88 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 







spate is to take to the water, and walk softly 

 upstream, casting into all the quiet corners and 

 slow-running places before one. The chief trouble 

 of this proceeding is getting the trout into the 

 net. 



A big flood is a different thing, though in many 

 respects akin to the other. At first, as the stream 

 rises, the trout commence biting, but as the water 

 increases, and comes down heavily with a plentiful 

 supply of mud, sticks, weeds, etc., they give it up, 

 and seek shelter in the thin, calm sides of broad 

 stickles, pools, under banks, and wherever the water 

 is slack and quiet. Here they remain patiently 

 until the turbid violence of the flood begins to 

 subside, and the mud in the water settles down, 

 not over-inclined to bite, though some would be 

 had in quiet spots, as the slowly-moving flats. 

 Then, the first violence of the spate over, their 

 time comes, and feed they will, and voraciously, 

 all day long. Unlike the moderate freshet, every 

 run will now be practically useless, being in a 

 swollen, hurrying, tumultuous condition. Where, 

 then, are you to angle ? The answer is, in the 

 spots mentioned above, only more so. Fish in 

 all the quiet places, or wherever there is just a 

 little motion in the water. Under banks is likely 

 to be profitable. All flats which now will have 



