140 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[JuLy +27, 1907. 

Little Talks About Fly-Fishing. 
SULLIVAN County, N. Y., July 20.—Editor Forest 
and Stream: The Willowemoc is one of the 
trio of streams flowing in contiguous valleys in 
Sullivan county, New York, which have been 
celebrated for their trout and many natural 
beauties for the last half century or even longer. 
The other two are the Neversink and Beaverkill. 
These rivers have given sport to many thou- 
sands of anglers in the past and to-day the fish- 
ing is probably as good as at any period of their 
history. They hold native brook trout, the Euro- 
pean brown trout, and a few rainbows, A few 
very large fish are killed every year. Last week 
I saw a brown trout which had been killed with 
a small fly and weighed about 3%4 pounds. This 
fish was 20 inches long. Early in June a trout 
was taken near Woodbourn which weighed 4 
pounds 10 ounces, and much larger specimens 
than this have been killed; in fact, up to full 
nine pounds in weight. 
The presence of these big fish in these waters 
add greatly to the interest and excitement of 
the fishing, although they are not numerous. 
They are apt to be located when the water is 
low in summer and are often taken by unfair 
means. For.two years we have had very favor- 
able conditions for the trout. No great floods 
or ice jams and good spawning seasons. Fair 
fishing with the fly seems to have little injurious 
effect and the streams are well stocked. In 
large, clear waters the trout soon acquire a 
little education which stands them in good stead. 
They become shy of gut or of anything un- 
natural in the presentation of the fly. One 
bungling cast and the large trout stop rising at 
once, and if really alarmed retire to the haunt 
or shelter which they are pretty sure to have 
close at hand. 
I fancy that just a slight shower of rain starts 
the fish feeding, but only on one occasion do I 
remember having much sport during a heavy 
downpour. I had fished a pretty pool several 
times without success, but last Saturday as I 
approached it, a little patter of falling drops 
began. As soon as the fly touched the water it 
was seized by a 14% inch trout, yet the pool “had 
been. fished by several anglers within the hour. 
I remember trying a big pool for the large trout 
known to inhabit it, some years ago, with a 
companion. We fished with all our skill for a 
long time without any success whatever, until 
a little shower passed over us. Then my friend 
cast again in water which he had fished over a 
few minutes before and instantly hooked a trout 
21% inches long. He held the fish very hard, 
but by rushing into the water with the landing 
net I was able to sweep that useful implement 
around behind the fish just as the hook broke 
at the bend, allowing it to drop back tail first 
into the net. I felt that I had had a fair share 
in the capture of that big trout. ¥ 
The spring was so late this. year that on the 
first of July the woods were still clothed in the 
tender greens of the month of June, but now 
everything is in the full flush of glorious sum- 
mer. The nights are delightfully cool and only 
last week we were glad to have a wood fire in 
the evening. 
The bulk of the good timber has been taken 
out of this section and what remains is being 
hunted out and used up as fast as possible, I 
wish that we could preserve what remains for 
the good of the streams and for the benefit of 
the coming generation. Unfortunately nearly 
everyone is after that other dollar. All the pop- 
lars, which are so beautiful in spring, will soon 
be cleared out of most sections to feed the pulp 
mills. However, we are very fortunate in hav- 
ing so much comparatively wild and well wooded 
country near New York where the fishing is re- 
markably good. when one considers the large 
number of fishermen who whip the streams from 
the opening to the closing of the trout season. 
A trout was killed last week by Dr. Halsey, 
of Brooklyn, with small fly, which weighed about 
3% pounds. Such a fish is a prize indeed, and 
no angler needs to be informed in regard to the 
sport and excitement which it afforded before 
being safely deposited in the creel. 
At times, in July, a smaller fly seems to be 
required than at any other time during the sea- 
. exactly fits one’s hand and style of casting. 
son. Yet again a larger mouthful may tempt the 
big fish. We can only try. and try again. If 
we could reduce fly-fishing to an exact science, 
always follow one method and ‘use the same flies, 
much of its charm woyld be lost. If there was 
no uncertainty, no disappointments, there would 
be no real success. These rivers are all very 
clear, but the Neversink is a “white” water 
stream. No lakes drain into it until it has 
danced for many miles down the valley and there 
is not a tinge of vegetable matter in its pellucid 
rifts or pools. Where in its rapid course it flows 
over’ golden sands between woods and meadows 
the effect is very beautiful. Unfortunately in 
many places great damage has been done by the 
floods of recent years and there seems to be no 
effectual way to checking these ravages. 
The rainbow trout seem to have taken hold in 
the Willowemoc and I-hope will thrive and be- 
come really numerous. They are such sporting 
fish that even a half-pounder affords quite a 
little excitement on a light rod. By the way, 
what a difficult matter it is to choose a rod that 
Of 
course there is a great deal in habit and becom- 
ing accustomed to the action of a rod. You will 
notice that the angler of great possessions who 
owns a small forest of rods, by every well known 
manufacturer, is apt to use one of them nearly 
always and everywhere. If he carries a battery 
of heavy and light fly-rods to Maine or Canada 
he is apt to use the old weapon with which he 
has been whipping the bright waters of- New 
York or Pennsylvania. The endurance of some 
of the modern light rods is really remarkable. 
Heavy salmon have been killed on small split 
bamboos that appeared to be merely playthings. 
Of course much of the reduction in weight is 
in the fittings and not all light rods are easy or 
comfortable to fish with. 
The water is now quite warm, as the sun has 
great power and but few natural flies appear 
during the day. Many caddis flies hatch out at 
night and just at dusk yesterday evening insects 
of several species appeared on the water. One 
large flat-winged fly seemed to be at work de- 
positing its eggs, hovering over, and frequently 
touching’ the running water. I tried to secure 
a specimen, but was unsuccessful as I was with- 
out a net. A small but powerful electric light 
would reveal many interesting things along the 
streams. On one occasion I carried an oil lamp 
which had a good reflector and the hour was 
long past midnight before I realized that time 
was flying. Several of the flies found were en- 
tirely new to me and one, at least, I have not 
seen since then in any water. When there is 
a good hatch of the ephemerid& the trout usually 
rise steadily and take nearly every fly that floats 
over them, yet they will often allow small caddis. 
flies to pass by untouched, taking only a few of 
the many that pass within their ken. For one 
thing the dun of the ephemera floats steadily 
for the most pert, ané is easily secured, while 
the caddis flies cf1aggle and flutter about. Pos- 
sibly the forr: cr have a better flavor. They are 
certainly <m.cug the aristocrats of the insect 
world and are delicately shaped and colored. 
THEODORE GORDON. 

