72 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



though, fortunately, they are not always present, 

 and I propose to deal shortly with the fishing of 

 each of them. 



In almost all conditions a very short line is 

 used, to be varied according to circumstances. 

 No part at all accessible should be passed over on 

 account of obstacles, for which the eye should 

 always be on the alert, and before undertaking 

 any difficult spot it is well to take stock and use 

 judgment. For instance, weed-stalks and rush- 

 growths project from the edges, blackberry 

 trailers are submerged, snags under water and 

 small twigs carried down by floods and anchored 

 to the bottom are more numerous than desirable, 

 and bushes abound everywhere. Thus, no matter 

 how expert the angler, accidents to tackle are 

 bound to happen, but the watchfulness and in- 

 genuity developed by the necessity of overcoming 

 these hindrances quickly bear fruit, and the 

 fisherman is duly rewarded, for it is very often 

 from some well-defended sanctuary that the best 

 trout of the day are taken. 



It is worth mentioning that whenever a hitch- 

 up occurs the very gentlest means should be tried 

 at first. Should a hitch at bottom happen, pull 

 the line lightly against the course of the stream. 

 Some snags are so deeply placed that to get at the 



