Fly-fishing For Salmon
When you begin fly-fishing for Salmon, you must be careful not to let
out too much of the reel line first, but when you become accustomed to
it, and are master of throwing a short one, let it out gradually till
you are enabled to cover the pool over which you cast with ease.
If you practice throwing over a smooth wide part of the river, you will
see how your line falls on the water, whether thrown in a lump, or light<
and straight without a splash; but at one time you may cast the line
right out over the stream at its full length, and on giving another cast
you may allow the line to fall on the water in the middle of it first,
and the fly to fall last, which is not so good, but in either way the
fish will rise and take it; by the last cast you may get the line
farther off, and the fly alighting near the opposite bank, it is very
apt to be taken by a fish lying close under it; and when throwing, keep
the point of the rod up out of the water, and do not let it strike it;
throw across in a rather slanting direction, allowing the fly to sweep
down without a curve in the middle of the line, and at the same time
move the rod playfully to give the fly a life-like appearance; drawing
it in towards your side of the bank, moving it up and down gradually
with the current, and when a fish takes the fly raise your hand, and
fasten the hook without a jerk, holding up your rod at the same time
with what is termed a "sweet fast," that it may not get slack at any
time till you have killed him; when you poise the rod in your hands for
a throw, the whole knack is in keeping the left hand steady, and with a
turn of the right hand cause the line to make a circle round the left
shoulder and over the head, propel it forward with the spring of the
rod, keeping the fly going all the time till it falls on the water
before you as straight as possible; when you lift the fly out of the
water to throw again, you require to make use of the strength of the
right arm, giving it the proper turn round with the wrist, making a
sweep of the extent of the line behind you, and with the spring and
power of the rod direct the fly on that part of the stream where you
desire it should fall; letting the line out occasionally off the reel
with your hand, which gives the fly a very natural motion on the water,
moving it gradually down towards your side, when you lift the line out
and make another throw as before a little lower down, and so on until
you cover the whole stream.
You may change to the left hand when you are tired with the right, or
according to the side you are fishing from, to facilitate and ease your
exertion as much as possible when throwing a long line. When I have
happened to be in a barn at a farm house on the river side, I have often
thought when taking up the flail to thrash awhile, whilst the man was
resting himself, that the exertion was remarkably like throwing the fly
with the Salmon rod, the whole method appears to be in the turn of the
wrist and arm, for when the flail is raised up and wound over the left
shoulder, with a certain impulse known to one's self you propel it
forward over the head, striking the sheaf on the ground with full force
on any part you like, where you think there are any ears in it.
Many may not be acquainted with flail thrashing, but were they to
understand the knack, it is easily done; so, also, is the using of the
salmon rod, with a little practice, and observing a good thrower if you
happen to meet one on the river, or an old fisherman you employ.
Keep yourself steady on your feet, and your body well up when casting,
as it gives more power to the muscles, and when a salmon is fairly
hooked it will prevent your being nervous or striking too quick, but as
I said before, rise your hand and keep the line taut; as the fish will
often rise several times out of the water in succession when first
pricked with the hook, on finding himself detained; when he runs keep
the rod nearly perpendicular, as the spring of it will soon tire him
out; if he is a good way off and makes a rush towards you, wind up your
line quickly, keeping it taut at the same time, and moving backwards
till he is near your own shore: if he rolls over in the water apply the
gaff and lift him out, but if he is not regularly beat he will rush off
again on seeing the gaff with great strength, give in he must at last
by the gentle strain of the rod that is always upon him. He often gets
sulky, and lies down on the bottom of the river, when it will be found
difficult to start him again: a clearing ring let down the line on his
nose will cause him to run, and when he does so, it is best to bear
stronger upon him, as in so doing you have the best chance of quickly
tiring and capturing him. I think it the best plan to lay the gaff under
him, and gaff him in the gills, which prevents tearing or making a hole
in the fish.
The Salmon reel should be made of the lightest and hardest material, not
too much contracted, but a good width, that the line may be wound up
evenly without incumbrance; a plain upright handle is much the safest
when playing a fish, as the portable ones are apt to crack or snap off
if they meet the least obstruction in the running out of the line; and
the portable handle stands too far out, which catches the line almost
every time it is drawn off or a cast given. Small reels may be made with
portable handles, without any fear of their breaking, as the fish are
small and can be managed easily.
The salmon line should be of silk and hair eight-plait or four-plait,
eighty or a hundred yards long, and for small rivers, sixty yards for a
sixteen feet rod. The casting line for clear waters should be half
treble and half single gut, to suit grilse or small salmon flies in
summer; and in the spring of the year when large flies are in use, good
strong-twisted gut, three yards long, is what is necessary for a heavy
reel line, particularly in large rivers, as the Shannon and the Bann in
Ireland, and the Tweed in Scotland.
