HINTS TO YOUNG ANGLERS. 357 



with his night-lines ; and I am sorry to say that the north- 

 country angler gives too faithful a picture of this night-fishing, 

 which he himself practised. 



" And now, having told the young angler where to search for 

 fish, I must strongly impress upon him the necessity of keeping 

 out of sight of the fish, for, if once seen, not any kind of bait 

 he can offer will tempt a Trout to take it ; therefore, approach 

 the stream with caution, keeping as far from it as possible : first, 

 fish the side nearest to you, and then cast your line so as to 

 drop just under the bank on the opposite side of the stream, 

 drawing it, by gentle snatches, towards you, always continuing 

 careful to show yourself as little as possible. 



" Some persons recommend fishing up stream, and throwing 

 the fly before them; others walk down the river, and cast the 

 fly before them. For my own part, — after much experience, — 

 whenever I can do so with convenience, I cast my fly a little 

 above me, and across the stream, drawing it gently towards me. 

 If the wind should be against you, you will be constrained to 

 stand close to the water^s edge, and make your cast close to the 

 bank on which you stand, either up or down the stream, as the 

 wind may serve. Avoid, if possible, fishing with the sun behind 

 you, as the moving shadow of yourself and rod will alarm the 

 fish. The finer the tackle, — particularly the bottom tackle, — 

 and the lighter the fly falls on the water, the greater will be 

 your sport ; indeed, some anglers use only a single hair for their 

 bottom tackle ; but when the water you fish is weedy, or much 

 wooded, a single hair is very difficult to manage ; but in ponds, 

 or streams, free from impediments, it may be used by a skilful 

 hand with great advantage. The winds most favourable to the 



