286 ROD AND RIVER 



three. It is where these unite again with the 

 main body of the water, and present the appear- 

 ance of two streams forming a junction with each 

 other, that the ' taking place ' is generally to be 

 found. This spot is usually about the tail of the 

 pool ; and it is there, and at the head of the latter, 

 that a salmon may be expected to 'come.' In the 

 straight reaches the fish lie in the deep cuts, under 

 the banks, or at the base of any obstruction, such 

 as a rock, etc., provided the water there is deep 

 enough. 



In the bends one side is usually shallow, and 

 that opposite to it deep. In these the latter 

 requires to be fished as close under the bank as 

 possible, and to do this efficiently requires no little 

 skill on the part of the fisherman. It may, there- 

 fore, be readily understood that, to fish a salmon 

 river properly, a thorough knowledge of it 

 is absolutely essential, and a stranger may very 

 easily waste a great deal of valuable time and 

 energy in trying water which is notoriously useless, 

 or may hurry over that which requires the most 

 careful, delicate fishing. Of course, without any 

 previous knowledge, or the assistance of a guide, 

 there is nothing for it but to work steadily on all 

 through. If time will not admit of this, then the 

 most likely-looking places only must be tried. It 

 happens at times, where the stream varies in 

 character, that the fish will move in the stiller 



