214 ROD AND RIVER 



are to be caught with a fly. In such cases, since 

 they do not show themselves, the water must 

 be searched for them. I can give the reader no 

 better advice under such circumstances than to 

 steadily fish every likely place, but always to 

 observe the golden rule, viz., ' To keep out of 

 sight,' and, I may add, to be equally careful 

 to prevent the shadow of his rod passing over 

 the water in front of him. He may kneel, sit, 

 lie down flat, stand on his head, perform any 

 acrobatic feat he chooses, in order to avoid 

 his body being seen by the fish, but, do what 

 he may, his efforts will prove useless if he is 

 to ruin everything by allowing the shadow of his 

 rod to fall on the water before him ; and he 

 must also bear in mind that there are many occa- 

 sions where, even though the sun may not be 

 behind him, nevertheless, he is plainly visible to 

 every fish in the river. And there are times 

 when he is actually more so when standing away 

 from the bank than if he were close to the water's 

 edge. 



All these things have to be learned and studied, 

 and if the fisherman knows the river, he will be 

 able to avoid thus placing himself in such posi- 

 tions as would tend to neutralize his chances of 

 sport. As a rule, the nearer he is to the level of 

 the water, the closer he will be able to approach 

 the fish. This is one of the advantages to be 



