106 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



then breaks to the surface close in. On the other 

 hand, if he runs away to break, the line will often 

 have sufficient tension to keep him on the hook. 

 The natural habit of leaping for insects is to their 

 undoing, for it gives the angler an opportunity 

 to cast right to the spot where they lie when feed- 

 ing, and if the flies cast are in any way similar to 

 the natural insect on the water they are bound to 

 rise to the feathery lure — ^and so the sport be- 

 gins. 



Onl^^ last spring I was fortunate to see a number 

 of trout rising in a placid pool, and able to get 

 near enough to cast to the spot without being 

 seen. I succeeded in landing one after the other 

 till nineteen lusty brook-trout graced the sward 

 beside me. The cast being a long one, they were 

 brought to the net away from the rest without 

 difficulty, no obstacles being in the way, so the 

 remainder were unaware of the danger; trout 

 are bold and brave to rise at lure, yet equally 

 timid at sight of angler. Had they been bass, I 

 doubt if the same thing could have been done, 

 because in leaping from the water with their mad 

 rushes they would have scared the rest awaj', 

 at least from feeding for a time. 



The angry leap of any game-fish is a constant 



