

862 
FOREST VAN DSs TREAM? 

[Nov. 30, 1907. 


son, and the cup to become the property of the 
angler winning it three times. Won by A. B. 
Cass, Los Angeles, Cal. Albacore, 4134 pounds. 
Class D.—Montgomery Cup—For the largest 
albacore of the season taken by a lady angler. 
Winner’s name to be engraved on the cup each 
season. Cup to remain in the custody of the 
club. Won by Miss Alice Scott, Duarte, Cal. 
Albacore, 30% pounds. 
Class D.—Albacore Prize—For the largest alba- 
core of the season, automatic reel. Won by A. 
B. Cass, Los Angeles, Cal. Albacore, 4134 
pounds. 
Second Prize—For the second largest alba- 
core of the season, fine nickel reel, presented by 
Henry Guyot, Los Angeles, Cal. Won by Alfred 
P. Pike, Pasadena, Cal. Albacore, 35% pounds. 
Class E—White Sea Bass Gold Medal—For 
the largest white sea bass, gold medal, presented 
by Mr. T,. McD. Potter, of Los Angeles. Win- 
ner’s name to be engraved on gold bar each sea- 
son, and the medal to remain the property of 
the club. Won by Mrs. Edwin H. Brewster, 
Avalon, Cal. White sea bass, 53 pounds. 
Nordlinger Cup.—For the largest white sea 
bass of the season, silver loving cup. Winner’s 
name to be engraved upon same each season, and 
the cup to become property of angler winning it 
two times. Won by Mrs. Edwin H. Brewster. 
White sea bass, 53 pounds. 
Nordlinger Cup.—For the largest white sea 
bass of the season, silver loving cup. Winner’s 
name to be engraved upon same each season, and 
the cup to become property of the angler win- 

ning it two times. Won by Mrs. Edwin H. 
Brewster. White sea bass. 53 pounds. ‘ 
Class E—White Sea Bass Prize—Best split 
bamboo rod. Won by Mrs. Edwin H. Brewster. 
White sea bass, 53 pounds. 
Class F.—Gold Medal—For the largest fish of 
the season taken with nine-ounce rod and stand- 
ard nine-thread linen line, medal presented by 
Edwin H. Brewster, Avalon, Cal. Winner’s 
name to be engraved on gold bar each season, 
medal to be property of the club. Won by D. 
J. McMaster, Los Angeles, Cal. Black sea bass, 
210 pounds. 
Class A.—Boatman’s Cup—Potter-Streeter cup, 
awarded to the boatman obtaining the largest 
number of members for the Light Tackle Club, 
1907. Won by Chappie. 
Class A.—Boatman’s Prizes—First prize fine 
nine-ounce rod to boatman who brings in most 
new members during annual tournament. Won 
by Chappie 
Second Prize—Rod, nine-ounce, 
who brings in second most new members. 
by Fred Bellisle. 
Class B.—First Prize—German silver 300 yard 
reel for boatman to angler catching largest fish 
on light tackle. Won by Geo. Farmsworth. 
Black sea bass, 210 pounds. 
Second Prize—Von Hofe yellowtail gaff, for 
boatman to angler catching largest yellowtail. 
Won by Enous Verra. Yellowtail, 4134 pounds. 
Class C.—A cash prize of $10 given to the 
boatman who brings in the most new members 
during the season of 1907. Won by Chappie. 
Number and species of fish for which buttons 
were given, Jan. 2 to Oct. 20. 
Bronze Buttons.—Tuna, 0; yellowtail, 57; alba- 
core, 296; white sea bass, 2. 
Silver Buttons—Tuna, 8; yellowtail, 6; alba- 
core, 13; white sea bass, 4. 
Gold Buttons —Tunt, 1; 
core, 0; white sea bass, 2. 
Epwin H. Brewster, Sec’y-Treas. 

to boatman 
Won 
yellowtail, 2; alba- 

Bait-Casting Rod Lengths. 
TuHRouGHouT the United States the interest in 
fly- and bait-casting is increasing at a rate that 
is remarkable. In bait-casting this is especially 
true. As early as October the rodmakers began 
to receive orders from clubs and individuals for 
rods for next season, and at the same time the 
demand for material for rods was noticeably 
brisk, showing that large numbers of amateurs 
are preparing to make rods during the winter 
months and try them out thoroughly long before 
the season opens next spring. 
If there is one thing that is more prominent 
than any other, it is that the grade of material 


