We
Were Obliged To Wade Every Step, As The Banks Of The Stream Had Walls
Of Boulders And Thick Bushes.
Most of the stream was not very deep,
but was a foamy, roaring torrent, rushing over the small rocks and
around the large ones, with little, still, dark places along the
banks - ideal homes for the mountain trout.
We found a few deep pools
that looked most harmless, but the current in them was swift and
dangerous to those who could not always keep their balance. It was
most difficult for me to walk on the slippery stones at first, and I
had many a fall; but Mrs. Ord, being heavy, avoided upsets very
nicely. At times we would be in water above our waists, and then Mrs.
Ord and I would fall back with General Stanley for protection, who
alternately praised and laughed at us during the whole day. Mrs. Ord
was very quick to learn where and how to cast a fly, and I was
delighted to let General Stanley see that grasshoppers were not at all
necessary to my success in fishing.
We sat upon a big, flat rock at luncheon, and were thankful that
General Stanley was a tall man and could keep the box of sandwiches
from getting wet. When we toppled over he always came to our
assistance, so at times his wading boots were not of much use to him.
Mrs. Ord was far ahead of me in number of fish, and General Stanley
said that I had better keep up with her, if I wished. The stream had
broadened out some, so finally Mrs. Ord whipped the left side, which
is easier casting, and I whipped the right. We waded down the entire
five miles, and Mrs. Ord, who had the stream most of the time, caught
sixty-four trout and I caught fifty-six, and General Stanley picked up
fourteen, after our splashing and frightening away the fish we did not
catch. The trout were small, but wonderfully full of fight in that
cold water. Of course General Stanley carried them for us. The driver
had been ordered to keep within call on the trail, as General Stanley
thought it would be impossible for Mrs. Ord and me to wade the five
miles; but the distance seemed short to us; we never once thought of
being tired, and it was with great regret we reeled in our lines.
There was a beaver dam above the picnic camp, and before we came to it
I happened to get near the bank, where I saw in the mud the impression
of a huge paw. It was larger than a tea plate, and was so fresh one
could easily see where the nails had been. I asked General Stanley to
look at it, but he said, "That? oh, that is only the paw of a cub - he
has been down after fish." At once I discovered that the middle of the
stream was most attractive, and there I went, and carefully remained
there the rest of the way down.
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