The Fishing of Rivers with the Wet Fly 9 1 



I go over the same ground as I did the 

 day before, and I do nothing worth speak- 

 ing of, while fishing in the orthodox way. 

 The river I am thinking of at present, is 

 a portion of the Deveron very well known 

 to me, where an up-stream wind, by reason 

 of twists and turns, strikes this part of the 

 river from above downwards. I feel that 

 if I fish all day where I am, the chances 

 are that I shall return home with a light 

 basket. Many a good angler is baffled on 

 such a day. He may throw a perfect line, 

 he may fish up stream, he may know the 

 river and the right flies to use, and yet 

 may be hopelessly beaten by the man who 

 fishes no better than he does himself, but 

 who thinks out his problems carefully ; 

 which is essential to success when wet-fly 

 fishing, under difficulties. 



I walk rapidly across the meadows, 

 passing a good deal of fine water on my 

 way. " What on earth is the man about ? " 

 I hear some angler say. " He is leaving 

 me all the best of the fishing ; but let him 

 go, by all means ! " 



Arriving, I find, to my joy, that the wind 

 is striking the water from below upwards. 

 It is just what I expected. There is but 

 little stream here. It is a longish pool, 



