86 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



that nobody but a fool would ever try to fish such a 

 place, he came within casting distance of a narrow 

 opening between the willows. Throwing carefully 

 round the trees, the worm was landed within a few 

 inches of the bank. There was a wave such as a trout 

 makes when darting from the edge, and for the fraction 

 of a second he thought that the slight disturbance 

 caused by the worm dropping into the water had 

 scared the fish. But no ! the line quivered, then 

 moved sHghtly, and, in response to a well-timed strike, 

 the rod bent to the fight of a good half-pounder, 

 which gave that thrill of satisfaction which is only 

 felt when a difficult situation has been overcome. 



That stretch of water yielded, within an hour or so, 

 eight fish, which later proved to be above the average 

 size for that part of the river. 



The experience has been of the greatest value. 

 Many times since then, when fish would not take well 

 in the stream, has a blank been saved by attacking a 

 stretch of water of this nature in this way. One thing 

 leads to another, and perhaps a further use to which 

 the knowledge gained on that occasion has been put 

 is worth recording. 



In common with many others, who can only go 

 a-fishing at such times as business permits, the writers 

 frequently wield the rod on most unpropitious days. 

 Even in July they sometimes find on reaching the 

 river that half a gale of wind is blowing dead down 



