90 ANGLING FOR GAME FISH. 



Trout-fishing begins on April let, and ends on August 31st. 

 Most fish are usually caught in April and May, and in June 

 if the water is not very low and bright. There is no time so 

 favourable as when the river is a little above summer level and 

 slightly coloured. At the commencement of the season the 

 majority of trout are in the quiet reaches, but as the year 

 advances most of them come up into the weirpools. At the 

 same time, trout may be looked for all through the season under 

 lioUow banks where the bottom is of gravel and the stream 

 swift, round about islands, in ballast-holes, on shallows, at the 

 mouths of brooks (particularly towards the end of the season), 

 and in any quiet nook or corner where the water is not too 

 stagnant. In the evening, a good many fish leave the deeps 

 to feed on any quiet shallows which are out of the way of the 

 river traffic, but the very large trout do not often come into 

 very shallow water. 



Trout-fishing in the Thames is decidedly uncertain work, 

 but the anglers who fail usually do so from lack of either 

 skill or persistence. Given the skill, the secrets of success 

 when fishing places other than weirpools consist in finding 

 out the haunts of a fish, noting the times when he feeds, and 

 fishing at those times. A man taking a chance day on the 

 Thames has small chance of success unless he sticks to the 

 weirpools or employs one of the professional fishermen to 

 show him where the fish are. I believe I am correct in saying 

 that though the weir and mill pools are more fished than 

 any other part of the river, more fish are taken from the 

 main stream and backwaters. Under favourable circumstances, 

 a clever Thames angler, guided by an honest and observant 

 fisherman, will often take his brace of trout, of perhaps 

 31b. or 41b. each, and on occasions will double or treble that 

 take. At the same time, the number of persons who fish for 

 weeks without taking a trout is considerable. Thames fisher- 

 men usually charge 8s. to 10s. a day, and for this provide 

 punt, baits, and tackle, if required. They expect their dinner 

 and beer in the bargain. 



Fly-fishing for Thames Trout is not a good method of 

 getting at the large fish, which do not feed on flies. The only 



