54 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



with no result other than leaving a cast of gut 

 in an overhanging bough. It was retrieved in 

 the daylight by the process of wading in and 

 bringing the branch to hand by means of a hook 

 fixed at the end of the long handle of a landing 

 net a useful weapon, by the way. I saw this 

 trout several times. Once, with a long line from 

 over the bridge, I had hopes of him. He did 

 me the honour of inspecting the fly, but that 

 was all. 



The Ettrick is an inviting river in respect of 

 its excellent bank fishing. Wading is useful, very ; 

 but without entering the water you can get a 

 series of casts at almost any spot near Tushielaw. 

 One of the best evenings I had there was when I 

 was fishing without waders from the bank. Here 

 and there the banks are steep. You can either 

 cast from the opposite side, running the risk of 

 blunting your hook by repeatedly hitting the 

 gravel, or you can creep along the high bank up 

 stream and throw up close under it. Either 

 method answers on the Ettrick, so the angler need 

 not necessarily take waders, but if he likes them 

 he will be able to use them to advantage. As 

 regards flies, the ordinary wet-fly patterns at 

 the right periods may be relied on, but the teal- 

 and-claret and the woodcock-and-hare's ear are 

 particularly good. A motor-car, a motor-bicycle, 

 or even a bicycle would be found of great use 

 for reaching distant spots ; but without such aid 

 plenty of trout fishing is to be had practically at 

 the inn door. 