demanded is higher than ever. Only the best 
of wood, bamboo and cork is asked for; fittings 
are of German silver, and agate guides and tops 
of the best known form and material are always 
demanded. 
We are asked so often what lengths are the 
favorites with the expert bait-casters that we 
have examined the records of the great tourna- 
ment held at Racine with the idea of summariz- 
ing the lengths of the rods used there and arriv- 
ing at some definite conclusion as to the favorite 
length of rod for casting a half-ounce lure in 
accuracy events, as this is the nearest approach 
to bass lure casting of any of the events held 
at tournaments. The results of the summary, 
however, are a trifle disappointing. If they show 
anything at all that the novice can be guided by 
in ordering or in making a rod, it is that nearly 
every expert follows his own inclination rather 
than some standard set by others, and when all 
is said this is perhaps the best thing to do in 
rod buying or making. There are no limits to 
weight or length of the bait-casting rod, but it 
is noticeable that neither weight nor length is 
carried to the extreme. In fly-casting both are 
limited in many of the styles of casting, with 
the result that there is a remarkable uniformity 
in all rods, but in bait rods all the niceties of 
balance, resilience and power are so fully ad- 
justed that caliber and length regulate weight, 
and in this there is much similarity. 
As to weights, the heaviest rod used in the 
accuracy half-ounce bait event of the National 
Association at Racine, in which seventy-three 
contestants 100k part, was seven ounces for a 
rod 5 feet 8% inches long, while the lightest 
rod weighed four ounces and was 4 feet 11% 
inches long, its material snakewood. 
Twenty of the rods used were 6 feet or more 
in length, but the extreme was 6 feet 334 inches. 
On the other hand, of the eight rods that were 
five feet or less in length, the shortest was 4 
feet 8% inches. 
The greatest number were over 5% and under 
6 feet, twenty-four in all; while seventeen others 
ranged from 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches. 
This shows that the majority of rods used in 
this style of casting ranged between 5 and 6 
feet, while the exact length depended much on 
the owner’s mode of casting, the reel he used 
and the caliber of the rod. The old fancy for 
an ounce in weight to every foot of length does 
not apply, for these rods were under this rule 
in weight. All of the rods save five were split 
bamboo. Twenty of them were made by their 
owners. 
Of the reels used on these rods forty-seven 
were No. 3 size, eight were No, 2, the others 
specials in size and make. 
In the half-ounce bait-casting for distance, 
twenty-six entries, four rods were 6 feet or 
Jonger, and two were 5 feet. Of the others 
twelve were between 5 and 5% feet, and seven 
ranged from 5% to 6 feet. The majority, as this 
shows, were between 5 and 6 feet in length. The 
lightest rod weighed 4% ounces, and the heaviest 
714 ounces, 
In this event the reels were as follows: No. 
3, 143 INO. 2) 0) various: 3 
In the quarter-ounce accuracy bait-casting 
event there were forty-four entries. Of the rods 
used twenty-seven were 6 feet or more in length, 
the extreme being 6 fet 4 inches. The shortest 
rod was § feet I inch long. In weight they 
ranged from 4% to 7 ounces, while twenty-eight 
of the forty-four rods used weighed 5% ounces 
or less, showing considerably less weight per 
foot of length than in the half-ounce events. All 
were split bamboo, eleven of them made by their 
owners. 
Twenty of the reels used with quarter-ounce 
lures were No. 2, seven were No. 3, the others 
specials. 

Rainbow Trout in Australia. 
It is said of the rainbow trout in Southern 
Australia that it seems to withstand the summer 
temperature better than the brown trout, but 
while both it and the brown trout grow to large 
size, the rainbow go out to sea in large num- 
bers and very few return. 
















THE TOP RAII 




q 
How expert the trout fisherman was expect} 
to be in the old days is told very graphically }, 
the late David Foster in “The Scientific Angle, 
third edition, published in London in 1886, wh} 
he says that casting a fly into a floating walr 
shell at a distance of not less than thirty-six ft, 
“betokens a fair degree of proficiency and pi} 
cision in casting.” 
His remarks on this particular subject follo:| 
“Throwing the fly, contrasted with  ottl; 
branches of the angling art, has been lit}, 
written upon, and seeing that this is the ch|, 
obstacle in the path of the beginner, and alh 
the most important acquirement of the proficie| 
practitioner, we think the omission a serious o1 
To this subject we have devoted much attentic 
particularly in the construction of new and i| 
proved implements for its more ready attainme 
and practice. It is a well established axic 
that in skillful casting lies the chief conditi 
of success. ‘He can throw a good line’ is equiv 
lent to asserting the proficiency of an angl 
whether he be fly, midwater or bottom fisher. 
“The ordinary routine cast is the first to 
practiced and acquired by the tyro. This is : 
complished by hringing round the rod so as 
describe a half circle from over the left sho 
der, and delivering it directly over the right, t 
action emanating from the wrist and elbow on| 
It is capital practice for the young student 
cast upon a lawn or any closely-cut turf. Li 
to the length of the rod should be first deliver 
efficiently and neatly, when a hat should 
placed as the receptacle of the fly; after the d 
tances have been lengthened at intervals a tum, 
ler may be substituted and finally a small wi 
glass. When these different exercises have be 
successfully accomplished, with a fair length 
line, the rodster may safely try his hand up 
the bosom of the watery element. Lightness a 
precision follow practice and experience. T 
exercise of casting into a floating walnut sh 
is a feat, the accomplishment of which, at 
distance of not less than a dozen yards, betoke|; 
a fair degree of proficiency and precision in caiy 
ing. 










{ 


































































































A ; ; - ft 
In fly-fishing the ever-changing geologi(, 
bearings, _the varying meteorological influenc 
the position of trees and other impedimer 
necessitate a constant change of tactics in ord 
to reach the feeding fish, who, as they becot 
more schooled, take up the more inaccessible aj, 
secluded positions. Although some streams 2k 
comparatively narrow, it is not always incu) 
bent upon, or advisable for, the fisherman to ta). 
up his stand upon the verge of the water. fl 
fish fine and far off,’ as Cotton, the father i 
all fly-fishers expresses it, is infinitely bett)" 
whenever practicable. Broken water should 
chosen by the novice to commence upon, as wh 
fish are extracted by him from the rapids, a: 
purling streams, etc., the slower running and st 
waters may prove beyond his attainments.” 

* * *€ 
4 
From the London Sporting Magazine (170, 
the following is taken: 
An Irishman angling one day in the Liffey, | 
Which runs down by Dublin’s great city so fine, } 
A smart shower of rain falling, Pat, in a jiffey, 
Crept under the arch of a bridge with his line. 
“Why, that’s not the place to accomplish your wishes,’ {ff 
Cried Dermot, “there devil a bite will you get.” le 
“Och, bother,” says Pat, ‘don’t you know that the fish/fy 
Will flock under here to keep out of the wet?” ln 
Grizz_y KING. 


