HAUNTS OF CHALK-STREAM TROUT. 13 



Generally speaking, tlie characteristics of chalk-stream trout 

 are their size, the careful and deliberate way in which they rise 

 to a fly, and (particularly in club or semi-public waters) 

 their caution. They spawn about mid-winter, then retire for 

 a while to quiet water. About April, or later, they begin to 

 get into fair condition, and fly-fishing commences. A trout, 

 when a little out of condition, is lean and hungry, and it follows 

 that the best fishing (but not the best-conditioned fish) is 

 often had in the early spring, particularly if the weather is 

 mild. In summer, unless the weather is showeiy, there is 

 little fishing until about dusk ; but in September, if the weather 

 is genial, the fish begin to rise in the daytime. September 

 is often a very good fishing month. 



The Haunts of Trout in Hampshire rivers are not so 

 difficult or so necessary to describe as in the more turbulent 

 streams of the mountain and moor, for, as a general rule, 

 anglers only cast where they see rising fish. 



In well-stocked chalk streams the trout, when feeding, 

 seem everywhere. You find them in deep water and 

 shallow, under the banks and in the open, in mill-heads and 

 mill- tails. When not feeding, they lie like stones on the 

 bottom, or under overhanging banks or masses of weeds. 

 At such times sport is not promising, and the only thing 

 to do is to fish the shallows, where, even if the trout do lie 

 close to the bottom, the fly can be brought within their 

 range of vision. In the evening a large number of fish come 

 on to the shallows to feed; but very big fish which live in 

 the deeps merely rise to the surface, and take only those 

 flies which come close to them. 



In the evening, also, fish which dwell in pools drop down 

 to the scours to feed. In the early part of the day they 

 will be found more towards the centre of the pool, and 

 particularly in the eddy at each side of the stream. 



Generally speaking, the most favourite haunts of trout are : 

 close to sedge-lined banks, where the water is deep; swirling 

 pools, below masses of weeds ; anywhere in shallows over 12in. 

 in depth, provided there are here and there patches of weeds or 

 other cover for fish ; under trees or bushes which overhang 



