92 Wet- Fly Fishing 



with sufficient " glide," however, to form 

 on the surface a series of little waves as it 

 meets the up-stream wind. The pool is 

 shallow on my own side, with excellent 

 wading (gravel and sand). I do not always 

 begin at the bottom to wade up. Some- 

 times I do, but not to-day. Why ? Because 

 the wind is blowing in gusts, pretty strongly 

 too, and every time I lift my rod up, the 

 line is apt to be blown clean out of the 

 water, with a flare sufficient to frighten 

 every fish in the pool. I, therefore, do not 

 raise my rod hand, as in ordinary fly-fishing. 

 I walk quietly up to the middle of the pool, 

 and wade in, very gently indeed. Here the 

 wind strikes the water with less violence, 

 and I shall fish it up or down, according as 

 I find it fish best and easiest. In such a 

 day I have no rigid rules. The wind is 

 blowing somewhat across as well as up, 

 towards the bushes which fringe the deeper 

 and further shore, where the waves are 

 largest. My eyes search the water for 

 some sign of " a rise," and at last I see a 

 " splash" on the crest of a wavelet, and 

 then another. There is a small " birth" 

 of flies probably, and the stragglers are 

 taken as " drowned " flies over there at the 

 further side. I am full of hope ; for, even 



