UPSTREAM WORM FISHING 87 



stream. An hour's battling against the elements, 

 trying in vain to get the worm weU up in front, is as 

 a rule enough for anyone. Even if the worm lands 

 occasionally where it is wanted, the wind will catch 

 the line and cause a most unnaturad drag, and ruin 

 all chance of enticing a fish. 



Those were the prevailing conditions on the first 

 opportunity that offered of making use of the experi- 

 ence just narrated. 



Leaving an ideal stream, which on this particular 

 day was absolutely unsheltered from a strong down- 

 stream wind, the writers walked upstream, but had not 

 gone far when one of them noticed, in contrast with the 

 wind-beaten surface of the water, an unruffled place 

 between two large trees which overhung the bank. 

 The water here was wadable, the current almost non- 

 existent, and within the shelter of the trees it was not 

 difficult to make a neat cast. The worm had scarcely 

 touched the water when, from under the cover of the 

 overhanging boughs, came a nice plump well-fed fish, 

 and in full view of the angler appropriated the worm 

 in the most unsuspicious manner. Enough, the angler 

 walked on trying behind every bush, whether the river 

 at that particular place was streamy or otherwise ; and 

 since then, the writers have often had the laugh of a 

 heavy downstream wind. 



Now by the foregoing it is not desired to suggest, 

 that it is wise, whenever an almost streamless stretch 



