Bark Fly Cases and Creeper Fishing

a piece of bark from the mountain ash tree, or willow tree, about twelve inches long and Male Stone-Fly. three inches broad, double it in the middle, and bind round with string, ^Female Stone-Fly. making it into a bottle, with the mouth about one inch Creeper Larva, of Stone-Fly. in diameter. p^^ ^ stoppcr use a piece of mountain ash branch. The sap in the bark keeps the inside of the bottle moist, and thus the fly keeps better. The stone-flies are collected on the under h-1 Ui '^ w in z TJ o u, ^ 2, f) S s?: rt Di u CA! ffi H < O CREEPER FISHING. 51 side of large stones, where there is most moisture on the gravel beds, and the male fly is the most deadly bait. The female fly is about twice the size of the male, and the former is easily caught in comparison with the latter. The male fly indeed is difficult to catch, being much sharper than the female. The method in fishing the stone-fly is similar to that used in fishing the creeper, but greater care must be taken in casting, as the fly is very tender. Shade-Fishing. The stone-fly is also used for shadefishing during hot weather. For example, the angler approaches the haunts of feeding fish in the pools under willows or bushes overhanging the river. The line is wound round the rod top with the fly baited, and pushed underneath the bushes, then uncoiled, allowing the fly to move about on the surface of the water. 52 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. This system requires much patience, but frequently large trout are captured in this way, especially during the daytime, with a bright sunshine from a cloudless sky, in low and clear waters, when other modes of angling are at a discount. Under these conditions trout move about, and the angler who has patience for such pro- ceedings often meets with his reward. Caddis Bait. The caddis bait, which is also found in the bed of the river, may be baited and fished in exactly the same way as the creeper. This lure also works well by the side of pools, casting a fairly long line up- stream. A combination of the caddis used in the slower running water and the creeper in the stronger streams usually works well. These baits are rather repulsive to look at and handle, so those fastidious anglers who object to bait-fishing generally had better skip these few pages. CHAPTER V. WORM FISHING. Up-stream worm fishing in low, clear waters proves very deadly during the summer months, especially in hot weather, and, providing there is no mist on the water, trout will take the worm freely from daybreak at early morning until evening during intervals. Towards the middle of June trout will be found in the strong and shallow streams at different periods through the day. As the days of June creep on insects abound on the river in myriads, and trout seemingly lose all taste for them, as they hover round the surface of the water little heeded by the fish, whereas if a worm is presented it is immediately seized. This mode of fishing is becoming more popular, 5 54 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. and when used scientifically, is a certain means of success. The Rod for Worm Fishing. The rod should not be less than fourteen feet, and one of even longer dimensions is all in favour of the angler. It must be A light yet stiff. hollow cane butt and middle, with a lance-wood top, answers well, and besides being easy to cast with, a rod of this type commands, with a medium length of line, almost every variety of water. It frequently happens that one has heavy fish to hold in the strong water from snags, weirings, etc., so a fairly stiff rod is required; also the rod must not be too highly polished, otherwise the glitter in bright sunshine will seriously interfere with sport. A preparation that dulls the rod completely, and when applied dries in a few minutes, can be purchased from tackle dealers. It is obvious that too highly stained rods must be guarded against, as at WORM FISHING. 55 midsummer, when the rivers are dead low and trout then lie in the shallow water, the merest shadow proves fatal. Cummins (Bishop Auckland) sells a special Worming Rod. The 14 ft. length weighs only 16J ozs. Tackle. There are different modes of baiting the Stewart tackle with three hooks, the Pennell with two and a single hook. I much prefer the latter, using a fine wire hook. In June worms are difficult to obtain, and with a single hook sometimes one worm may do service for a couple of trout. In fact, with the former tackles almost every fish touched breaks the worm and renders it useless. Thus you need a large supply of worms for a day's fishing. I strongly advocate the use of small worms. Worms should be kept fully a fortnight and well scoured, and the bright pink worms are the most deadly. 56 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. To bait with the single hook take the worm, dipped in sand, in your left hand, impale the hook in the mouth running the hook up the worm, leaving about half an inch to wriggle. Single hook, see Chapter on Tackle (page gi). Casting. In casting, the line is thrown back with an easy swing and brought forward with as little force as circumstances will allow, the rod top making more of a circle than in fly-fishing. Of course, if a long line is being used, or the wind blowing against you, it is necessary to bring the rod top almost on the surface of the water, thus to extend the line fully and allow the worm to fall lightly on the water. If casting over a strong current to the thin water beyond, should the line be at all immersed it will pull the worm quickly away, whereas if only the gut alights the intervening strong water has no power WORM FISHING. 