88 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



fact, bottom fishing by this method is a sort of 

 bait-casting and fly-casting combined. 



The prime object of this chapter is not how to 

 fish but lohere to fish, and to attain the best re- 

 sults, you should have previously studied those 

 chapters describing the right tackle and the right 

 method, with pictures explaining fully what is 

 necessary to be known. 



Many fishermen have the mistaken idea that 

 trout lie at or near the surface. Trout most in- 

 variabl^" lie at, or near the bottom, darting to 

 the surface for food and returning immediately. 

 But that is no reason why the greatest care should 

 not be taken to avoid being observed by the fish. 

 Trout run up from their haunts at the bottom 

 in an almost perpendicular line, never running 

 far forward or backward to the domains of other 

 fish. They are always poised with nose facing the 

 water flow. By reason of its great shyness it is 

 extremely difficult to obtain accurate knowledge 

 of its habits by ocular demonstration. I have seen 

 trout in a stationary position, in which it main- 

 tains itself in the most rapid streams. Even the 

 tail, which is known to be the principal means 

 of propulsion, can scarcely be observed to move, 

 and the fins, which are used to balance it, seem 



