WITH ROD AND TACKLE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 10, 9 March 1910, Page 9

WITH ROD AND TACKLE

SHORT-RISING TROUT.

(Specially written for the “Weekly

Graphic.’’)

(By MAJOR BOYD WILSON.)

It must have been the fate of every fisherman to have found trout' in the exasperating m-ood which is suggested by the title of this paper, and though the cause has been hinted at, the remedy is as baffling of solution as the transmutation of metals, or the discovery of perpetual motion upon which, when the world was younger, so much time and thought were expended. The observant angler will probably have noticed that very often after a flood, when the water is just clearing, trout, although occasionally rising freely enough to the artificial fly, are not sucking it down as they do when fairly on the feed, and seem to be only playing with the artificial, taking it gingerly into their mouths and immediately expelling It again. The principal cause seems to be satiety, the big water has washed down such a conglomeration of tit-bits that the fish have become gorged, and although willing to continue their banquet, find that, like the lady at the ball, their programmes are full, and it is often under these conditions that short-rising occurs. Sir Herbert Maxwell, in his delightful “Memories of the Mouths,” refers to this peculiarity of trout, and tells us that when a trout is feeding freely oi» winged insects floating down the stream he sucks them into his mouth with his gills open, thus there is a constant flow of water passing through the mouth and out at the gills, which, to a great extent, assists in conveying the food to the gullet, and ensures quick assimilation; but when a trout is merely playing at feeding, taking flies and even small floating particles of inanimate matter into his mouth and immediately rejecting them again, his gills are tight closed, and the water which enters the mouth merely flows round and escapes at the side, ami makes it easier for the trout to exercise his power of expelling undesirable substances, a power which he undoubtedly possesses, as every boy who has ever caught a trout on a hook baited with a worm knows, for in such eases the worm is generally found several inches up the gut casting line. It must be a somewhat hazardous pastime for the trout in streams, where anglers are many, and flies are not always what they seem, but it is really wonderful what a large proportion escape being hooked or even pricked; of course, now and then a trout falls a victim to his rapacity, but the proportion of times when the steel fails to effect a junction is very, very far in excess of those successfully hooked. I have lately been re-reading Stewart’s “Practical Angler,” one of the best books on trout-fishing that has ever been published, and although it is more than half a century since it was given bo the angling world, it still remains one of the standard authorities ou the subject; true, since Stewart’s time, great improvements have been made in rods and tackle, and trout have undoubtedly become much more educated, but the author was a man who, in his day, was unequalled as a fisherman on the Border Streams and in the Tweed Valley, and his instructions as to the best methods of procedure are as applicable to the clear streams of New Zealand to-day as they were to the Scotch waters of fifty years ago, and the young angler, anxious t'o learn all he can about how, when, and where to fish, will find in the pages of the “Practical Angier” a rich vein of information, which will prove of material assistance in his early apprenticeship to •the most fascinating of all sports.

Artificial minnows are much used in New Zealand, and where snap are plenti

ful and the water deem it is uo uucuuius'u thing to lose a goodly nintrber of these baits in the course of a season. It is a heartbreaking business to be obliged to break a trace and leave an exjs-nsive siiinnvw sticking iu the side of a submerged log, so, with the assistance of a friend, 1 have lately been making some experiments in the fashioning of a homemade article, and in case any readers of the “Graphic” eare to follow my example I will endeavour to describe the modus operand!. Obtain an old golf ball of solid rubber commonly known as a

"gutty.” Dissolve a piece of caustic soda the size of a filbert in a cup of warm water and insert the "gutty” in order to remove the paint, this will be effected in about fifteen minutes. When the “gutty” its free from paint put it in warm water and bring the water to the boiling point. The indiarubber will then be found to be considerably softened and should be kept in the boiling water until it is about the consistency of putty. Detach a piece large enough to form the size of minnow required, and 'with the fingers mould the soft rubber into the shape of a minnow, inanga, bull head or whitebait. As the rubber cools it 'hardens, but. if the model has not acquired a satisfactory shape before the rubber vets too hard to mould easily, it can be again dipped in the hot water until sufficiently softened. The tail is formed by pimdiing the soft rubber between the forefinger and thumb, and may 'be given the shape of a boat’s propeller, so as to induce a proper spin. Should a wobbler be required, bend the tail and after-part of the body in the same position as if it were threaded on a large: round hoo-k. Lead as required, can be concealed in the body while it is soft, and fine 'brass wire ean be shaped into eyelets and allowed to protrude at the mouth ami tail to admit of the trace, swivels and mounts being attached. When completed, dip in boiling water for a few seconds to remove finger marks. The artificial will dry and become hard in about twenty minutes, and ean 'be painted to resemble the small fish it is intended to portray. .Painting should be done with artist s oil colours,” and when they are thoroughly dry, which will take about a fortnight, bait may be varnished with mastic varnish. If required, thin sheet zinc may be inserted into the head of the bait to foun a spinner, the ind'iarwbiber when cool and hard will keep it in place, lhe fins are of course bent in opposite directions. One golf li.ill will supply material for about twenty .minnows. 1 have forwarded two of the minnows to the editor for inspection 'by any one who is interested.