72 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



To divine instinctively where the trout lie is the 

 great secret of success ; and it is the application of 

 that knowledge that marks the expert in this branch 

 of angling. To put the matter in a nutshell, an adept 

 in upstream worm fishing combines delicate and 

 accurate casting, unsurpassed even by the dry-fly man, 

 with an intimate knowledge of the habits of trout. 

 This can only be gained by keen and careful observa- 

 tion. 



Neither wet-fly nor dry-fly fishing requires quite 

 such a wide experience with regard to the habits of 

 trout, and for that reason upstream worm fishing is to 

 be classed as an art in itself. The knowledge gained 

 of the habitat of the trout by clear water worming is 

 a valuable asset to the wet-fly fisher and may often 

 be turned to good account on one of those days when 

 the hatch of fly is meagre and rising fish are few. 



Is not this latter reason alone sufficient recommenda- 

 tion to induce every fly fisher to take up this branch 

 of the art ? If the reader thinks so, perhaps the few 

 following hints on tackle and procedure may serve as 

 some guide, particularly if he be a novice and about 

 to make his initial effort. 



The rod is, of course, of primary importance. Many 

 writers recommend one of 12 ft. in length ; and Stewart, 

 who has always held the reputation of being one of 

 the finest exponents of upstream worming of his day, 

 recommends the use of a rod even longer than that. 



