ANGLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 2

ANGLING NOTES.

MEN WE MEET. (Bt Inox Bxtrx.) During a fishing season ono raccis many types of "The Angler," complete and otherwise. From my own experience I should sny tho perfect angler is pretty hard to find; there aro so many necessary Qualifications. He must always be sanguine in adversity, he~ must bo wary and weather-wise, careful and keen. Finally, he must not bo a dry-fly bigot, or subject to '"fishfret." This is an annoying affliction, of which 1 can speak feelingly to any occasional sufferer like myself. An attack may be brought on by the sight of a big trout, at ono of the rare times when ho happens to be rising steadily and well. Tho usual symptoms are hands shaking with eagerness, and an almost invincible desiro to get the Hy over him instantly, no matter what it. is, or in what way. Though it is not as easy as it sounds, the remedy is to light a pipe and tie on a fresh fly, probably under the circumstances 'a lengthy process, but one that will considerably increase the chances of landing the fish. Oi the different types. The Dry-fly Exclusive, by reason'of his high principles, may be taken first. He Ls—so to speak—a thing of joy to himself, but not an unmixed blessing to his friends, and unless one as akin to bin; in his calling ho is very well if lotalone. To do him justice this is all he asks, and ho will he quite happy crawling on his indiarubber knee pads among the gri;ss. and spring from any available cover for a rising hsh. A truly scientific exponent ot the stv'.e has no idea of time, and a great distaste for companionship, therefore it is unfair to interfere "with him.- except to notice his existence in tho proper place. Fortnnatelv, in Xew Zealand tlie type is extremely rare. Next in order—-also on account of hi.s lofty aims—comes the man who makes it his business to benelit his fellows, and is never satisfied that he has achieved his end. With such a persistent benefactor I one© spent a trying hour. He was ''Hardy'd" at all points, and lookd disparagingly at my less elegant tackle, but lie was a wellmeaning man, and evidently decided to do his [vest for mo. It was partly my own fault, for on hearing he" had caught only a brace, I stupidly concealed tho fact that 1 had eleven, ond ho arrived without hesitation at tho understanding that I had not any. To begin with, I was ordered to change the flies, and do certain things in a certain manner, but though for tho sake of experiment I tried to carry out his instructions, I could no nothing right. My pent-tip feelings made mc perspire freely while advice camo from liim in a constant murmur. At last tlie fear that I might be unaßlo to remember moro caused mo to lose him. in some high -gorse. Thankfully I saw him half a mile away tackling a friend of mine who has a temper, which T think from tho abrupt departure of tho wise man, must have been within easy reach. Then there is "Tlie Untamed Angler off tho Top"—of tho world, is understood—who, after a long eea voyage, finds himself with tho rivers of NewZealand' ready for his rod. Very frequently he is "of companions" the most pleasant," but not always. I havo met both types; the first quite recently. Crouclied by the edge of a pool, he was exerting nil his skilly and, according to the teaching of the Itchen., or Test, his casting was doubtless 'perfect. Unluckily, tho pool had just been fished, so I halted at a distance to consider if I should tell him. It; waa likely that the information might bo annoying, but ho was plainly a stranger in a strango land, and 1 decided to risk it. The question, "Any sport?" is a convenient feeler for further conversation, and it brought an enquiry as to flies which I waff.glad to answer. It happened that I could also supply a deficiency in his stock, and then I broke the news that he had arrived five minutes too late to see tho whole pool disturbed by the vain struggles or a sporting trout. Wo went elsewhere and fared well, and I trust that he was pleased with his bulging bag when lie departed. The second type was encountered somo years ago, swearing at its conductor, at the country, and nearly everything besides, becauee "there are no fish in the qualified river"—which by the waywas well stocked—and I heard enough to keep mc afar off. There are many others, for instance, ''Tho Solitary Man" who glances uneasily over his shoulder when anyone oomes near, and does not scruple to mislead a possible neighbour with false information. This animal is found chiefly at the mouths of rivers. Tlie .angler who likes to make sure that a pool is inhabited, and glares into it from the high bank beforo he begins fishing is usually a tyro, but the case is not so rare a.s might bo expected. Needless to say, be" does, not oatch much at first, but what ho is apt to call bad luck soon "lams him bettor." Throe types must be put in a class of their own to bo avoided if possible. The man who never has the right fly and begs "just a couple." The man with forty-nine unanswerable questions; and tbe admiring acquaintace, "who after watching ono fish expects half tho ba<r as a recompense. Ac I said, there are still more, but they must bo left for another time. Mnnv anglers go to the making of a world, and hardly any nre alike. I seora ro have heard somewhere that "Tlie sq'url, r.nd the Rurl," And the ilippy-flappy bat, Aro different, n=* cent lo gent, So let it go nt that.