1 1 8 Fly Fishing for Trout. 



vention." We had had no sport — there was not 

 a cloud in the sky — and we sat down to sketch 

 near an old mill. In the tail of the stream I 

 noticed some big trout taking the minnows. I had 

 a fly minnow on my hook. I put him on. He 

 was taken at once, but the fish broke me. This 

 was tantalizing. What was to be done } My eye 

 suddenly rested upon my friend's colour box 

 filled with bright tubes. He gave me one nearly 

 empty. I wound this round a biggish hook of 

 an evening fly, having first split the tube in half 

 I cast this into the stream. A swirl and a tug, 

 and I had fast hold of a good fish ; and I landed 

 three, all large, one after the other, with this 

 bright bit of tin. 



There is no more pleasurable bit of excitement 

 than fishing for a particular fish you see feeding, 

 and getting him at last by actually teasing him. 

 He will go on taking the natural fly one after 

 the other as greedily as possible, and apparently 

 not heeding your invitation, although you have 

 thrown with the greatest accuracy over him, and 

 mentally observed, on a very good cast being placed 

 before him, " Now, that must fetch him." But no ; he 

 goes on, and you begin to tire, when suddenly, 

 when you least expect it, he rushes savagely at 

 your fly. The slightest twist of the wrist, and 

 you have him. I will not try to express the 



