General Information And Advice On Fishing

( Originally Published 1912 )

IN writing the preceding chapters I omitted a number of little things that I meant to mention, and there are others that do not come under the caption of either of those chapters, so I will collect them all under the heading above. This advice, like all that given throughout this book, is parted with freely, for there is nothing else which I take so much pleasure in the giving of, as advice, but, while it may appear that I am talking like an authority on these subjects, it should be understood that this is only my way of saying things and my advice should not be taken too seriously without investigating elsewhere. But there are some few things on which nearly all anglers agree, and I will try to not have my advice conflict greatly with that of other writers on angling subjects.

Throughout this work when speaking of fishing tackle, it will be noted that I have recommended the higher priced goods frequently, and this is one of the subjects on which all will agree, that the highest quality is the cheapest in the end. One may economize in almost anything else with less bad effect than to practice economy in buying fishing tackle. Of course there is a limit where real worth stops and fancy finish and expensive handwork begins, just as there is a limit in the other direction, and I do not advise going beyond this limit unless you can well afford it. For instance, you can get a first-class casting reel at from five to ten dollars, one that will last a lifetime, but if you get a cheaper one it may be that it would wear out in five years of use, or it might not give the general satisfaction of the more costly article. Again you can get a casting reel for fifty dollars, that is a thing of beauty, and will last several lifetimes — a reel that you will take pride in, yet there is a difference of forty or forty-five dollars between this and the standard, medium priced reel. Now, it is for you to decide whether you should pay this high price, for to the average fisherman there would not be that much difference in the actual worth of the two. If I were a wealthy man and were buying a fishing outfit, I would buy the very best, but as it is I must be content with less costly goods. However, I will buy the best that I can afford and try to be content.

Now it is the same way in regard to rods-you may pay a high price for a name, a fine finish, and the knowledge that the rod was made by hand, for many of us cannot tell handwork from machine work in any way except by the price. Say for instance we buy a fine handmade split bamboo rod, made of the most carefully selected stock, one that bends perfectly, has just the right action, and all that, and we lay out twenty-five or thirty hard earned dollars for it he chances are that we have paid more than the rod is worth to us, perhaps more than its intrinsic value, and certainly more than a poor man should put into a rod. One costing eight dollars (these figures as well as others given are only approximate and for purpose of illustrating) would have done just as well for actual fishing, and unless we are rod critics we would never find anything wrong with it. It would cast perfectly, for fishing purposes at least, would balance nicely, and to all purposes would be first-class. But, then, if we go too low we get something that it is not policy to buy, a rod with the strips sawed out and not selected ; as a result the grain runs across the stick in many places ; the wood is female bamboo, always inferior to the male stock; there will be knots close together on two or three strips, in places; the ferruls are of the cheap kind, light and nickel plated; the joints do not line up well; one joint bends too much for another; it is poorly wrapped; and other faults will appear if we look far enough. Perhaps this rod has only cost two dollars, but it is not cheap at that price. The idea is that good work and good materials are bound to cost a certain amount more than poor work and poor quality goods. The best, not necessarily the best finished, is always cheapest in the long run, but the cheapest is never the best, either in start or finish, and both start and finish are usually close together. Now nobody hesitates to buy a repeating rifle for hunting big game for a few weeks in the fall, paying say fifteen or twenty dollars, perhaps more, for it. In addition he has to frequently pay for a license for hunting, which is seldom required of resident anglers, and even non-residents are not charged as much for a fishing license as for a license to hunt big game. Yet he cheerfully pays this sum for his little hunt each fall, sometimes only every second season, and yet he hesitates to put fifteen or twenty dollars into a fishing outfit that can be used on any available occasion during the entire spring, summer, and fall, a fishing kit that will give you more real sport and more for the money invested than any big game hunting outfit. Again you will pay even more than this for a shotgun, and don't expect to get a reasonably satisfactory shotgun for much less than twenty dollars, yet you hesitate to pay half that amount for a fishing rod. I think this inconsistency can be explained by the fact that there are so many cheap rods and reels offered for sale that those who have not studied the subject imagine that they can get a first-class article for a very low price, and also by the fact that many do not know what a good rod should be.

But regardless of what I have said here, there are very many to whom the initial outlay is something that simply must be considered, and they cannot go above a certain price. To such my advice is: get the best you can for the money and be content. If you cannot put more than two or three dollars into a rod, get a solid wood rod and if it is bought from a reliable dealer, you will have a good article, better than a cheap split bamboo, and something that you need not be ashamed of, either. If you take good care of it it will last many years, perhaps more years than you will be able to fish. If you cannot put more than a dollar and a half into a fly reel, you can get a really good one for that price, and if you want a multiplier you can get a good one, not a fancy one, understand, for two or three dollars. And then if you have never done much fishing, I advise that you purchase only a cheap outfit to use for a year or two, until you learn to use it properly and to take care of it. By the end of that time you will not need my advice, for you will know exactly what you want. But buy what you can afford for you will not be happy in using an outfit that cost more than you could well afford to pay.

