UPSTREAM WORM FISHING 85 



trunk of a tree, began to survey the stretch of river 

 above him. Both banks were bordered by trees and 

 clumps of willows for a distance of some two hundred 

 yards. The water was nowhere more than two feet 

 deep and so slight was the current that it was almost 

 imperceptible. Not a ripple broke the surface of the 

 stretch from end to end. It was like the proverbial 

 " sheet of glass," and, had it but been able to reflect 

 the expression on the angler's face, nothing but 

 disappointment would have been revealed. 



At length he jumped up with the intention of 

 exploring the higher regions of the river and as he did 

 so several fish, scared at his proximity, darted from the 

 edge. Those trout decided the course of action, and, 

 although the reach was to all appearances hopeless, 

 the angler determined to try for some of the fish that 

 were lying at the very edges, apparently basking in 

 the sun. 



Wading a stretch of water such as this, was most 

 difficult, necessitating the utmost caution and slow 

 approach, if the tell-tale wave were to be avoided. 

 For obvious reasons it was essential that the angler 

 should keep as close in to the willows on his side of 

 the river as possible, and cast as long a line as he 

 could control. Every time the worm was allowed to 

 sink to the bottom, it was fouled with the vegetable 

 growth on the stones. This happened almost every 

 cast, and just as the angler was beginning to think 



