water only the small trout will be feeding. 
Again, when not a rise is to be seen, good 
fish may be quite ready for business. However, 
the largest trout that I killed last year before 
the 1st of May were taken during a good rise 
of natural flies. 
It is the constant—or inconstant—change, the 
infinite variety in fly-fishing that binds us fast. 
It is impossible to grow weary of a sport that 
is never the same on any two days in the year. 
I am fond of all sorts of fishing, in fresh or salt 
water, in the interior of the country, or on the 
coast, but trout angling takes a grip upon the 
imagination. It is more of a mental recreation 
than other methods. There is always something 
in question, something to discuss. In the mere 
matter of hooks alone there is much room for 
differences of opinion. Does anyone know the 
form of hook which is absolutely and always 
the best under all conditions for artificial flies? 
Sometimes I think I know, and then again I 
do not, and I have tried all of the forms known 
to manufacturers. Experience and skill will tell 
in the long run, but the element of chance plays 
a considerable part in angling. We can all re¬ 
member instances when the tyro killed the best 
fish of the day. Many persons of limited ex¬ 
perience think that all fishing is a matter of 
luck, and from this ancient belief arose the salu¬ 
tations, “Good luck” or “Good luck to you,” and 
“What luck.” Good fortune is desirable in all 
our pursuits, and we have heard it said “that it 
is better to be born lucky than rich,” but we 
have to attribute any marked success in fishing 
to skill and skill alone. 
This is the reason why a few good trout killed 
under adverse conditions are fondly remembered 
after large baskets are forgotten. For instance, 
I often recollect the taking of three large fish 
