4 6 



I went a few paces below, and threw up stream. My first 

 cast did not please me, and before the fly well touched 

 the water I picked it off, not wishing it to pass over the fish 

 unnaturally. I made a second cast, and was delighted to 

 see my fly alight within a few inches of his home. I eased 

 my rod, by lowering the top, to prevent a drag. The fly 

 floated well without a ripple, and the trout came to it 

 instantly. I mounted my rod, and he rushed across the 

 river as quick as lightening. Of course I had a slack 

 line, as a ditch behind prevented me running back. I 

 reeled up quickly, as I found him near my feet in deep 

 water, and could see his tail. One of the gentleman 

 wanted to land him at once. I said, " By no means ; I 

 will serve him as I do sulky salmon, and other fish, by 

 putting a strain on the line and striking the butt of the 

 rod." I did so, which caused him to rush out, and in 

 going across he threw himself in the air, salmon like. I 

 eased, but still felt him, and found I must try and take 

 him down stream. He complied with my wishes till I got 

 him into a reach of water free from weeds, allowing my 

 rod to do the work by giving and taking a few inches 

 when required. I told the gentleman he might land the 

 fish on one condition, namely, that he did not knock it 

 off. I instructed him to plant his landing net in the water 

 as far as he could reach, ten yards below, and I would 

 bring the fish over the net, he moving the net up gently, 

 and, when the fish was bagged, drawing it out, not lifting 

 the net up in the air, but pulling it forward gently in the 

 water. He succeeded in landing it, and a splendid trout 

 it was, like a mass of gold, short and thick, weighing 



