7 o TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



hurried or moved downwards in a run more 

 rapidly than the flow carries it ; rod-point and 

 bait must travel together pan passu, and upon 

 this matter I desire to be emphatic. 



The reason for the foregoing method of deliver- 

 ing baits will be obvious. The entire water will 

 be searched, and by first covering fish in the 

 lower parts of a stickle and, if hooked, bringing 

 them downstream, those above will be unlikely 

 to take alarm, considering that tfcey all face the 

 current, as would certainly be the case were the 

 run fished from the head downwards. Moreover, 

 this procedure carries out what I urged in a former 

 chapter concerning the expediency of fishing 

 from behind trout wherever practicable. Suppose 

 one were to work downstream, commencing at the 

 head of a stickle. If he hooked a trout there the 

 splashing and fuss of playing it would inevitably 

 scare other fish which, naturally, are facing up, 

 and as it would be almost impossible for the 

 angler to keep from showing himself, his appear- 

 ance would complete their rout. The head of a 

 run is not necessarily its most likely spot, 

 tempting though it may look ; many trout prefer 

 to lie midway, or even farther down, watching for 

 whatever food the stream may bring. The 

 principle of casting advocated in the foregoing 



