72 TROUT-FISHING FOR THE BEGINNER 



the fish as it is, rather than hurriedly pick it 

 up and put him down by making a disturbance 

 in front of him. Particular attention must of 

 course be paid to the direction of the current, 

 otherwise there is sure to be a drag on the line. 



8. " Fine and as near as you can." 

 There is an old maxim " Fine and far off " 

 that has been quoted in practically every book 

 on angling, but the novice will be well advised 

 to alter this to "Fine and as near as you 

 can." If he be temperamentally fitted to 

 use the finest tackle, by all means let him 

 do so, but it is a mistake to make longer 

 casts than is absolutely necessary, for the 

 simple reasons that it is more difficult to 

 strike promptly with a long line out than 

 with a short one, and there is not the same 

 instant control over a hooked fish. It is 

 much better to wade and practise the art of 

 stalking and camouflage than trust to distance 

 and a long line, to keep you out of the trout's 

 sight. A short cast is easier to make, too, 

 than a long one, particularly where accuracy 

 is concerned. Casting for distance is right 

 enough at a tournament, where you are " fish- 

 ing " for prizes in the shape of silver " pots," 

 but on the stream, the nearer you can get to 

 your fish, and the shorter your line, the sooner 

 will you hustle your victim towards the net. 