Tuna Club Light Rods. 
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., July 17.—Editor Forest 
and Stream: At a meeting of the directors of 
the Tuna Club, held at Avalon on July 5, it was 
decided to give a red Tuna Club button to those 
taking a tuna of not less than fifty pounds weight 
on a rod, the tip of which must not ‘be less than 
five feet in length and the weight not more than 
six otnces. The tip is the part from reel seat 
to end of rod. There is no restriction as to 
length, size or weight of butt. 
Buttons will be issued only to active and asso- 
ciate members. 
ties active membership. Under this provision 
the following have been awarded red buttons: 
Thos. Potter, Gilmour Sharp, L. P. Streeter, 
The new button is similar in design to the 
club’s famous blue button, the world’s greatest 
angling insignia, for taking a 100 pound tuna on 
a 16 ounce rod, but is considered almost as diffi- 
cult to win because of the light tackle rulings. 
I’. L, Harpinc, Corresponding See’y. 

When won by the latter it car-" 
Chicago Bait Casters. 
Cuicaco, Ill, July 13—EHditor Forest and 
Stream: The first event of a series of three 
between five men teams of the Illinois Bait-Cast- 
ing Club and the Chicago Fly-Casting Club was 
held to-day, resulting in favor of the Chicago 
I'ly-Casting Club, although the highest individ- 
ual averages went to the Illinois Bait-Casting 
Club. A big crowd turned out to witness the 
events and they were treated to some splendid 
casting, especially considering conditions. A 
strong .and extremely gusty wind~ prevailed 
throughout both events, making it very hard 
work in the one-quarter-ounce event. A light 
rain also fell during most of the time. A very 
handsome silver cup goes to the team winning 
the series. 
Quarter ounce event: 

