The Gentle Art of Angling
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The G entle Art o f Angli ng I A H AN B A P RAC T C L D O O K . CO R RIG E E N M , {P Aida n L O ND O N ’ f of S P O fice Baily s Magazine of ports and astimes , V ’ CO . L T D . 8 B R E AM S I L I A C L A E U C Y . C . I NTON , , , B D NGS , H N ER NE , F P RE AC E . TH E number of books on angling pro v es not only the interest the o f w subject commands , but the variety of points vie from which it To . o f may be treated cope with the wiles the timid roach and carp , o m and wary tr ut and sal on , the craft has developed to such a degree as to rank among the sciences . Once having reached that position , it would be pres umption on the part o f any writer to claim to have said the last word . l m u I t is c ear , fro the literat re on the subject , that considerable diversity of opinion exists among the authorities ; not only on the fi sh- natural history of the fish and culture , but also on the practical i n side of the art , the choice and use of rods and tackle . I t is among o n these gaps that a niche may be found for a new book angling , o f which , while covering much the ground already traversed by other writers , takes occasional excursions into less explored territory . E very angler has his own method of approaching the suspicious quarry and wooing him to destruction . If he urges this as the better s o o f e . way , he does out of the fulness practical xperience Whilst o n e infallibility does not rest with any method , in the careful statement ff f of di erent points o vie w lies instruction . One departure from familiar paths in the following pages is on the R o f make and weight of salmon rods . eform in the use heavy and o f unwieldy weapons is overdue . The practicability the counsel I venture to give finds support in the fact that one o f the principal manufacturers has produced a salmon rod corresponding in weight and f e ficiency with what I have advised . The chapters on the art of rod - making and fly- tying are intended for the rapidly increasing number o f young anglers who aspire to come into closer touch with the craft o f so healthy and fascinating a pastime . The illustrations throughout the book are original , and con sequently have the defects of that virtue , as must be the case in f amateur work . This course I thought pre erable to using the familiar n catalogue cuts that have been repeated in so many books o angling . he e te T choic and variety of illustrations will , it is hoped , compensa P ref ce a . f for the imperfections o the photographer . The assistance received from several of the leading tackle makers ha s considerably lessened e this part of my t a sk . In making this acknowledgment I desir to add my best thanks . Amongst these are included the names of Messrs . A E rl M C . a o rs s . w S . Hardy Bro , lnwick ; Messrs , trand ; Ogden K E Smith , nightsbridge ; Messrs . nright and Sons , Castleconnell ; L . r. and M John ydon , Galway R . n a d . I am also indebted to Messrs . J Beck , the opticians , who For have assisted me with special photographic appliances . the F a Natural History of ish , I have consulted the stand rd authors ; and M ’ D r Fl E . F . for y y ntomology , Mr Halford s book , which occupies the premier place amongst works o n that subject . TH E T R A U HO . P A G E ‘ GUDG' EON AND ROACH CHAPTER II. DACE AND CHU B BR EAM AND BA RR EL CHAPTER IV . N H RP N R D TE C , CA A D UD CHAPTER V . CHAPTER VI . PE RCH C HAPTER VII . T ROUT RODS AND TAC K LE CHAPTER VIII . FL Y -TYING CHAPTER IX . T R OUT WET- FL Y CHAPTE R X . T ROUT D R Y -FL Y FI S HING CHAPTER XI . TROUT S P INN ING AIN B W R T L R T A D R Y IN R O T OU , BU L T OU N G A L G Contents . E CHAPTER XI II . P A G WHITE T ROUT CHAPTER XIV. SALMON RO D s A N D TACK LE CHAPTE R XV . SALMON FL Y -FI SH I NG CHAPTER XVI . SALMON BAIT - FI SH ING AND S P INN ING INDEX . I L L USTRAT I O NS . Bottom Fishing R eels Floats for Bottom Fishing Chub Flies The Weir Chub P ool A Bream Swim Should er - strap L anding Net Where Tench Feed The Home of the Carp A P ike P ool on the Stour P ike Spinning Tackle Silex Telescopic Gaff and R egistered Safety P unj aub Wire P aternoster Spoon and Minnow P ike Baits The Halcyon P ike Spinner ’ Spoon fo r L ough P ike (Hardy s) P ike Spinning Where P erch L i e The Old Mill P ool A Winter P ool P erfect Trout R eel (Hardy ’s) Amateur R od- Making Jam - K not for attaching L ine to Gut The D ouble Water Gut K not The Buffer Gut K not Fly- Tying (First stages) (Second stages) (Third stages) R od- C R of A rm asting , ange How to Cast (Forward action) (Backward action) How to Attach Fly to Casting L ine The Test The Itchen . Illustra tions viii . P A G E The Bourne The Avon D ry-Fly Fishing Spinners for Natural Bait (H ardy Thames Flight for Natural Bait P R The Crib White Trout ool , Galway iver L ough Corrib Ballynahinch Salmon and White Trout R iver Salmon Fishing in the Shannon at Castleconnell Castleconnell Salmon Flies Galway Salmon Flies R The Moy Salmon iver , Ballina A S P R almon ool in the iver Maigne , Adair The P w S R Horseshoe ool , Gal ay almon iver P The rawn , Mounted and Threaded TH E G ENTLE ART O F ANG LING . C H A P TE R r GU D G E ON AN D R OACH . T C T Y N R D U R . I O O into beautiful country ; the ex er { AMAT E UR angling i s primarily a cise i s gentle and varied ; the A s ‘ distraction . such it fulfils interest is absorbing , and to my a purpose which all innocent mind is far better for the jaded pleasures are intended to s ub practitioner than scampering hal f E ” n e o v o . serve . I t takes o amongst ur pe in a hurry green fields and by the side of in addition a restful rivers where the j ar and to being a recreation , fulfils ‘ se who clash of business life are forgotten physical purpose . Iho ’ in the hush of Nature s ge ntle pursue it corroborate the fact . Fl - fi shin mood . In this respect it effects y g especially is healthy h detachment from the ard , matter gymnastic exercise which brings of- fa ct pursuits in which o st of not only the muscles o f the arms e ch s An us are compelled to engag ?) into play , but also the eAB To the busy man rest i s not example may be cited . youth always holiday to the man with with hereditary tendencies to co n o ut a hobby retirement frequently sumption was medically examined shortens the span of life . An and declared to be abnormally - - f- ex er a s . o Object to pursue is , a rule , flat chested Out door essential to the strenuous life , and cise was prescribed , and he took o f i s so - fi shi n the range angling wide to salmon g, spending four o r fi e the that some branch of , it can be v consecutive weeks by easily acquired which healthfully river , and as many Odd days as s brings into play forces so accus possible . Ten years afterward to med to w movement that they are he was do n with influenza , and w disposed to chafe under inactivity . another doctor , who kne nothing o f his o n In an address to medical men history , “exclaimed , on o f the preservation their sounding him , What a well "V health , reported some time ago developed chest you have ery “ B ri ti sh Medical ournal o f in the j , the rare in a man sedentary habits . hi s following advice is given He told story , and the doctor E a rod very medical man , if possible , agreed th t he owed it to the should have an outdoor sport Of casting exercise . It may give some kind ; golf and c y cling are point to the story to add t hat it is ’ f o wn good , but perhaps the best of all a chapter out o the writer s i s fl - fi shi n y g. It takes on e usually biography . 2 The entle Art o An li n G f g g.