Trout Fly-Fishing in America Trout Fly-Fishing in America
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BERKELEY GENERAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OP CALIFORNIA TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA BY CHARLES ZIBEON SOUTHARD ILLUSTRATIONS AND COLORED PLATES BY H. H. LEONARD NEW YORK E. P. BUTTON & COMPANY 1914 Copyright, 1914 By E. p. Dutton & Company TO JOHN LANSON PHILBRICK OF Rangeley, Maine For many years my guide, companion and friend, to whom I owe more than I can express of pleasure and information in the art of fly-fishing. iV)8'i2774 PREFACE As a fly fisherman, with more than a quarter century's experience behind me—^years in which I have caught trout on many lakes and streams—I have become con- vinced that there is a large number of young anglers who will find in the book I have written something to interest and help them. And if any of my older brothers of the rod may think I have dealt in some chapters at too great a length on what seem to them elementary matters connected, perhaps, with the necessary equipment, I ask them to cast back- ward to a day when they, too, were beginners at the game and unfamiliar with its very alphabet. They will remem- ber surely that a few words of friendly counsel by an ex- perienced fly fisherman may save the tyro many disap- pointments and give him a knowledge which otherwise could only come with the experience of many months. I am very glad to notice that each successive season brings more aspirants for angling honors to those beauti- ful lakes and streams—homes of game fish—^which our country has to offer in abundance. And if my little work helps any of these young fly fishermen—anglers destined to fill our shoes when we older men have laid our rod aside forever—and aid them vii PREFACE in understanding what a glorious sport it is and how with a moderate-priced outfit, some observation and normal intelligence they may attain a reasonable degree of skill in it, I shall not mind if those who disagree with my views chuckle at the fact that their enemy has written a book. And I am not without hope that some of the older and more skilled among fishermen will also find chapters that will interest them. They have been written by a practical man who started fly-fishing with an open mind, no axes to grind and no pet theories to hamper him. What knowledge I have gained of trout, their habits, haunts, and the best way of catching them, has been based on a careful study of their ways, which has grown keener every year. I have not written with the intention of provoking controversy, because I am assured that brother anglers should, for the best interests of their pursuit, dwell to- gether in unity whether they be tireless advocates of the dry-fly, or contented disciples of the wet-fly. But I have been constrained, however, to point out instances of what has seemed to me lamentable lack of fairness found in the writings of certain dry-fly enthusiasts. Fortunately I am too strong a believer in the fair-mindedness of ang- lers as a body to suppose that dry-fly men considered as a whole feel as bitterly toward that great majority who employ the wet-fly method in their sport as those dry- fly writers would lead the casual reader to infer. That a minority of less than five per cent, should en- viii PREFACE deavor to impose their views on the ninety-five per cent., who hold other opinions speaks better for their zeal than for their sense of proportion. But I think—and many good sportsmen all over the country uphold me—that it is high time the dry-fly zealots calmed down and remembered that we of the wet-fly are no less careful than they that the etiquette of fly-fishing should be observed in the strictest possible manner and every unsportsmanlike manner of killing game fish rep- robated. No modern writer on fly-fishing for trout could fail to be indebted to such authors as Doctor David Starr Jordan, Professor Barton Warren Evermann, James A. Henshall, M.D., Henry P. Wells, William C. Harris or Frederick M. Halford, and I take pleasure in acknowl- edging it here. Among other authorities I have quoted I might mention Mary Orvis Marbury, Samuel G. Camp, George A. B. Dewar and Emlyn M. Gill. Groton, Massachusetts, IX To the Publishers and Authors who have kindly granted me permission to quote from works produced by them I wish to express here my appreciation and thanks. The Publishers, Authors and Works are as follows : Doubleday, Page & Company, Outing Publishing Company, "American Food and Game "Favorite Fish and Fishing," by Fish," by David Starr Jor- James A. Henshall, M.D.; dan and Barton Warren Ev- "The Fine Art of Fishing," ermann. by Siamuel G. Camp. Field & Stream Publishing Co., Henry