CASTING OVER RISING FISH. 37 



net. In fisMng weedy streams, the one thing to do is to take 

 the fish down stream over the weeds as sharply as the tackle 

 will bear. If a fish is hooked in a little hole surrounded by 

 weeds, try what impudence will do, i.e., try and pull him out of 

 his lair, willy, nilly, before he knows he is hooked. When playing 

 a fish, always keep below him, if you can. 



Never put a landing-net in front of a trout's nose, but sink 

 the net in the water, and draw the fish gently over it. If the 

 stream is strong, place the net behind the fish, and let the 

 current carry him in. If you have no net, play the fish to 

 some shallow, shelving bank, and strand him. If no such spot 

 is near, the only thing to do is to play him until he is thoroughly 

 exhausted, and lift him out, grasping him firmly over the gills. 

 I have before now landed a fish in my creel, and once a luncheon 

 hamper was made to do duty for a landing-net. 



Pishing with the Floating Ply.— First of all, find a 

 fish feeding on flies — not a chance riser, but a fish which has 

 come to the surface to have a meal, and is putting up his 

 nose every minute or so to seize the flies which float over 

 him. Meanwhile, note the flies on the water. If you are in 

 Hampshire, the majority of flies will, as likely as not, be duns. 

 Note their size and colour, and attach as near an imitation as 

 you have to the end of your cast (see page 30). Then test 

 your cast. Having found a fish, if he is above you, walk 

 stealthily within casting distance, keeping as far below him as 

 you can. Keep as low as possible. Kneel down, pull some line 

 off the reel, note exactly the spot where he rises, and, after one 

 or two false casts, to get the line out and measure the distance, 

 cast your fly with the greatest care about 3ft. in front of 

 him.* Then let the fly float, without the least drag, exactly over 

 the nose of the fish, just as the natural insect would do. If 

 your line is well greased,t you can, supposing you have not risen 

 the trout, at once make a second cast, as the fly will not yet 

 be wet; but if the Kne is not greased, it will sink, and, in 



* The faster the stream, the farther should the fly be cast above the fish. Some- 

 times a trout which has ignored a fly drifted over him will rise to one cast so that 

 it fall exactly over him. 



t Red deer's kidney suet is much used for the purpose. Mutton kidney suet is 

 about as good. 



E 2 



