All About Trout Fishing

By J. A. Riddell

This vintage book contains a fantastic guide to fishing for trout, including chapters on the various methods that can be employed, the equipment required, possible locations, habits and habitat, and much more. “All About Trout Fishing” constitutes a must-read for trout fishers new and old, and it would make for a wonderful addition to collections of related literature. Contents include: “A General Introduction”, “Artificial Fly-fishing”, “Dry Fly-fishing”, “Creeper and Stone Fly-fishing”, “Worm Fishing”, “Minnow Fishing”, “Night Fishing”, “A Few Hints on Tackle”, “Loch or Lake Fishing”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on the history of fishing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Country Books
• Release date: Jun 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781528768214

Book preview

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A GENERAL INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II.

ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING

CHAPTER III.

DRY FLY-FISHING

CHAPTER IV.

CREEPER AND STONE FLY-FISHING

CHAPTER V.

WORM FISHING

CHAPTER VI.

MINNOW FISHING

CHAPTER VII.

NIGHT FISHING

CHAPTER VIII.

A FEW HINTS ON TACKLE

CHAPTER IX.

LOCH OR LAKE FISHING

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

UP-STREAM CLEAR-WATER WORMING

WET FLY-FISHING UP STREAM

COLLECTING CREEPER IN THE STRONG STREAM WITH LANDING-NET

GATHERING CREEPER AT THE WATER EDGE WHEN THEY ARE JUST ABOUT TO EMERGE AND TURN INTO THE STONE-FLY

GATHERING STONE-FLY UNDERNEATH THE LARGE STONES ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF GRAVEL-BED

SPINNING NATURAL MINNOW ACROSS STREAM

ALL ABOUT

TROUT FISHING.

CHAPTER I.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ANGLING.

ONE of the secrets of success in angling lies in keeping out of sight, and to do this it is advisable to make oneself as inconspicuous as possible. Thus my favourite colour in dress is a drab shade, which accords with rocks, gravel beds, and grey backing of clouds. The invisible brown, however, has one disadvantage; if you have with you a friend who is higher up the stream, he often has a difficulty in locating you on a gravel bed.

A SAFE RULE.

It is always advisable in low and clear waters, when possible, to fish up stream, and in the early months, while fly-fishing, you need have very little fear of being bothered with parr, those pests of downstream fishers. In fact, when I see a brother-angler fishing down stream I always think it is a good thing for the trout. Copy Nature, and produce flies a shade smaller in preference to larger than the natural insect.

Do not be afraid to sink your flies, and give preference to spider dressing, also look carefully to the fineness of the gut. Bushy, heavily-dressed flies are objectionable, as trout are, like human beings, more easily attracted by the elegant and slim. Keep in mind, trout are the keenest-eyed of fishes—a mere shadow, or an unnatural ripple in wading, being sufficient to scare them away. A golden rule is to keep out of sight.

VALUE OF A POCKET LENS.

A pocket lens is very useful to examine the contents of the stomach of the first fish you land. Even though it may be partly digested, with a powerful lens you frequently can detect what the fish are feeding on. I repeat, always try to copy Nature to the minutest detail. When fly-fishing in a good breeze, cast your flies on the side the food is drifting towards. It is advisable to keep your finger on the line, as a gentle pull is more easily felt; you can then strike instantaneously. When using a landing-net do not try to take a fish in less than a foot of water; trout struggle dangerously when stranded in shallow water; also keep the net well below a fish in netting him. Patience, with perseverance and keen observation, greatly help a