Fishing For Trout And Salmon

( Originally Published 1912 )

OF all the North American game fishes the trouts are the most widely scattered and the most sought by those who go away from home to fish. In many ways these fish are far in the lead of all others, being the most active of all fish, good fighters, rising well to an artificial fly, a fine food fish, and the most beautiful fish that swim. I am speaking of the trouts collectively, for be it known, there are somewhere between thirty and forty species, including the introduced trouts in the United States and Canada. They, that is one species or other, are found all over the western mountain country, practically all of Canada, and all of the eastern and southern states where cool, rapid streams are found. These trouts are divided into two groups, i. e., the charrs and the salmon trouts. The latter are found naturally only in the West and the former, with the exception of the Dolly Varden, only in the East and North. But it is not the purpose of this work to go into a description and classification of each and every species I will leave that to naturalists what we are most interested in is the habits of the fish and the way to catch them.

Trout are found only in cool, fresh, swift-flowing streams, especially our native fishes of this order, but some of the imported ones will live in warmer water, providing it is rapid.

Most important of all the trouts is our eastern brook trout, a charr, because it is nearer home to the largest number of anglers and because of its wide distribution throughout the East and North, its game qualities, and the readiness with which it rises to the fly. It is the one that is best known and the fish that is usually meant when anglers speak of trout fishing. It is at home in all the moutainous parts of the eastern and southern states where it is found in the mountain streams, and in the streams and cool, clear lakes of all of eastern and central Canada and the New England States. Many of the northern ponds and lakes fairly swarm with these fish, and they are abundant in the streams of the Adirondacks, and the mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The brook trout is a trim built fish without scales, in beautiful coloring, the back being dark brown with what are commonly known as worm track markings. The sides are a lighter color, often showing purple and rose red in parts, and rows of small bright red and yellow spots run longitudinally along the sides. The under parts are white, tinted with pink, appearing iridescent, like polished mother-of-pearl. All of the lines are exceedingly graceful. The body is very solid, having a very small cavity, and the flesh of adult specimens is a deep golden color.

The brook trout is voracious, and feeds on the surface, in mid-water, and at the bottom, but looks mostly in mid-water and on the surface for food, and very little escapes their watchful eyes.

Anything in the line of insects, worms, frogs and small fish is acceptable to the trout, and I have heard of them being caught by baiting the hook with a mouse. They take all insect life eagerly. Let a fly but touch the water in his flight across a trout pool and his doom is sealed, for like a flash of light Mr. Trout rises from the depths and his capacious jaws engulf the hapless insect. To some it may seem a mystery how the fish can get so quickly to the spot where the fly has alighted, and it is was so to me until one day as I stood on the shore of a lake looking out into the clear, shallow water, I saw a large trout making lightning-like darts here and there in a zig-zag way, and then I noticed that he was following the movements of some insect that was flying above the water; then the unlucky fly touched the surface of the water; there was a splash, and Mr. Fly was no more. And as a rule a squirming angleworm will meet the same quick end and if the trout happens to get his eye on him, and if a frog happens to stray too far from shore, or a grasshopper make a misjump and fall into the stream, they meet the same fate. To the trout "all is fish that enters the net" and I am sure that in most cases the fish does not hesitate to see what it is before he grasps it, but takes chances on it being good to eat.

The brook trout spawns in the fall. Full grown specimens will weigh from a half pound to five or six pounds, depending on the kind of water they inhabit, and the food supply. In Maine and Canada brook trout weighing over ten pounds have been taken, and in some waters four and five pounders are quite common. Being slender in build they run much longer, weight for weight, than the black bass. A trout of fifteen inches will weigh a pound and a half, and one of twenty inches will weigh about three and a half pounds. A trout two feet long will weigh about six pounds. Of course these weights are only approximate, as in some waters they are more slender than in others, just as their color varies in different waters.

Trout may be taken with artificial flies, worms, minnows, grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, small frogs and small casting spoons or even a trolling spoon. But the readiness with which they will rise to a fly and the pleasure of fishing for these gamey fish with light tackle makes fly-fishing the favorite way of taking them.

