230 LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



takes in the very boil, if you cast fly right into the 

 milky tossings, and believe me you need not strike. 

 Hooking is quite an automatic affair if the fish comes. 

 Downward it goes at speed, and your man will have to 

 steady you maybe as you follow amongst the stones, 

 at least until the rapid has become something like a 

 stream. 



ii. Here you have a very strong stream, making a 

 ridge of wavy upheaval in the middle. The fishable 

 water is on either side in an average height of river. 

 Wading is the plan, and you can fish every inch of 

 likely ground. I know the fish lie in this central dis- 

 turbance, for I saw one dart out amongst the waves, 

 and follow the fly for some fifteen yards, by which 

 time the line was at the proper angle for sport if the 

 salmon had inclined that way. Pity that it was not 

 so, for I have always found turbulent water likely to 

 send a turbulent customer. I love a pool of this kind, 

 if only for the bright life and music of it. 



iii. Now we have a totally different type. The pool 

 is at least 200 yards long, is, in fact, a broad straight 

 section of the river, with two distinct streams, and an 

 oily passage between, in which the salmon lie. A 

 favourite method here is to be let down slowly in the 

 boat. The Norwegians are extremely clever in this 

 work, and it is a treat to see one of them tow the boat 

 up with one line attached to the bow and another to 

 the centre thwart. They steer it between boulders and 

 round spits with the certainty of driving a horse with 

 reins. By letting you down, the boat never disturbs 

 the pool proper, and you command every portion. On 

 hooking a fish you get out and play it from the bank, 

 a practice, of course, followed also on the necessary 

 occasions when the boat must be rowed. 



iv. A stately sweep of dark deep water, with a high- 



