The American salmon fisherman

Introduction

Salmost-fishing is to trovtt-fishing as is a father to his son. Though the stature and avoirdupois of the one may exceed that of the other, the relationship is notwithstanding none the less near. Apart from the immaterial difference of size, the appliances for salmon-fishing, the gaff excejDted, are the appliances for trout-fishing. Alike as they are in material, alike in method of manufacture, and alike in that their adaptability to the end in view depends on the more or less perfect embodiment of the same principles of construction, it has been thought unnecessary to touch upon this branch of our subject in other than the briefest possible manner. As the lawyer refers in his bill of complaint to his documentary exhibits, and by that reference incorporates them in and makes them part of his plea, so I refer to my former volume, " Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle," and make it part of this. The origin and quality of the crude materials, the methods by which they are converted into the finished article, the principles which should govern that conversion, and the comparative degree of excellence which each material and method affords, are therein considered at length. To review^ would be but to repeat.

ii Introduction.

As in that book, so in this it is to the novice that I especially address myself. Though it is hoped that the expert may find in the following pages matter not unworthy of his consideration, still it is those that seek, rather than those who have already found, whom 1 aspire to direct.

For the labor expended on this volume, I desire no more grateful reward than the same kindly reception which has been the good-fortune of its predecessor,

Henet P, Wells.

Contents

CHAPTEE I.

How and where Salmon-fishing may be Obtained — List and Map of Salmon-rivers Page 5

Chapter II

Rods : Theoretical Efficiency of— Single-handed for Salmon-fishing — Selection of — Spliced vs. Ferruled — Ferrules for Salmon — English vs. American Salmon — Guides and Rings for — Rod-making 25

Chapter III

Salmon- REELS : Essential Features of — Capacity of — Object, Importance, Construction, and Resistance of Click — Drags — Weight of Salmon-reels. Lines : Length and Cost of Salmon-lines — Spliced Lines— How to Splice a Line — Heavy Line advisable — New Style of Line. Leaders : Selection of Gut — Testing Gut and Leaders — Twisted and Braided — Length of — Construction of — Best Color for . 45

Chapter IV

The Gaep : The "Veteran Gaff," when and how it was Obtained, its Description and Portrait— Rules for Selection or Manufacture of Gaff — Gaffing from a Canoe — Birch Canoes for Salmon-fishiv Contents.

ing — Gaffing from Bank. Clothing : Clothing for Daily Use — Hat — Water-proof Clothing — Waders. Black Flies and Insect Pests on 'Salnion-streams, and Defensive Measures against them , Page 65

Chapter V

Flies : Experiments to Determine how they appear to Salmon — Visibility of Various Tyjoes of Flies, and Varieties of Fly-tying Material — How Objects in the Water appear to Fish — Rules for Selection of Flies on the Stream — Effect of Motion of Rod on Appearance of Fly — Directions for Selection of Stock of Flies at Home. Hooks : Rules for Selection of — The Same applied to Various Patterns of — Pennell-hooks — Eyed-hooks .... 89

Chapter VI

Casting the Fly : Casting for Trout and Salmon Compared and Distinguished — How to Cast with a Salmon-rod — The Overhead Cast — The Switch Cast. Catching the Fish : Visibility of Objects above the Water to Fish — Timidity of Trout and Salmon Compared — Why Salmon take the Fly — Where to Cast — Haunts of Salmon — Salmon-pools — Fishing from Bank — Manipulation of Fly — Effect of Current on Action of Fly — Fishing from Canoe — Manipulation of Fly — Striking — Method of Striking Trout and Salmon Radically Different — Advantages of a Good Rod — Manner in which Trout and Salmon take the Fly Compared — Keep your Hands off the Line when the Fly is on the Water — Rising Short — Playing a Salmon — Conduct of Salmon when Fastened — How to Fish for Salmon, a Recapitulation in Narrative Form 115

THE AMERICAN SALMON-FISHERMAN.