RULES FOR TROUT-FISHING. 39 



manage your tackle), especially if the breeze is against, 

 or across the stream. We usually avail ourselves 

 of a wind inclining from west to north-north west, or 

 from south to south-east. Heavy rains and floods 

 frequently accompany the south-westerly winds, 

 and when these are approaching, though the fish 

 may be seen leaping in every direction, they never 

 take well, and the angler is tempted repeatedly to 

 change his fly : but the real cause of failure lies in the 

 weather. There is, however, no general rule with- 

 out an exception ; we have, occasionally, caught fish 

 as fast as we could throw, during rain : but then it 

 was in sudden passing showers only. 



When a trout rises at your fly, make sure he has 

 taken it before you strike ; more especially should he 

 be of considerable size, or if the weather be windy : 

 I have myself missed numbers, and have seen many 

 others do the same, from the common fault of 

 striking at the moment of the fish's rising. 



If one or two good trouts accept your fly, de- 

 pend upon it " all's right," and don't change it on 

 account of a few false rises : however, notwithstand- 

 ing this remark, if you have been successful with 

 one species, and at length find it generally re- 

 fused, you may conclude the fish are glutted with 

 this sort, and are feeding on others, which you must 

 endeavour to discover. This occurs frequently 

 when any particular fly is very strong upon the 

 water. We have frequently, in the time of the March 

 brown, and in the middle of the flights of the 

 purple, taken many with a light blue dun fly. In 

 D 4? 



