68 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



a too hasty strike one lovely early June morning. 

 The angler was out before the sun topped the fell, 

 and a few brace were already in the creel, when he 

 reached a perfect eddy at the side of the main stream. 

 The Stone Fly was cast secundum artem (would that 

 the further proceedings had been on the same plane !). 

 It had hardly alighted when a big fish came up like a 

 porpoise. Alas ! quick as light the eager one tightened 

 without allowing the moment's grace, down went the 

 fish and played strongly, facing the current and giving 

 heartrending jars to the line. Confidence was beginning 

 to take the place of fear of a light hold, when up the 

 beauty came, headed into the stream and came down 

 with all the force of its waters thrown into the scale. 

 He was just opposite the angler when the rod flew up, 

 and that sorrowful angler saw no more of what would 

 undoubtedly have been his big fish of the season. 



The charm of Stone Fly fishing is truly enhanced 

 by the season of its use. What could be finer than 

 the river side in the latter days of May and early June ; 

 and a turn before breakfast at that time of the year 

 is a delight to be remembered the winter through. 

 Besides, a good creel when fish are not so terribly difficult 

 to kill is like all success honestly come by, a delight 

 to the heart and a pleasure to one's friends. 



