HOME NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 6 November 1890, Page 28

HOME NOTES.

The run of salmon and grilse of late up the Shannon, Suir, and several other Irish rivers, is said to have been something unprecedented, no such big shoals of fish having been Been for many years,

A curious angling inoident ocourred a few - days ago to an angler fishing the river Earn. He aooidently hooked a salmon parr, and before he was able to release it, it was seized by, a large brown trout (Salmo fario), which, although not booked, hung on bo tenaoiously , that the angler was able to plaoe his landing net under the pair and bring both safe to bank. ' i

A correspondent of the FishiDg Gazette has , bean making some inquiries interesting to' anglers and others regarding the respective, merits or popularity of the different varieties j of salmon flies. Of 19 well-known tackle, makers and anglers in all parts of the country! between London and Sutherland, who have! named the six flies which they consider the' best, no fewer than 18 mention the Jook Scott, in most cases putting it at the top of their lists. ; The Silver Dootor comes out next with 15, the. Butcher nine, the Silver Grey seven. Blue Dootor and ' Obilders six each, Black Dootor; and Thunder and Lightning five each ; Popbam,; Black Dog, Wilkinson, and Blue Wasp three! each ; Durham Ranger, Dusty Millar, and a number of other* two each. About a soore of others, chiefly fl'es of local reputation, are named only once, and among these are the well-known Tweed flies the Greenwell and Sir Riohard. Messrs Forrest and Sou's selection includes — Jook Scot l -, Silver Grey, Sir Riohard, Durham Rangor, Greenwell, and Wilkinson. Mr James Wright, Sprouston,, chooses Jock Soott, Silver Grey, Ohilders, Blue Dootor, Popham, and Butcher.

It may not be generally known that the Jock Scott, which has attained to such high favour in angling circles, is a Kelso production, and was named by the late Mr Forrest, Kelso,; It was first made by a Tweed fisherman, who was employed by Mr Forrest, and who, like Tweed fishermen generally, was an expert flydresser., Mr Forrest, noticing the "taking" appearance of the fly, took an early opportunity of testing its killing powers. Accepting an invitation to Bomersyde for a summer's day's' salmon angling, he wa3 informed by Honeyman, the fisherman there, that there were only three salmon known te be in the water. The new fly was tried, and in course of time all the three fish succumbed to its allurements. Naturally elated with this remarkable Buooess, and triving honour where it was due, Mr Forrest named the fly the Jock Scott, a title by which the dresser of the fly (John Scott) was best known, and a name also sometimes applied to an employer of Mb— the late Lord John Sootfc, one of the moßt enthusiastic and popular sportsmen of his gerteiation.