57 over it. Thus this cast is best accomplished by checking the forward movement of the rod and keeping the top well up. Wading Up-stream. One cannot fish clear-water worm properly without wading, and at midsummer there is no period of the angling season when it is of such vital importance to proceed without alarming the trout, inasmuch as during June and July the rivers have shrunk to their lowest level, and the trout are to be found lying in the shallowest water. In fact, frequently I have taken fish in such shallow water that a portion of his back has been exposed to the air and sun, causing a whiteness on the skin. Under these circumstances the angler is easily perceived, and should at all times take every precaution in approaching the fish. You must therefore fish up-stream, exer- cising care in wading not to send any 58 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. ripples in front of you, warning the fish of your approach. The thin streams and shallow running water are the best parts to fish. Cast up-stream, straight in front of you, with as much line out as you can comfortably command, slowly raising your rod top. Otherwise don't interfere with it, and allow the water to bring the worm down in a natural way. When to Strike. The stopping of the line will soon show when the worm is seized ; then strike down-stream fairly quickly and firmly, not allowing him time to gorge, and you will -- -- often find using a single hook your worm little the worse, three or four inches up the gut. At all times you should fish straight up in front of you, not casting sideways. If you cast the latter way the worm does not come down naturally, even in shallow water. I have tried it in various forms, WORM FISHING. 59 and find the sure way to success is to fish straight up in firont of you. You may certainly get an occasional fish by casting off "the straight," but I have always found that in fishing to the side of me the trout follow the worm down- stream ever so far without attempting to take it, being suspicious that something is attached to the bait. The buoyancy of the gut, even in a foot of water, when cast two or three yards off " the straight," causes the worm to come down sideways, and the trout quickly detect that it is not natural. When rivers attain their lowest summer level everything is in favour of the trout, and unless you fish correctly, creels will be practically *'full of emptiness." So I here repeat again, fish straight up in front of you. The Cast. The gut cast should be seven or eight feet long with a few strands of fine drawn 6o ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. gut on the lower portion next to the hook, and tapering with undrawn towards the reel line. Of course, the nature of the weather will cause the fisher to vary the length of cast. If a breeze is blowing down stream the cast must be shortened, and such fine gut is not necessary, as on calm days when the water has a surface like glass. The length of line required should not be less than fifteen feet, and in casting, the line should be brought back with an easy swing, bringing the rod top round more in a circle than in fly-fishing. In the forward cast bring the line straight over the shoulder, allowing the rod to do the work. It is advisable to proceed as near as possible up the centre of the stream, as in this way one comes to closer quarters with the fish without being perceived. If you are fortunate to have the surface of the water ruffled a much shorter line may be used. WORM FISHING. 6l In June and July trout will be found to be in the pink of condition, consequently they are capable of feeding in strong water. Therefore, the angler must bear this in mind, and cast over every yard of likely water. Trout will also take the worm in the latter part of April and May, when they are feeding on the creeper, so it is as well to have a supply of both. Best Time for "Worming." The most suitable time for worming is when the rivers are at their lowest level with settled weather. They take well on hot days with a bright sunshine from a cloudless sky, and if a gentle breeze is on the water so much the better, as this per- mits the angler to fish the thin water on the gravel-bed side of pools, also the thin flat water just immediately above the head of streams. These are excellent places to cast over, and they seldom prove dis- 62 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. appointing. Of course they can only be fished when there is sufficient wind to cause a nice curl. I have also had splendid sport on dull sultry days with a gentle rain falling and the sky quite overcast with heavy clouds. Trout also take with avidity for a few hours immediately before a flood. In fishing broken water it is quite an easy matter for an angler to take a trout from a good run, but it requires careful and scientific work to creel half-a-dozen in a short stream of say five or six yards. To do this the angler must approach the stream carefully, and on hooking the first fish and each subsequent one, bring them down stream immediately they are hooked, playing them in the water already disturbed. If a trout darts up-stream it gives warning to the others in the vicinity, and the merest suspicion is sufficient to alarm those above. On a calm day only the streams are fish- able, and the angler should approach the WORM FISHING. 