bottom creepers. I shall later on study 
this subject in my own ponds along- 
side the research work to determine 
the best food of trout to attain weight, 
gameness, and flavor. 
By far the best time to get sport in 
fly fishing for the trout pickerel is in 
June, July and August, though, like 
other game fishes, there are periods 
when they won’t rise to flies or take 
worm bait. Pickerel will not take a 
still worm; it must be lively and kick- 
ing or else moved rapidly through the 
water. Then it is they rush after the 
worm with decided vim. They never 
swallow a worm right off like a trout, 
but hold it awhile between the long 
jaws so that unless they are allowed to 
take it some distance away, nine out 
of ten times you pull the baited hook 
back without fish. This is a character- 
istice feature of the pike family, as 
all experienced pickerel fishermen well 
know. The same feature also occurs 
in fly fishing, either on the surface or 
under water the fly must be on the 
move to attract them. They follow 
the fly for quite a distance, then make 
a rapid dart, taking it with quite a 
snap, and if the tiny hook takes hold 
you may perhaps land the fish unless 
by darting into the midst of a bunch 
of weeds or grass it gets tangled up 
with ultimate freedom. Dr. Tarleton 
Bean, in his admirable work on “Food 
and Game Fishes of New York,” 
speaks disparagingly of the edible 
qualities of all species of pickerel. 
He calls them a bony fish with a de- 
cided muddy unpleasant flavor. Such 
is possible of pickerel abiding inactive- 
ly in sluggish water. The trout pic- 
kerel must be classed differently. It 
is not more bony than trout of the 
same size and its flavor when fried is 
sweet, white and flaky. There is no 
question that by comparison with the 
perch, crappie and other minor game 
fish the pickerel has in several ways 
a better claim to our regard, mainly 
-in its habit of leaping above the sur- 
face, which gives the angler some idea 
where to cast the fly. Its resistance 
is not so vigorous as a crappie, neither 
is a trout so vigorous as a bass. 
Fly-fishing for trout pickerel may be 
termed a dainty, agreeable pastime, 
soothing to the nerves, useful to the 
angler to acquire a very delicate cast 
and a proper manipulation of rod and 
fly, so much required and not often 
practiced in trout fishing, which even 
the expert quite often bungles up 
either by nervousness or carelessnes: 
in banking trout, small or large. 


’ <— “ 
¥ 
‘ Fi Pmt CONS 
ae 


Page 485 

KEEP. 
OFF 
OU spend more time hunting for a 
place to shoot than you do hunting 
the game. 
Your hunting license gives you the privilege of 
carrying around an 8-pound shotgun—not much 
more. Only one-quarter of the available hunting 
grounds in this country is open to sportsmen. 
More property is being posted every year. 
What’s going to happen to game shooting if all 
hunting property is barred to sportsmen? The 
answer lies with you. 
Send for the new du Pont publication ‘Hunting 
Posted Property”. This book contains an easily 
workable plan to open up posted property to the 
shooter through proper co-operation with the 
owner. More and better shooting for you this 
fall if you read the book and help put the plan 
into operation in your community. Send for your 
copy today. It’s free! 
Sporting Powder Division 
WILMINGTON DELAWARE 
In writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. It will identify you. 
nw pal 
der is A 
“H 2 Gide 
PE MYNTERS Wer 
KEEP ot 
Wm andi eiiinn yd 
Won ey . 
\ 
QA jatar weve La Agee 
ee 
=_—_—_ 
y : 
Kees ‘jn 
Oe Vc Saas 
: nat 
NUT 
oat em 
KEEP ork 4; 
ait HUNTERS 
PCN LKEER OFF 
TL | 
yananent rr 
Youn @Y 
1 cee fata 
KEEP OFF [== 



_ 
WALT ie 

a IN 
NO 
Ft UNIT) 
(eb 
Where are You Hunting this Fall? 
E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO., Inc. 