The proper outfit will depend somewhat on the waters to be fished and the size of the fish found there. On small streams where the fish are small and long casts are the exception the lightest and shortest fly rods may be used. For lake fishing the longer rods are best, but they should be reasonably light. For large streams where long casts must be made and where the fish are large a good weight fly rod of medium length is best. The light rod demands a light line, say size F or G enameled silk, and size E is used for all ordinary rods, for the heavier line casts better. The leader should be of six foot length, single gut. Heavier leaders may be used in swift water than in lakes or ponds. In some parts of the East, for instance in Pennsylvania, trout are found only in small mountain streams. Here the brush overhang, and fly casting is impossible and almost unknown. Likewise, playing the fish is not practicable, and as the fish are very small, seldom more than a foot long, they are usually lifted bodily from the water. For this rather stiff fly rods and very fine lines of oiled silk or enameled silk are used. The line need not be long, and the reel is used only for lengthening and shortening the line, as required.

White leaders are commonly used, but many prefer what is known as "mist" color, a pale bluish-gray tint. In case you desire to color a white leader, you can give it a bluish color by soaking it in water to which a little common writing ink has been added, or it may be given a yellowish color by soaking in strong coffee.

Now when it comes to selecting flies, I cannot give much advice, for there are so many different patterns and the requirements are so different in the various waters. Time of year and weather conditions must also be considered. I would advise the prospective fisherman to consult some friend who is acquainted with the waters in which he is expecting to fish, and no doubt he will find some person who can tell what flies to select for those streams. They run in all colors and combinations of colors imaginable and each is known by a formiabie name. A good general rule, universally practiced, is to use light, bright colored flies on dark days. It is mostly a matter of experiment anyway and if the fish do not rise to one kind of fly, some other kind should be tried. For use in northern waters some one of the following list will nearly always be sound good, in fact the majority of anglers have only a dozen or two patterns to select from, and the most generally used flies will be found in this list:

Jungle-cock, Montreal, Parmachenee Belle, Silver Doctor, Brown Hackle, Black Hackle, Grizzly King, 'Coachman, Grey Hackle, March Brown, Professor, Royal Coachman, Jenny Lind, Alder, Red Ibis, Grey Palmer, Brown Palmer, Black Gnat, Red Hackle, Beaverkill, Grey Drake, and a Brown Hackle with red body.

In the northern lakes the Parmachenee Belle is usually a killer for use in the evening, late, and as the fish are actively engaged in feeding at this time, some of the largest catches are made with it. Early in the spring a common Black Hackle is often very effective for day fishing.

The smaller flies should be chosen in preference to the large ones. By the size, I mean the size of hook that the fly is tied on. Number 8 hooks are used more, perhaps, than any other, but the Nos. 10, 12 and 14 are also used by many; the smaller sizes for clear, quiet water.

The reel for trout fishing should be of a size that is claimed to hold sixty or eighty yards of line, for such a reel will hold only about half that much size E enameled line. The spool should be kept well filled, as it winds faster and keeps the line in nicer shape for casting. A single action click reel is the kind most often used but an automatic may be chosen, and it will answer admirably. A wading landing net should always be used.

When fishing, the fly should be kept in motion, always dancing lightly on the surface of the water. Watch an expert fisherman closely and you will see that his hand is apparently rembling all of the time while the fly is on the water, and that the motion is extended to the rod, line and fly. It is not nervousness, but a practiced art. Fish the portions nearest you first, gradually lengthening you cast and fishing the waters farther away. It is neither necessary nor advisable to fish long at any one place.

When a trout takes the fly, strike quickly. Usually, only a slight motion is needed, especially in stream fishing, but on lakes where the fish are large, a good strike is required.

Regarding the kind of fly to use, study the conditions and try the flies that your judgment tells you are right; if these fail, try others. Larger flies may be used in the spring than in summer. It is best, if possible, to talk this matter over with some person who has done considerable fishing in the waters you intend to visit. On dark days, and late in the evening, the brighter and lighter colors seem to take best.