There are not three better Salmon Rivers in the world than the above,
were the salmon allowed access into them during the summer months for
the amusement of those great angling gentlemen who would visit them
during that period, or even if there were but a few let up past the
"cruives" or "cuts," that there might be a sprinkling for them to throw
flies over. It would not matter to them what nets the fishermen along
the shores of the estuaries used, as they only affect the "Cruives," or
"Fixed Traps" built across the rivers, as of course less fish run into
them, and there would be abundance of salmon and grilse go up the
centre or deep part of the river, which the fishermen could not possibly
reach.
These "Traps" are kept down all the summer, from the early spring till
the end of August, at which period they are what is termed "lifted," and
up run the spawning fish; and the great fly fishers now lay by their
rods and tackle for that season, as fly fishing is prohibited when the
salmon are spawning in the rivers. There is certainly a respite in the
Tweed, when the nets are taken off at the end of the season for the
accommodation of the fly fisher; and were it so in the Shannon and the
Bann, there would be very great satisfaction in having a month or six
weeks' fishing in these splendid rivers. They are certainly free
throughout the summer to the fly fisher, but he might labour a whole day
with his rod and fly without getting a rise, except by chance.
There will never be any good done until the "cruives" or "cuts" are
removed off the rivers, unless the head landlord would make an agreement
with the renter of the "cruive," and enforce it as a law,--to lift the
"cruive" two days in the week, that there might be fish in the rivers
for the accommodation of the great body of gentlemen anglers who make
it their business to travel to these rivers to find amusement in Fly
Fishing, at very great expense; although I do not know if even this
would do,--it would be best by all means to remove them; and,
independent of fair netting for the general supply at the mouths and
estuaries, a Society of Anglers could rent the entire river, were the
owner to meet them on liberal terms which no doubt he would, and this
would prevent the destruction by degrees of the best breeding-fish in
the river.
More
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A Catechism Of Fly-making
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(See Plate.) The tyro will provide himself with a dubbing book, containing numerous compartments, to hold feathers, furs, pig hair, mohair, hackles, wing feathers, silk, tinsel, scissars, pliers, knife, and every other article necessary for fly... Another Way To Dye Claret
Take a handful of nut galls and bruise them, put them into the crucible and boil them half an hour, add to the dye a table-spoonful of oil of vitriol in half a cup of water, put in the hackles and boil two hours; then add to the liquor a little pe... Baits
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The Barbel are strong fish, and require strong tackle to catch them, a No. 4 or 5 hook tied on stout single gut, and have a small bullet with a hole through it on your line, and a shot about a foot from the hook to be stationary, to prevent the bu... Blues
Dissolve some indigo in oil of vitriol for twenty-four hours, put a couple of spoonfuls in your pot, add a little crystal of tartar, put in your hackles and boil, or at least keep them at a scalding heat, or the vitriol will burn the feathers, fur... Carp
It is a very difficult matter to catch Carp with the bait, as they are most cunning fish to detect at once the deception, and swim away on the least sight of the rod or the shadow of the fisherman. The Carp haunt the deep parts of gently running s... Chub
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Boil your hackles or hair in a quarter of an ounce of alum, and the same quantity of pure tartar, an hour gently; wash them out of this, fill your dye-pot with clean water, or as much as will conveniently boil; put in an ounce of well-powdered dye... Dace
The Dace is a lively brisk little fish, and affords much amusement in catching him, particularly with very small flies, which he will rise at from May to October. They like the rapid streams, along the sides of them, and in the middle, they may be... Fishing Rods And Fly Fishing
For a trout rod, to have a good balance from the butt to the extreme top, it is essentially necessary that the wood should be well-seasoned, straight in the grain, and free from knots and imperfections. It should consist of three or four joints, a... Flies For April
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When you begin fly-fishing for Salmon, you must be careful not to let out too much of the reel line first, but when you become accustomed to it, and are master of throwing a short one, let it out gradually till you are enabled to cover the pool ov... Gudgeons And Minnows
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The Perch is a very handsome fish, and is best taken with the worm or live minnow, the larger size ones take the latter bait well and the smaller ones take the brandling and red worms best, using a No. 7 or 8 hook, and put on two worms at a time; ... Pike
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You commence by tying the hook and gut firmly together, and that it may be more easy and convenient to the reader to accomplish this process of making the Gaudy Salmon Fly, I will tell how it is done in my own favourite way.--Take the hook in ... River Tivey
The Tivey is considered the very best and most prolific river in all Wales. It has a long and winding course to Cardigan, and before it reaches this place, at Newcastle Emlyn, it is a picture of a river for salmon fishing. Lampeter, higher up, is ... Rivers And Lakes Adjacent To Fort William On The Caledonian Canal
