OUR OPENING DAY. 13 



in both February and March, and often very killing : and 

 in April your book is not complete without both brown 

 and grey spinner; but the red spinner by very many 

 worthy folks is not regarded as appropriate till May. In 

 that case I mean to anticipate the season by a month, 

 and substitute my favourite red spinner for the stonefly, 

 which has been unsuccessful. The cowdung-fly must re- 

 main, for that insect is unmistakably abroad, circling in 

 the wind with its usual activity. The March brown has 

 been so firm a friend that I seldom discard it, early or late r 

 and it shall not be discarded now. Still something must 

 be done. 



One method is left untried. I plump down upon my 

 bended knees, well away from the brink, winch up the 

 line to a few yards, and cast close under the opposite 

 bank, upon it if possible, and rather below than above. 

 This, too, some dogmatists would condemn as unorthodox : 

 but is not the proof of the pudding in the eating? The 

 flies, sinking somewhat, are borne with the stream, and 

 I am keeping my eye closely upon the red spinner, which 

 the wind dances naturally upon the surface, and which it is 

 my intention to work slowly, dibbing fashion, across to the 

 hither bank. In a few minutes I feel a trout, and I want 

 no information as to his quality; he has shot athwart 

 stream with a deep strong pull, and bent my light rod 

 like a whip. He was lying almost close to the bank on 

 my side of the water, and never broke the surface in 

 seizing the fly : he waited until the red spinner dipped, 

 and then in a business-like way closed upon him once 

 for all. 



Twice afterwards my attendant has the pleasure of using 



