156 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



respect, when we fail on flies, don't let us go and 

 "dig worms" like the country kid, who knows 

 nothing better. Reluctant as I am to compare ex- 

 isting methods, I know that even really expert 

 fly-fishermen, upon finding trout unresponsive 

 under certain conditions, are almost certain to 

 have a reserve supply of the dirty garden-worm 

 tucked away for such emergencies. The worm is 

 all right for the plebeian pot-fisherman; but for 

 the experienced expert a rather shameful come- 

 down after which he cannot, without a blush, 

 face his fellows. 



I was fishing the lovely Esopus down-stream, 

 having caught several nice fish and left many 

 more that rose to my flies, when I was startled 

 by the voice of a Scotch friend across the stream 

 below me. It was a hot morning with low water, 

 just before Decoration Day. Most of what I caught 

 were taken early in the day. My friend, a real 

 good fellow, rigged up with both clothing and 

 tackle in the most expensive style: his cap covered 

 over completely with artificial flies; he had the 

 best of Leonard rods, and a very fine English reel 

 and dry-fly line, to which at the end of his leader 

 hung a bunch of big night-walker worms. "Had 

 any luck?" he bawled across. "Yes; a few and 



