358 TROUT FISHING. 



angler are south, south-east, south-west, and north-west ; but 

 in March and April this latter wind is generally too cold. A 

 fresh breeze is favourable, especially for lake-fishing, mill-dams, 

 or the still deeps of rivers ; as the ripple on the water, caused 

 by the breeze, has the same effect as a rapid stream, in pre- 

 venting the sharp -sighted Trout from discovering the deception 

 of the artificial fly. 



" In lake-fishing you can hardly have too much wind, if you 

 can manage your boat comfortably, and keep your fly on the 

 water. There are very few lakes, with which I am acquainted, 

 where good sport can be had from the shore ; to ensure success, 

 a boat is indispensable ; and if you can procure a boatman well 

 acquainted with the water, and the management of his boat, 

 the battle is half won. After sunset the fish seek the shallow 

 water, and a lake may then be fished from the shore. I have 

 found, from long experience in lake-fishing, that it is better to 

 cast your line towards the shore, rather than from the shore, 

 or up or down the lake. The boat should be maintained, as 

 far as possible, at a proper distance from the shore — that is, so 

 that your flies may fall where the water begins to deepen 

 from the shore. The boat should be allowed to drift with the 

 wind, and the oars used as seldom as possible, and merely to 

 keep it in a proper position and distance from the shore. The 

 flies used in lake-fishing are larger than those for rivers; and 

 I have frequently observed that the winged flies answer better 

 than palmers. Perhaps the cause of this may be, that many 

 rivers and small Trout streams are bordered with trees, which 

 overhang them, and from which drop the insects that the 

 palmers imitate ; whereas the shores of the lake are generally 