63 water side fully twenty yards below where the ripple is first apparent. If you do not pay particular attention to this, and walk along the river side close to the stream you are almost certain to disturb one or two trout, who will dart up stream giving fatal alarm to those above. In striking a stream thus, the fisher should pay attention to the thin water on the gravel-bed side of the stream, then with consecutive casts fish carefully up, casting the worm about a yard higher up with each cast. If there are any large stones or other shelter in the streams, or where the channel merges into deeper water, great attention must be paid to these, as they are ideal haunts and seldom prove unproductive. Little time should be wasted when fishing small rivers; but with rivers like the Eden, Coquet, or the Tyne, it is different. In any of these rivers, or others of a similar volume, a good stretch of water 64 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. takes up much time to exhaust, and should be fished twice over, by the angler wading farther into the water on the second attempt. All water, no matter how shal- low, if there is sufficient current to cause the slightest ripple, should not be missed at this period; trout move about, and this type of water frequently hold fish, but in fishing this description of water it is necessary for the angler to use a much longer line, and to keep out of sight. Once the water has been disturbed it is labour in vain to fish it again before a couple of hours or so have elapsed. Flooded Waters. So far these remarks apply solely to clear water fishing, and clear water fishers have little patience to fish in spated waters. I am not in favour of this phase of the sport, and consequently refrain from saying anything on bait-fishing in muddy waters. However, floods are very useful to cleanse WORM FISHING. 65 the bed of the rivers, which frequently become very foul, especially during hot, dry weather in mid -summer. It also sometimes stirs up good fish to feed more greedily. For a day's clear water fishing about a gross of worms are required. Murton's supply a useful japanned tin-box to strap round the waist, with a partition to carry creepers as well. The Time of Year. Worm-fishing is practicable the whole season, but it is only during June and July that I advocate its use, as during these months it forms the principal food, and I strongly urge its practice immedi- When ately the stone-fly fishing is over. June is fairly established, such quarters as Longtown on the Border Esk, the lower reaches of the Eden, or the lower reaches of almost any north-country river, flowing through rich soil, are recommended. 66 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. Usually in these places the fishing is early, and lasts for a very much shorter time than in smaller streams. In small streams like the Redewater, Till, Irthing, Upper Tees, or North Tyne, the take continues much longer and more certain, and are splendidly adapted for clear-water worming. Throughout June and July in rivers of this size trout feed almost all the day, and towards evening they fall to the tail end of pools; but in the early morning, say from 2.30 A.M. to 8 A.M., they are more or less in the streams. Of course the methods advised here will be equally successful wherever trout fishing is obtainable, whether in the South, the Midlands, or elsewhere. Especially good rivers are the Teme (Ludlow), the Wye and Derwent (Derbyshire), and the Taw (North Devon). The Yorkshire rivers, Yore, Swale, and Wharfe, should also be mentioned. Most anglers, however, travel North or West for trouting. CHAPTER VI. MINNOW FISHING, Minnow fishing is practicable the whole of the season, and in rivers where this lure is permissible it will be found the most exciting of all modes of fishing. It appeals to the appetites of the largest trout ; and while these fish are pursuing a minnow they do so with remarkable dash, chasing it until they think it is likely to escape, and frequently seizing it on the verge of the water-side. Generally speaking, at the close of a successful day's minnowing, you will find you have a basket of even-sized fish. The Rod for " Minnowing." To begin with, your rod should not be less than twelve feet and fairly stiffly built. One of the best times to fish the minnow is just after a flood, and if the rod is at all 68 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. supple you have little command of your bait in the strong water. The point of your rod in spinning should always be kept below the elbow, and a good wrinkle is to keep your rod top below the surface when fishing in a strong water. The natural minnow, which is unquestionably the best lure, has many different kinds of tackle to fish same. I strongly recommend, however, a tackle after the style of the Archer spinner, which spins well; but I have personally somewhat altered the hooks to increase its hooking powers, as the two main objects in spinning are to get the bait to spin well, and at the same time have the hooks so arranged that a fish can scarcely seize the bait without being hooked. To make certain of a good spin on the bait have two swivels on your trace. These remarks apply to fishing in heavy waters. Cummins (Bishop Auck- land) sells a good quill minnow, which kills well in clear water. SPINNING NATURAL MINNOW. (See page 6y). MINNOW FISHING. 6g In Heavy Waters. Choose a nice stream with the water flowing about five miles an hour; throw the minnow across stream, drawing it down and across in short jerks; turn the rod top and bring the minnow up stream in a similar way. You will often find that the trout takes it at the turn, so do not strike too quickly or too severely, as fish are often lost in this way. See to spin over every yard of water in a good stream, as trout may be lurking in any portion of it. A lead will be required in heavy waters. In Clear Water. Another way in clear water is to fish the rough streams where nothing but condi- tioned fish will be found. Use as much line as the length of your rod, take the bait in your left hand, bend your rod top towards you and cast with your right hand up and across stream, drawing it down and 70 ALL ABOUT TROUT FISHING. across stream in sharp jerks. Trout will be found behind big stones. Also fish it down a long rough stream, letting your line out yard by yard until you get a long length of line out. You often have good sport in this manner in clear water, when all other kinds of fishing are off. The Drop Minnow. Drop minnow fishing is another form of angling which is very deadly and can be practised in awkward corners, in deep water or where it is overhung with trees which it would be an impossibility to spin over. There are different ways of baiting in this mode of procedure. Personally I use a single hook leaded round the shank, and tied to a length