The Fishing of Rivers with the Wet Fly 67 



river (provided it is fished while the angler 

 wades), the wider is the difference. 



As in waters, so in rivers. They are not 

 all alike, even the upper reaches of a river 

 are often most unlike the lower reaches. 

 In some of the rivers which I have fished, 

 I have noticed a sudden and sharp line of 

 demarcation, between the character of one 

 or two miles of water above a given point, 

 and the waters immediately below. I 

 remember, though it is an age since I saw 

 it, that the river Dochart in Perthshire, at 

 one part of its course, suddenly ceases to 

 run in alternate stream and pool, and flows 

 sluggishly for some distance. In the same 

 county, the Tummel, at part of its course, 

 suddenly changes its character entirely. 

 Both of these rivers in time resume the 

 rapid character of normal Highland rivers. 



The Isla, just below Meigle, gives one 

 the idea of a sluggish river, whereas just 

 below and above Glenisla, it is a typical 

 Scottish "water" in character. Is it to 

 be supposed that the methods which are the 

 rule on a rapid river are equally correct on 

 a sluggish one, or even on a mile or two of 

 sluggish water running narrow and deep 

 between high clay banks, where wading is 

 seldom possible ? I say no ! 



