36 THE WONDERFUL TROUT 



precedent and usual practice to persist too 

 long over one spot, or attempt to do what 

 some people advocate, 'bully a fish into 

 rising/ But all rules seemingly have their 

 exceptions, and when such occur the reasons 

 are often not far to seek. Instance : Ob- 

 serving a small space of water, not larger 

 than the crown of a hat, at the edge of a 

 swift current of water, where a big fellow 

 was steadily feeding ('rising to himself,' as 

 expressed in the Highlands), we fished up 

 to him, then across to him, then down to 

 him, i.e. in the direction of the stream, 

 which ran swiftly past this side eddy. At 

 last the fly a c Greenwell's Glory ' came to 

 him as he would wish to be done by ; and 

 he took it with a rapid, hungry rush, and 

 we had him as we would be done by. At 

 least twenty casts we had put over him as 

 he ' bobbit aboot wi' a wonderful snout, and 

 cockit his tail oot o' favour' (Stoddart). 

 Many such experiences we have had. The 

 lesson taught is : Try till you get the fly to 

 hang over him correctly ; shift your position 

 of attack ; he believes a swarm of flies are 

 coming down ; he is keen to respond ; treat 



