32 Where to Fish for Salmon. 



Pools change considerably every year in many 

 rivers from floods, etc. ; deeps are filled up with 

 sand and rubbish, favourite stones and rocks are 

 covered and no longer give shelter, and so become 

 barren for sport. Running fish, particularly in 

 small rivers, only stop where they can find com- 

 fortable rocks or stones to lie under, on their way 

 to their spawning ground. A salmon finding what 

 suits him will sometimes remain for days in a pool, 

 but a heavy flood is sure to move him, up or down, 

 for I believe that salmon which have been some 

 time in fresh water, and not able to get on for want 

 of water, will often go down to the sea again on the 

 first heavy spate ; however that may be, a flood is 

 sure to move them and often incline them to take 

 the fly, when for a long time nothing would tempt 

 them. They will sometimes in a short river run up 

 from the sea to the loch above, where they rest 

 contented till spawning time, when they again 

 enter the river or stream above and find suitable 

 places to deposit their ova. When the fresh fish 

 are running in a flood, or just after the water has 

 cleared, every big stone holds a fish, and you don't 

 want a guide to tell you what pool or what run is 

 fishable ; you may find fish all over the river 

 and they will take. Of course, there are also 

 favourite streams and pools, but you may leave 

 those for less favourite places, under the circum- 



