80 



but continue for half an hour fishing elsewhere ; 

 then come back, and it is very probable that 

 you will hook him at the very first cast. By 

 adhering to this practice we have been success- 

 ful times out of mind. It is useless to remain 

 a quarter of an hour flinging over the same 

 fish, as by showing him your flies too often you 

 lose the chance of catching him by-and-by, 

 when a seeming neglect, as is often the case 

 with other animals, will succeed in alluring 

 him.* When you are obliged to fish at a con- 

 siderable distance, it will be impossible for you 

 to prevent some portion of the reel-line falling 

 on the water, but lift it off as speedily as you 

 can, by elevating your rod to a sufficient height. 

 In all cases, and in all weathers, fish as far 

 from the river-side as the nature of the bank 

 and river will permit. 



Mr. Alfred Ronalds, whose precepts are 

 generally scientific, says, " In order to acquire 

 the art of throwing a fly, it may be advisable 

 to practise previously to visiting the stream, 

 in an open space free from trees, where a piece 

 of paper may represent the spot required to be 



* " If you have a rise, but fail to hook your game, 

 either by striking prematurely, or from the fish having 

 missed his spring, you may throw over him again almost 

 directly, if he be a small one; but, if it be 'the monarch 

 of the brook,' don't venture near the spot again for half 

 an hour at least." Hansard. 



