WET FLY 55 



special carnival, known as the evening rise, 

 which continues until dark falls, though I have 

 known it to cease abruptly before. It may last 

 for half an hour, perhaps a little more. The 

 fish, at this time, seem to lose much of their 

 cunning, and take freely. It is expedient to 

 single out a convenient bit for this evening fishing 

 where both casting and landing trout will be 

 easy, having due regard to its affording pro- 

 babilities. As, for instance, a few consecutive 

 open stickles, or a flat with a fall in. Ordinary 

 day flies are sufficient, and a very killing one is a 

 small Coachman tied with landrail wing. 



The first trout I ever caught with fly were taken 

 on one of these occasions, and from a very small 

 brook indeed, whose one long, deepish flat formed 

 the theatre of this early exploit. Here, a mere 

 boy, I crawled close, armed with a half-crown rod, 

 and never since have I felt such intense excite- 

 ment. As I watched the little boils of the rising 

 trout in the still water my heart seemed in my 

 mouth. I cast as lightly as I could ; there came 

 a boil to me, and a tug to which I vigorously 

 responded, and out flew my first victim, a 5- 

 ouncer. 



Oh, the bliss of that moment ! Another, a 

 little less, followed, then a lull, and then then I 



