WET-FLY FISHING 47 



Wading now a few yards across stream, the angler 

 continues this system of casting until he eventually 

 reaches a point from which he can assail the trout 

 that was noticed rising at the tail of the main stream. 

 A few more steps then bring him to the far bank. 



To fish a stream or length of river systematically, 

 crossing and recrossing, each time a few yards higher 

 up, until the whole has been thoroughly covered, takes 

 time ; but it is far better that the angler's flies should 

 be on the water, searching every spot fit to hold a 

 fish, than waving in the air while he moves rapidly 

 on from stream to stream. Particularly is this the 

 case in Spring when the rise comes on late and ends 

 early, and also on a Summer's evening when the water 

 seems literally alive with fish, so madly do they rise, 

 but for all too brief a spell. Time is of all importance 

 on such occasions, and here it is that the angler who 

 fishes methodically and with intelligence scores so 

 heavily as compared with the rod who spends half 

 his time in walking from stream to stream, and the 

 other half in fishing them in a mechanical sort of way. 

 So many unsuccessful fishermen only fish the larger 

 streams of a river (and usually downstream), entirely 

 ignoring the fact that, while such streams afford a 

 harbour for a great number of fish, they are often 

 deserted in favour of odd corners and favourite " lies " 

 directly the " rise " begins. 



The thoughtful fisherman studies the water, its 