In spring trout may be found near the surface and on the rapid streams. Later on they retire to the deeper water. In the Northern lakes they may be caught in about five or six feet of water in spring and early summer. When the water grows warm in summer, they can only be caught where the streams empty into the lakes and where springs are found along the shore. In summer they do their feeding mostly in the evening, in the shallow water, and about the mouths of streams. It is useless to fish in the northern lakes in midday, in the middle of the summer, unless you know the location of springs, and you can catch no trout when thunderstorms are brewing.

Much has been written regarding the sense of hearing of fish, but the belief is quite common among those fishermen who have given the subject a little thought, that fish do not hear. However, it is possible that they can hear a shout, or laud talking, when they are in quiet water, and it is advised that the angler make no more noise than necessary. A heavy tread or a thump on the bank is readily felt by the fish in the water, because of the vibration. Thé slightest disturbance of the water is also observed. This applies mainly to still water, for where the water is rapid, and tumbles over rocks, a little splashing in the wafer is not distinguished. It follows, therefore, that the angler should use care in approaching the water, and especially when nearing a quiet pool. Some anglers wade the stream, but whenever possible, the fishermen should walk the bank, especially if the pools are quiet. When wading, one should always avoid splashing. Keep out of sight of the fish, always, and avoid letting the shadow of your rod fall over the water.

Except during the mid-season when the water is low and clear, angleworms make a very attractive bait for brook trout. They should be placed on the hook in a life-like manner so that they can cover the hook completely, or at least the point must be hidden. The same tackle is used as in fly fishing except that the fly is replaced with a snelled hook, No. 6 or 8. My preference is the Kendall-Sneck. Downstream fishing is the rule and the bait is carried by the current a long ways ahead of the angler. If you can see the fish the chances are very much in favor of the fish seeing you also, and when you see a fish turn slightly on its side it is watching you no use to fish for him ; come back later and keep out of sight.

Fishing with grasshoppers is a successful method in summer, when the water is very clear. They should be cast out lightly the same as a fly.

In waters that are not fished much it is the easiest thing in the world to catch trout, except in midsummer, by baiting the hook with a small piece of fat salt pork. The bait is used the same as a worm. One can also cut the pork as for bass fishing and it will be even more successful. But the point of the hook must be covered, always, unless the bait is kept in rapid motion.

A small casting spoon is successful for large trout. It should be kept several feet beneath the surface and should be drawn slowly in spurts of about three or four feet at a time.

The methods of fishing for brook trout given here apply also to all other kinds of trout. Rainbow trout are frequently taken by trolling and lake trout are nearly always taken that way, as they are invariably found in deep water.

One of the most important of the native salmon trouts is the steelhead. It is found in the northwestern coast streams living part of the time in salt water, and spawns some in spring and others in the fall, at the heads of the streams. On very rare occasions these fish, it is said, reach a weight of twenty pounds. In shallow water the steelhead trout will rise to a fly, but the most of those caught with hook and line are taken by trolling with a spoon bait in deep water. Natural baits are also used, the favorite being salmon roe.

The German or brown trout has been introduced into this country from Europe. These fish sometimes reach a weight of fifteen pounds, but usually run from two to three when full grown. The same methods of fishing as recommended for brook trout should be employed, except that the tackle should be a little heavier. They do not rise to a fly as well as the brook trout.

The rainbow trout, of which like the others described there are a number of species, are native to the streams of the Northwest. They have also been introduced into eastern waters, and are now found in many streams of Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and southward. In some streams they grow to a much larger size than in others, but all through they grow larger than the eastern brook trout. They are gamey fighters and are fished for in the same ways as the brook trout. In the West they are taken quite often by trolling.

Of the eastern salmon we have the landlocked species or ouananiche and the true Atlantic salmon. The ouananiche (pronounced wannaneesh) is identical with the true Atlantic salmon, except that it does not go to salt water and as a consequence does not grow so large. It usually attains a weight of two or three pounds. It is a great fighter and a fine game fish. Brook trout fly tackle is used for landlocked salmon. Dry fly fishing is said to be very successful for this fish.

