with Gun &P Rod in Canada 



such suggestions are made entirely for the former's 

 comfort and safety. 



Do not insist upon sitting in the front seat of the canoe 

 when going upstream. It is preferable to sit on the 

 bottom with your back to the forward thwart facing 

 downstream. A coat or sweater thrown over the thwart 

 makes a very comfortable seat and back. You can then 

 cast out to either side without hooking your flies into 

 the guide's features, or, worse yet, around the pike-pole, 

 upon which your safety depends, or, you can troll your 

 flies on the side opposite to the guide's pole. You have 

 a better chance of hooking a fish from a side cast, and 

 fighting him facing downstream, than you have when 

 casting against the current. In the latter case, if you 

 do hook a fish, you have either got to twist around in 

 your seat to fight him, or the guide has to turn the canoe 

 around in the swift water to give you a better opportunity. 



In the first case, you are apt to upset the canoe. In 

 the second case, the guide is obliged to handle the canoe 

 when she is headed downstream but trimmed for up- 

 stream work, which is both dangerous and awkward. 

 A good guide under the latter circumstances will usually 

 run his canoe into an eddy, or into quiet water near the 

 shore until the fight is over. This manoeuvre stirs up 

 a lot of water and spoils your chance for another immedi- 

 ate strike. With a good guide, however, it's " safety 

 first " and trout second. 



If, on the other hand, you are sitting in the bottom 

 and facing the stern, as above suggested, you would be 

 facing the fish, you would not run the risk of upsetting, 

 and the guide would not have to turn the canoe around 

 and spoil your fishing, but could simply hold the canoe 

 in the proper position with the pole, or let go his 

 anchor. 



In running downstream it is perfectly proper for the 



162 



