Sound advice

[Otter]

Below is an excerpt from a wonderful book - Cutliffes Trout Fishing on Rapid Streams.

This in my opinion is one of the finest pieces of advice that one angler could give another or one tier to another. The wisdoms contained in this little passage are as pertinent to-day as they were the day they were written and exceed in value all else for they establish a sound basis from which an angler or tier may flourish according to their own nature, desires and expectations.

From the habits of fish in small and rapid streams will we deduce our principles for founding our ideas of fishing these streams, and the more fully we comprehend this portion of our subject the more correct will our reasonings be, and the more fruitful our labours prove.---Let us endeavour then early to form sound and correct opinions of our subject; let us not be guided or governed by the dogmatical statements of one person or another, as to what method is most suitable to our field of operations, let us not be biased or limited in our attempts by the authoritative and often too positive assertions of others, but rather having formed our own notions on correct and just grounds, let us bring them early into practice and strive to steer a course as free and independent as the right knowledge of a subject demands; we shall then be better able to judge of what others say, to refute their errors, and profit by their experience and statements when they have been justly and reasonably considered.

the full book is off course available from archive.org

[CreationBear]

Very cool...a lot yet to explore, but the first thing I came to was his distinction between "dull, slow, and deep water" which calls for precise imitation of insects with "rapid small streams" where we must "no longer consider our fly in the light of a representation of some insect on the water."

Sounds like a "flympher" avant la lettre.

[DNicolson]

How very relevant.
Excellent sentiments from an excellent little book.
His flies are quite interesting to.
http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page161.html

[CreationBear]

Thanks for the links...those flies will fish. Otherwise, all of his advice seemed to me spot-on, especially when he was emphasizing stealth and the need for a long rod...though I can't imagine what fishing a 14-foot lancewood rod would be like--he must have had wrists like a blacksmith. Another thing that caught my eye was his championing of cock rather than hen hackle--no doubt his feathers wouldn't have the barb count of those from our "genetic" products, but it inclines me to give Chinese rooster another look.

[Otter]

Some more wisdoms in this chapter from times of yore, well worth a read.

I wonder how often the success of any particular pattern we are confident in is over inflated as we are blissfully unaware that a better exists.

http://www.archive.org/stream/cu3192400 ... 3/mode/2up

[tie2fish]

Wow! That is a seriously cool link, Otter. That's the first time I've seen a site where you could "turn" the pages of a book, but then I'm relatively naive when it comes to technology .

[hankaye]

Otter, Howdy;

Thanks for the link ... equals another book in my library !

hank

[Otter]

Wow! That is a seriously cool link, Otter. That's the first time I've seen a site where you could "turn" the pages of a book, but then I'm relatively naive when it comes to technology .

Many if not all the books in archive.org allow you to read online or download as a pdf. Hank, these won't take up much space in the RV.

[hankaye]

Otter, Howdy;

The PDF was downloaded before the post was made .
Must have near a dozen. Can't find'em till I turn on the "magic box"
don't have to dust them weekly or any of that other time wasting stuff.

Thanks again for the link ...

hank

[Mike Connor]

You might prefer this edition, it has most of the original colour plates;

http://www.archive.org/details/american ... 00rhearich

http://www.archive.org/stream/americant ... 9/mode/2up

TL
MC