130 Wet-Fly Fishing 



of trout I think to send up to the "Big 

 Hoose" (Monteviot). He had fished some 

 distance down the river Teviot, and was 

 completely beaten. Naturally he grew 

 anxious, for he did not like to report that 

 he had caught no fish probably for a 

 dinner party. Jogging home disconsolate, 

 he observed a few trout rising on the further 

 side of a still pool, overhung by trees. 

 Instantly, he saw a chance of retrieving 

 his ill luck. He was using, as was his 

 wont, but two flies, six feet apart. His tail 

 fly was "woodcock and hare lug," dressed 

 by himself, but with a single wing. Judging 

 his distance, he put this fine fly over a 

 rising trout, without result; another and 

 yet another rising trout, were in their 

 turn duly wooed, but were not won. I 

 think I can see that patient, calm old 

 face, as he was obliged to admit his defeat 

 at the hand of his "slim" enemy. The 

 trout kept feeding steadily, but would not 

 take his flies. 



In his despair, he waded right in amongst 

 them, and discovered, to his surprise, that the 

 trout were not rising at any fly, or flies, but, 

 instead, upon small round seeds, which were 

 occasionally showered upon the pool from 

 some breeze-shaken boughs, overhanging 



