230 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



weight rise merrily in the sunshine. If it is a 

 grey, cloudy day (in Natal) go by all means. 

 The best time with the artificial fly for big trout 

 in the summer is before breakfast and for half an 

 hour or an hour before sundown : the latter 

 period is bewitching when the trout are rising. 

 Keep out of sight. If there is only one tall blade 

 of grass by the riverside, get behind it for cover's 

 sake. Never give up hope. When you do, give 

 up fishing. If you hook a trout for the first 

 time, and things go awry, experience will teach 

 you where you erred. Peg away until you do 

 land your first trout. Every fisherman, even of 

 the highest repute, was once at the stage where he 

 had not yet caught his first trout. To Theodore 

 Roosevelt is attributed a pithy, an inspiring state- 

 ment, " I put myself in the way of things happen- 

 ing, and they happened." Some fishermen pride 

 themselves on getting their trout into the net 

 in extra quick time, which is all very well if the 

 fish does not get away in the process ; others 

 for instance, Mr. K. Suter, one of the most 

 capable fly-fishermen in Natal play their trout 

 until it has not a kick left in it. 



An English angler, by the way, asks whether 

 the rule in South Africa is c< up stream or down." 

 One has a natural preference for the up stream 

 plan, but as a matter of fact experience shows 

 that advising it as a general rule for South Africa 

 would be a counsel of perfection. You can 

 effectively fish up stream, down stream, or across 

 stream. In other words, you must adapt yourself 

 to the conditions of the water on which you are. 