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There would be excellent salmon fishing in Wales were the rivers properly preserved. The Conway (North Wales) is a beautiful stream, and it is a great pity it should be neglected; however, I believe it will be very soon protected from the nets, &c... Rivers Of York And Derby
The beautiful streams of these counties are excellent for trout fishing, and the scenery varied and pleasing throughout. The river Wharf is a delightful stream in the neighbourhood of Bolton Abbey, a well known place of "Hofland." See his painting... Roach
The Roach is a handsome fish, and when taken of the size of half a pound or a pound, are not such bad eating as is said of them. They are very bony, it is true, but particularly wholesome. These fish do not thrive so well in ponds where they are e... Salmon Flies For Fort William
The flies to suit the various waters surrounding Fort William are generally of a medium size and middling gaudy. The engraved ones in my list, for Salmon in general, from No. 2 to 11, will kill well. The list for the season for Trout. No. 1. Li... Salmon Flies For The Ness
No. 1. Body half black and yellow, a jay and purple hackle ribbed with silver, orange head, mallard, peacock wing and jungle cock wings. Hook BB. No. 2. Body black hair, orange tag, ribbed with gold and silver, black hackle, jay at the shoulder... Salmon Rivers
It will be most advantageous to my readers that I should give them some accurate accounts of the various Salmon Rivers, pointing out at the same time the best station on each where sport may be expected with the fly, and to know where to proceed b... Salmon Rivers Of Scotland
We will bid adieu to old Ireland for a season, and its fair city Dublin, "with the blue sky over it," and step into the steam boat at Kingston for Holyhead, seat ourselves in a carriage, and trundle off to bonny Scotland--a country of many waters,... Spring Flies
The following fine large flies will be excellent killers in the Shannon, the Tweed, the Thurso, the Spey, and the Tay, in the spring season. The bodies to be made small, the wings large. No. 1. The body is made of sky blue floss silk, ribbed with ... The Art Of Dyeing Fishing Colours Which Are Pig's Hair Mohair Fur & Hackles Commonly Called Dubbing
The great advantage the fly fisher must derive from a knowledge of dyeing his colours and hackles is obvious. It affords amusement to the enthusiastic fisher to be acquainted with the various shades required for making his flies to suit the rivers... The Art Of Fly-making
To give something that will convey a durable and correct idea of Fly-making, Angling, and Dyeing of Colours to my pupils, is what I aim at, and desire they should understand: for when they are inhaling the fresh breezes on the river's bank, obse... The Dee And Don
These rivers run into the sea at Aberdeen, and are excellent for Salmon and Trout fishing--the Dee for Salmon, and the Don more for Trout, which are most delicious for the table; they cut as pink as Salmon. The white-trout fishing is good here in ... The Findhorn
is another fine Salmon river after heavy rains, which swell it to a prodigious size, as shown by its channel in low water, high ridges of sand and gravel being thrown up on each side of its banks at every flat running ford in its course to the sea... The Hodder
Whitewell is a favourite spot for anglers to meet during the May fly season, it is beautifully situated for scenery and sport; my list of flies will be found excellent killers in this stream for both trout and greyling; there is a comfortable inn ... The Lakes Of Clare
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The necessary articles used for fly making in general are as follows: Those feathers that are of a most gaudy hue are best for the wings of salmon flies, which are golden pheasant feathers, cock of the rock, the crest of the Hymalaya pheasant, the... The River Allan
This is a good stream for trout fishing; it enters the Forth below Stirling, just above the town of Aloa. It has an extraordinary winding course, flowing through a picturesque country, and famed in poetic lore as "Allan's winding stream." ... The River Bann
Portna is considered the best ford for Salmon and Trout fishing on this noble stream. At this place, which is merely an inn, kept by a Mr. Moore, for the accommodation of anglers, the river, which is a large one, falls over ledges of rock, large s... The River Dovey
The Dovey is a nice stream, but runs off very soon, like all others descending from the mountains. The salmon would be, nevertheless, very plentiful in it, as there are many capital large pools for them to haunt, if they were allowed to reach them... The River Esk
The North and South Esk are rivers of Forfar, falling into the sea near Montrose. The North Esk is the best of the two, and affords excellent angling for salmon and sea-trout in August and September. These rivers may be visited by rail from Aberde... The River Lee At Cork
Would be as good a place as any in Ireland "to go to fish," were it not for the "weirs," and foul play in many ways, which is practised all the way up, on the poor salmon; there is some little sport to be had in it in the spring, and after heavy r... The River Severn
The river Severn has its source in Montgomeryshire, takes a long course, passing the towns of Welshpool and Shrewsbury. It is a fine stream, and there could be no better one were it well preserved. There is excellent greyling fishing below Shrewsb... The River Shannon
This is the largest and finest Salmon river in Britain. There is not a river in Norway that can be compared to it for fishing, were it properly used. The angler must proceed to its banks before he can say, conscientiously, that he has ever seen a ...