TROUT FISHING BY NIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 30

TROUT FISHING BY NIGHT.

IS OB IS IT NOT SPORTSMANLIKE ? Trout fishing by night is a practice as to the orthodoxy of which there is considerable difference of opinion among fly-fishers. By some it is condemned in the strongest terms, while it is followed by many who have every right to be called good sportsmen. It has been said to injure trout streams, but of thia there is no satisfactory evidence. Certainly, during the hot summer months, more trout may be oaught at night than during the day, and, so far, the water suffers, but it is not reasonable to suppose that the trout which are left rise any the worse. The great argument against it is that it requires no particular skill, and that a comparative duffer, after fishing all day without a rise, may stand by the river's bank after night has fallen, plump in a huge fly with a huge splash, and lug out, on gut that would hold a salmon, half a dozen good fish. At the same time it must he admitted that there are many occasions, after darkness has arrived, on which even the skilful fly- fisher is unable to rise a fish, and the duffer still less so. After all, to cast and work a fly in the dark is not bo yery easy, and ocoaßionally dry-fly enthusiasts go so far as to fish the rises by moonlight, for trout do often rise by moonlight, whatever may be said to the contrary. About sunset time, when the after glow has almost died away, and the opposite bank of the river is in shade, it often happens that the rises of the fish cannot be Been, but one may know, from the circles whioh come travelling over the water, that good fish are on the rise, though it is not easy to say exactly where. The experienced night-fisher, however, will probably be able to guess the position of the fish to a nicety ; indeed, some men, on bearing a fish rise on a dark night will often suoaeed in putting the fly over him.— Field.