34 The Trouts of America 



larly under the shelving bank, if such exists, and 

 in the circling eddy below the big boulder at the 

 head of the pool. Often I fish a pool from above 

 before going below it, making the "grasshopper 

 cast," of which more anon, but, in doing so, care 

 is used in standing as much in the shadow as 

 possible, or only casting when a cloud throws a 

 passing depth of color over the pool ; casting in 

 bright sunlight is time wasted, although fifty to 

 sixty feet of line may be used. Fishing the pool 

 from above has frequently resulted in a good 

 score, and thus encouraged I have often fished 

 the same pool immediately after from below, 

 making previously the detour described, and 

 have frequently added two or more good fish 

 to the creel. But the average best result is 

 had from fishing a pool from the foot of it. 



Here and there on a trout stream will be 

 found, comparatively long, still stretches where 

 only a gentle current prevails. They are, as a 

 rule, of uniform depth, seldom reaching above 

 the thighs. Such waters, I think, the most diffi- 

 cult of any to successfully fish, but in them usu- 

 ally lie the largest trout living in the stream. 

 Long and most delicate casts are requisite, and 

 just here comes in the value of " the grasshopper 



