64 ANGLING FOR GAME FISH. 



will find the hook tumble out of the mouths of five fish out of 

 six, and most of these five fish would have got off if any 

 attempt had been made to play them. 



Up-stream fishing is best, because, to put it shortly, fish lie 

 head up stream, and cannot see behind them. 



Night or Bustard Fishing is a very simple matter — so 

 simple, indeed, as to be hardly sportsmanlike. It is carried on 

 on warm summer nights, and is only permissible when, owing to 

 the lowness and brightness of the water, no fish can be caught 

 during the day. Use only one fly — a Brown or White Moth (the 

 artificial moths are termed " Bustards"), or a Coachman, dressed 

 on a No. 4, or even larger, hook. If the large. Brown Sedges 

 are about, the Brown Moth, or Sedge, is to be preferred, but 

 when the White Moths are flitting over the meadows, a White 

 Moth should be put up. A Coachman is usually killing. Fish 

 as soon as it is quite dark. Have a short line, and cast your 

 fly down stream, across the river, or under your own bank. Hold 

 the rod steady for a few seconds, then draw the fly very slowly 

 ap stream, and if a trout seizes the bait, strike, and play him as 

 best you can. The night-fisher, of course, wants to know both 

 the river and its banks well, and will only fish clear places, where 

 there are no trees or rocks to foul his line. In small, moorland 

 streams the deep, still pools are the places to be fished after this 

 fashion. On the Eden a great amount of night-fishing is carried 

 on, and the Carlisle angler does not hesitate to wade on the 

 darkest nights. In the hot months, when hardly a fish is to be 

 caught during the day, visit the stream an hour before sunrise, 

 and during that hour, and longer, you may enjoy capital sport. 

 On mountain streams I have generally had my best fishing 

 before sunset, the fish rising best, as a rule, between 10 a.m. 

 and 1 p.m. After the sun has gone down it is chilly on the 

 uplands, and an evening rise, such as there is on chalk streams, 

 is uncommon. 



Fishing with Natural Insects may be pursued on moor- 

 land streams, with a blowline, in the manner described on page 47. 

 Another method, called dapping, or dibbing, or shade-fishing, is 

 to use a long, light, stiff rod, about 2ft. of gut, a fine silk line, 



