NIGHT FISHING 99 



under cover of darkness, many large moths, 

 beetles, etc., are abroad. A large fly on the 

 whole is preferable for this reason : its bigger 

 hook gets a good hold and so enables you to 

 handle a trout quickly and, if necessary, more 

 or less unceremoniously. 1 



When fishing at night, it is best to cast 

 across and downstream. In the darkness you 

 can hear the plop-plop of rising trout, but it 

 is impossible to see their movements. By fish- 

 ing down you keep your line fairly taut, and 

 the instant a fish seizes the fly you feel him. 



3. Night -fishing with gentles on lakes. 



Night fishing may be indulged in with 

 considerable profit on lakes. Then, if the 

 angler puts gentles on his fly-hooks, he will 

 often find capital sport. During May, June 

 and July, trout take maggots well, and will 

 often rise to them on a bare hook. For some 

 reason or other, however, they are even 

 keener on them when attached to artificial 

 fly-hooks. If gentles are not to be obtained, 



1 No doubt many an angler has wondered whether 

 trout sleep. During some portion of the night there is 

 generally a cessation amongst the feeding fish, and it 

 may be that they utilize this interval for slumber. 

 Being on the shallows, they are free from pressure and 

 interference by the stream ; therefore it seems not 

 unreasonable to suppose that there is some truth in 

 the above theory. 