Holt & Company, Taken from Articles in issues "Fishes," by David Starr Jor- of "Field and Stream," "The dan. Dry-Fly in America," by George M. L. La Branche; Harper & Brothers, "Caught with the Dry-Fly," 'Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle," by by Walter McGuckin; "Dry- Henry P. Wells. Fly Fishing with A. W. Di- mock," by Emlyn M. Gill. E. P. Dutton & Company, Charles Scribner's Sons, "The Dry-Fly Man's Hand- "Practical Dry-Fly Fishing," book," by Frederick M. Hal- by Emlyn M. Gill. ford. Houghton, Mifflin Company, The Macmillan Company, "Favorite Flies," by Mary "Salmon and Trout," from part Orvis Marbury. entitled "The Trouts of America," by William C. Harris. The Century Company, Adam & Charles Black, "Sport with Gun and Rod," ar- "The Book of the Dry-Fly," by ticle by Edward Seymour. George A. B. Dewar. All of the books and publications mentioned above deserve a place in every fly-fishing angler's library. CONTENTS PAGE Preface vii CHAPTER I. Trout Found in American Waters I II. The Art of Fly-Fishing . 40 III. A Comparison of the Merits of the Wet and Dry- fly Methods of Fly-Fishing 60 IV. The Fly-Rod and Its Function . 7S V. For the Beginner at Fly-Fishing . 88 VI. The Rod, The Reel, The Line, The Leader and The Fly 99 VIL The Habits of Trout .... 123 VIII. The Coloration of Trout 133 IX. The Sight and Hearing of Trout . 157 X. A Few Words About Casting the Fly . 169 XL How to Fish the Wet-Fly . 179 XII. How and When to Strike Trout . 183 XIII. When to Fish Dark and Light-Colored Flies 190 XIV. The "Expert" Fly Fisherman . 199 XV. How to Make Your Own Leaders . 206 XVI. Trout Fly-Fishing in the Rangeley Region 217 XVII. Wet- Flies Used in Various States . 225 XVIII. Dry-Flies Used in England and America 246 XIX. List of Wet-Flies 251 XX. Miscellaneous Matters . 256 Glossary 275 Index 279 XI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS OPPOSITE PAGE 1. Outline of a trout showing different parts . 15 2. Three different water bottoms . 155 3. Showing how a rod should be held in the act of casting 91 4. Showing how a rod should be held in the act of casting 95 5. Diagrams showing position of a rod when making the "forward" and "backward" cast 171 6. Showing how to disjoint a rod 225 7. Showing how to disjoint a rod with four hands 241 8. Plate A. Leader Knots .... 211 9. Plate B. Leader Knots .... 213 10. Plate C. Leader Knots .... 217 11. Plate D. Jam Knot and Tiller Hitch Knot 269 12. Plate E. Jam Knot and Turle Knot XIU LIST OF COLORED PLATES Opposite to page 1 The Brook Trout (Adult Male)—Salvelinus-fontinalis—(show- ing bright or early Fall coloration) I 2 The Brook Trout (Adult Female)—Salvelinus-fontinalis 13 The Trout — 3 Rangeley (Adult Male)— Salvelinus-oquassa 17 4 The Sunapee Trout (Adult Male) Salvelinus-aureolus 33 5 The Dolly Varden Trout (Adult Male) Salvelinus-parkei 49 6 The Steelhead Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-rivularis 65 7 The Rainbow Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-irideus 81 8 The Red Throat Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-clarkii 97 9 The Tahoe Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-henshawi 113 10 The Golden Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-gilberti 129 11 The Brown Trout (Adult Male)—Salmo-fario 161 12 The Great Lake Trout (Adult Male)—Christivomer-namaycush 177 13 The Golden Trout of Soda Creek, California (Adult Male)— Salmo-gilberti-whitei — 193 14 The Golden Trout of Volcano Creek, California (Adult Male) Salmo-gilberti-roosevelti — 209 15 The Brook Trout (Adult Male) Salvelinus-fontinalis (showing dark or early Spring coloration) 133 16 The Brook Trout (Adult Male)—Salvelinus-fontinalis—(show- ing subdued or early Summer coloration) 139 17 The Brook Trout (Adult Male)—Salvelinus-fontinalis—(show- ing bright or early Fall coloration) 145 18 The Brook Trout (Adult Male)—Salvelinus-fontinalis—(show- ing brilliant or breeding season coloration) 153 19 Popular Wet Flies 257 Flies . 20 Favorite Dry , 251 XV -1 TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA CHAPTER I TROUT FOUND IN AMERICAN WATERS The greatest fly-fishing trout waters in the world are undoubtedly found in North America, and while in cer- tain sections the trout streams have become sadly de- pleted, owing to changed conditions created by what some writers are pleased to term advancing civilization, there still remain many well-stocked fishable waters which will afford pleasure for years to come for all followers of the gentle art of angling. The streams of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and the New England States, with the exception of Maine, have suffered most so far as the native Brook Trout is con- cerned.