40 THE TROUT 



were not seen to be rising or ' standing ' near the top 

 of the water. This in my opinion is a mistake, for I 

 have very frequently killed trout in the Mayfly time 

 by throwing over likely spots when neither fish nor 

 natural fly could be observed. In fact, in any river 

 where much weed exists, the openings between the 

 flags, though only a few inches of water may be 

 visible, should always be tried. A cast which places 

 the fly so that it seems to drop into the river from off 

 a reed, as a natural insect would do, is one of the 

 most killing proceedings possible. 



When the fly is about, I would say * fish every 

 inch of water. 7 Trout, however large and respectable, 

 break through all established rules of existence when 

 their Mayfly feast is placed before them. They are, 

 so to speak, 'all over the place,' and will rise 'all 

 anyhow.' I know of no more nervous or exciting 

 moment than that when a big trout makes a rush 

 across a still shallow after your Mayfly. He comes 

 at it exactly like a torpedo boat, leaving behind him 

 a wave showing his track. Many things happen 

 under circumstances such as these. Often from over- 

 anxiety one strikes too soon, and the disappointed 

 fish sails sulkily back again, possibly bearing with 

 him a tender recollection in the shape of a prick from 

 the hook. From the same cause, if the fish be 



