RULES FOR TROUT-FISHING. 37 



productive streams in Great Britain, sometimes put 

 their rods together in the month of February, it is 

 merely because they are unwilling to "throw -a 

 chance away."* The season for fly-fishing, however, 

 cannot be said regularly to commence before the 

 middle of March ; by which time the insect tribe 

 have become pretty numerous. The best sport is 

 then from eleven until about three o'clock; the 

 trout generally taking home when they rise, and 

 often under water, without breaking the surface, 

 especially during the prevalence of cool winds. 

 Brooks, and the lower part of rivers and sheltered 

 streams (those, for instance, which flow between 

 mountains), are to be selected in the early part of 

 the spring. 



April is certainly the best month in the year for 

 trout fishing. The angler then rarely goes out with- 

 out having sport, provided floods, or excessively 

 stormy weather is not prevalent. In April, too, the 

 rise of fish is stronger, earlier, and continues later 

 than in March ; and observe in frosty days, the flies 

 do not appear so early f, or remain on the water so 

 long as in mild open weather. The same rule holds 

 good throughout May, unless the sand-flies are 



* I did once take, upon the 6th day of December, one, and 

 only one, of the biggest graylings and the best in season that I 

 ever saw or tasted. I do usually take trouts too, and with a 

 fly, not only before the middle of March, but, almost every year, 

 in February, unless it be a very ill spring indeed." COTTON. 



y After a white frost, it is useless to commence before noon 

 on the succeeding day. 



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