Another thing regarding the use of high priced versus low priced goods, though not exactly under that heading, is your way of looking on and criticizing your companion's outfit. Though your own may have cost ten times as much as that of your companion, don't spoil his pleasure by speaking lightly of it, or don't in any other way let him know that you consider it inferior to yours. Better by far speak favorably of it, even though it does not so impress you, but you can surely see some good points in it, and you will make him feel better by mentioning them. Let him discover the faults himself; it will be more impressive and he will like you better.

Another thing regarding your conduct when fishing in company of others that is good to remember is that it. is not a good idea to stand and watch a man play a fish and tell him to do this and do that, and then if he loses it, tell him that if he had done so and so he would not have lost the fish. It won't do you any good, and he will not learn any more quickly than if you had waited for a favorable opportunity to tell how you captured one of the big fellows in the past and how, by a certain move (the one that he failed to use) you succeeded in landing him, making this point entirely responsible for your success in taking the fish, and how you have remembered and used that method ever since. He will think it over and will see that this is just where he failed, and he will profit by your little story and no harm done.

Always have respect for the views of your companion. Although you may have had as much experience as he, or even more, that is no reason why you should think him wrong. Remember that anglers often see things differently, and sometimes the point at issue is of no importance as is proven by the fact that though your ideas on the subject differ, your catch of fish is the same. And even with your greater experience your friend may have learned something that you have overlooked for years.

A true sportsman does not like to see his catch suffering a slow death, and hesitates at anything else that appears cruel. He kills the captured fish at once and this is the more humane way. There is another reason why you should kill the fish as soon as they are caught they are better for food purposes. A large fish is instantly killed by a sharp blow on the back of the head, well behind the eyes. Large hard-headed fish like muskellunge and pike should be shot.

It is a very good idea also to keep well informed on the laws regarding fishing, and see that you do not break any of them, thus keeping out of trouble and setting a good example for others. In most states it is unlawful to keep game fish under a given size, and you should remove these with as little injury as possible and return them to the water. Even if there is no such law in your state it is better to return the small ones. If all anglers would observe this rule there would be more large fish to catch and better sport for all.

There is always much talk among fishermen about "the big one that got away," so much indeed that the man who tells of losing a big fish is invariably put down as a prevaricator, But it is true nevertheless that it is the big fish that are lost, if I may use the word that way, for, as "Father" Izaak said, we can't lost what we haven't got. The big fish is harder to hold simply because he is big and strong and the tackle that will easily bring to hand a dozen smaller fish, may give way to the lunges of the big fellow. So you see it really is the big fish that gets away. But if anglers in general would realize that it is the successful landing of the fish rather than luring it into taking the hook, that is the real test of a good angler, there would be fewer of these tales. It is possible to land a very large fish with very light tackle, if it is rightly handled.

Before you start fishing look carefully over your tackle and see that you have not forgotten something. Be sure you take your lunch, but none of the "bottled stuff". If you smoke, don't forget your pipe and tobacco, as well as matches, for you will not enjoy your fishing so much if you forget these. If you have time look over your clothing and see that there are no buttons missing, and no holes in your pockets. Take your pocket knife, also some string, and examine your boots if you are going to wade, to see that they don't leak. These may seem like unimportant details, but really they count a great deal.

The nice appearance of your fish when you reach home and display your catch proudly to the members of the family will depend on the way you care for them after catching. The fish should be kept cool and moist, but you should not wet them after they are taken from the water and placed in the creel. The secret of it all is in so fixing the fish that they will retain the moisture on their bodies, and to do this there is nothing better that I know of than the long dark moss growing on the bottom of swift mountain streams, washed free of sand, wrung as dry as possible and put in the basket in such a way that it forms a thick lining. Lay the fish in this nice and straight, all on their backs, ani put a layer of the moss over them. You can carry them all day and when you get home and open up the basket you will find the fish firm, cool and moist, with their pretty colors unmarred. I have been thinking of trout fishing when writing this and I realize that the greatest number of fisher-men fish where this moss cannot be found. As a substitute, equally good, use large green dock leaves, a good thick lining and they will answer the same purpose. Don't use grass or fern if you can get either of these others, as these spoil the appearance of the fish. If you are on a trip of several days' duration you should dress your catch as soon as possible after catching and pack them in cool, damp moss, back down.