34 AN OPEN CREEL 



There was a noticeable difference in the spots where 

 the fish rose on the two days. 



On Monday they mostly came from the deeper, stiller 

 water, but to-day they were nearly all in the stickles. 

 The best, a fish of about five ounces, was lying in a 

 place where there was barely enough water to cover 

 him, a sharp run entirely surrounded with bushes and 

 only to be covered by a sort of steeple-cast, which is a 

 very useful thing on these tiny streams. Straight- 

 forward casting, indeed, was scarcely possible any- 

 where after the first half-mile. Steeple, switch, and 

 catapult casts had to be employed, and the shortness 

 of the rod was a decided help. The great thing in this 

 sort of fishing is not to be afraid. You must expect to 

 lose some flies, but a bold policy often makes it possible 

 to cover spots which look quite unapproachable. You 

 have to forget all about the rule of extending line behind, 

 and to treat it as though it were no longer than the 

 rod : often this forcing method will get it out, even 

 though it is three or four times as long. I do not 

 know how it is done, but it can be done. 



I continued to catch fish at intervals till about 4 p.m., 

 and then the beck began to rise, the trout ceased to 

 move, and my luck deserted me. At 4.5 p.m. I 

 scrambled up a steep bank, and tore a great rent in 

 a new mackintosh. At 4.10 p.m. I climbed over a 

 gate, out of which a nail projected, and did my raiment 

 even more serious damage. At 4.15 p.m. I got in over 

 the top of my left knee-boot. A little later I got my 

 cast entangled in a bush and frayed it to ribbons, so 

 I took it off, put on worm-tackle, and, after catching 

 one more trout, lost that. Then I reached the spot 