LO ata a Op LB, Cae 
Hinterleitner® .2.00.65 98.4 ‘Stanley ioc.cmeeenes 98.7 
Perce. seas oc aceeeuee 98.3 Jamison si vcee eee 98.5 
Becker tesjcseceewnn ee 98.2 De) Garmotsneeanneee 98.4 
Pe Gtitn cstyewid acannon 98.0 Wagoner J .ceeeueeoiene o7..7 
Detterman’... teen tee 97.5 Heminghaus ......... 95.6 
High score, Stanley, 98.7; second Jamison, 98.5. 
Total demerits: 
Chicago Fly-Casting (Clubl j.ccesquens eee 96 
Ulinois Bait-Casting Clubcca...cs-ee ee ee me fii 
Half-ounce event: 
Cook Cae 1 
Peete: idence ver aettie 98.9 Jamison <a 
Letterman } Stanley § 
Hinterleitner Wagoner Sisk 
Perce? ov. jnetes De Garind, aeacee eee 97.6 
BEGKer’ veh sceeaeclonier Heminghaus ......... 96.9 
High score, Jamison and Peet tied on 98.9; second, 
Letterman, 98,3. 
ital demerits: 
Chicago Fly-Casting Club : 99 
Illinois Bai*-Casting Club 
Grand total demerits: 
Chicago Fly-Casting Club 
Illinois Bait-Casting Club 
Winner of events: Chicago Fly-Casting Club, 


points: 
Highest average for two events: * 
We DEAE Secrtyoy enh 98.7 I. UN. | Peete eeeen acer 98.414 
The next contest for this cup will take place 
in September, exact date to be announced later. 
We hope to retain possession of the trophy. Our 
team will be made up from members having 
highest average in the four contests held dur- 
ing last half of the season. . 
In the regular contest, on the same day, the 
scores of the participants were as follows: 
Half-ounce, Bait. Dist., Bait. 

- ~———. Accuracy, Longest 
Regular. Re-entry. Fly. Cast. 
G. A. Hinterleitner 98.4 Roti 95 3-15 144 
OF Eee Beckeriiia, 91.6 ee Ne 178 
I. H. Bellows..... 96.7 5 99 2-15 nee 
DD. Beattyr ce aeasutene 98.3 ty ee Be er 202 
John Hohmann.... 98.1 ue, eee ae 
C. Heston..... 97.5 97.2 96 14-15 151 
E. R. Letterman: 97:8 sata 96 10-15 200 
Fy Bu Naylorsesen 98. OT 3 eee 178 
Fie Wer oP ereeieasee 98.6 97 14-15 159 
BSNS Peet: eacecs 94.8 98 14-15 172 
Erica ss SSTLGLI cree 88.6 ree ee + 
BP. Specrysceene 81.0 ape 98 
B..P. Sperry (en). es Rian 98 8-15 
Visitors: 
Clittord ernomnassact 97.6 a sion ee Shai 
Dé Garmounadanne 97.6 S38 ~~ eae 194 
Humphrey ........ 98.1 96.27) “aon 150 
JAMESON «gees gatas 97.2 98:4) Ga pees 180 
Ranney eeaonareit 92.8 OL.G. Py) apa 
Geo. A. Davis; Sec’y. 

Catches at Lake Morey. 
Farr_tEE, Vt., July o—Editor Forest and 
Stream: I wish to report the luck at Lake 
Morey this week of A. W. Clough, of Swamp- 
scott, Mass., who caught five black bass that 
weighed 18 pounds and four pickerel that 
weighed 10% pounds. Fred Woodward, of 
Oxford, N. H., caught 30 pounds of pickerel in 
four hours’ fishing. Mr. and Mrs. Pillisburg, of 
Woodsville, N. H., had a great catch of bass 
and pickerel. E. E: Porter. 

Anglers and Lightning. 
THE recent deaths from lightning, including 
that of a golfer in the act of striking a ball with 
steel head club, ought to warn anglers not to 
carry steel or iron landing nets, or use a steel 
center rod during a thunder storm, says the Lon- 
don Fishing Gazette. The frequency with which 
farm laborers using steel forks, etc., have been 
killed by lightning shows the extreme extra 
danger which carrying the metal involves. 

















































