The true salmon is a fish of peculiar habits. It breeds in the fresh water streams and after reaching a certain age it goes down to the ocean where it grows to a large size and takes on a different appearance, when it comes back to the streams to spawn, an Atlantic salmon. In the different stages of its growth it is known first as a parr, then as a smolt, later as a grilse and eventually it becomes a salmon. This is interesting and we would like to have more of it but it is the catching of the fish that interests the anglers most, and a lengthy discourse on the habits of the fish cannot be indulged in here. The Atlantic salmon is a beautiful fish, and a game fighter. Specimens weighing as much as eighty pounds have been taken but the usual catch runs from ten to thirty pounds. One thing I wish to mention before going farther; salmon are "killed" not caught and you seldom hear anglers talk about catching them, they invariably say "kill", These fish spawn in the sea-going rivers of Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, and the Unorganized Territory east of Hudson Bay, commonly known as Ungava. They seldom if ever enter rivers south of Maine and the only really good fishing is in Canada and Newfoundland.

There is only one way to "kill" these fish and that is by means of the artificial fly. The outfit most often used is a salmon fly rod of greenheart or split bamboo from fifteen to seventeen feet long, about fifteen and a half or sixteen feet being the size most favored; a large single action click reel; a double tapered enameled silk line, size C, or D, 120 yards long; a nine foot single gut leader of best quality heavy silkworm gut; and a single fly size 2 if on a single hook and size 6 if tied on double hooks. Regarding the patterns of flies, what is considered a good assortment is the following: Butcher, Durham Ranger, Dusty Miller, Popham, jock Scott, Silver Doctor and Childers. Nearly all salmon anglers will agree that this assortment is all that will be needed. In clear water use the smallest size of fly, and if the fish do not rise to a large fly they may sometimes be taken on a smaller one on the same pattern.

The best results are had by fishing on rainy, blustery days, and on clear days it is not much use fishing except in evening and morning. Give them plenty of time and cover the water thoroughly. Work the fly continually until you are ready to retrieve the cast; then pause an instant, for sometimes a fish follows the fly some distance waiting for it to stop. In case of a rise don't strike too quickly as the salmon takes the fly when going down and not on the rise like the brook trout. If you miss a fish continue fishing on down the pool and in about fifteen minutes come back and commence casting again at the head of the pool, working down as before. It will be necessary to have a guide or other person to gaff the catch.

The Pacific salmon is a different fish and is commonly looked on as a commercial food fish. There are a number of species but the Quinnat salmon is the most important and resembles the Atlantic salmon very much, though it is quite a bit larger, sometimes reaching a weight of 100 pounds, though the average weight is about twenty. With hook and line these fish are caught mainly in the sea, as the rivers are swift and as a rule the water discolored. They do not rise well to a fly, though they can be taken in that way. The most of those caught with hook and line are taken by trolling. They are also caught by baiting with salmon roe. Good salmon fishing may be had all along the northwest coast, and especially on Vancouver Island and the salt water to the north.

Another fish which the old time naturalists classed with the salmon, but which are now considered as a separate family are the graylings. In this country there are three species, the Arctic grayling, the Montana grayling and the Michigan grayling. The latter is now extinct, or nearly so. The Arctic grayling is generally considered the parent fish, in this country, and it is thought that those of Montana and Michigan were carried south from far northern Canada by the ice during the glacial period. There is not any striking difference in the three species and the two southern varieties might have changed greatly since that time. Personally, I have never seen a grayling, but they are said to be beautiful fish. They are of graceful shape and have enormous brightly colored front dorsal fins. The back is gray or bluish, and lighter beneath, and when taken from the water is said to be iridescent like mother-of-pearl, showing all tints and colors. It never exceeds two pounds in weight. It is caught mostly in autumn on brook trout tackle, with the artificial fly,