Fish and Fishing 



water just cleared and going down after a 

 freshet the best either for fly-fishing or bait, and 

 I think this apphes to nearly all fish, in brooks, 

 rivers, or lakes. In brooks, swollen by rain, the 

 fish have a wider field to forage, with a chance to 

 dart across when they see a lure; and in rivers 

 they move from their favorite haunt, prospecting 

 and going in search of anything that is washed 

 above them. In lakes they rise to the surface to 

 feel lower temperature, which a plentiful supply 

 of rain gives to the surface, and so take the bait if 

 offered. Calm, hot, and dry weather make 

 the worst conditions for the angler to 

 contend with, because the river gets so 

 low and water so warm that the fish refuse to leave 

 cool, sheltered holes, where they hide from the hot 

 sun's rays. I was fishing this season on a stream, 

 using the finest flies and gut without success. In 

 wading down the shady side near the shore, I con- 

 stantly saw nice, large fish dart from under large 

 bowlders; and even from the very edge of the grassy 

 borders of the stream they would rush off suddenly 

 toward the middle. Possibly they were taking an 

 afternoon nap or rest, for surely they were not 

 taking any flies. I fished the same stretch after 

 sunset and soon filled my basket with good-sized 

 trout. They were simply not feeding. The warm 

 sunshine was too hot for them; no flies were on 

 the water, so they would not take mine. 



Both trout and bass are rarely inclined to go for 

 any lure if they see the angler, and on warm, sunny 

 days it is most difl[icult to get the lure near enough 

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