FISHING A POOL OR REACH 313 



over, and then, if desired, the process can be 

 repeated. There is a very good reason for this, 

 for when a pool or reach is fished over the first 

 time, although no fish may be seen to come at 

 the fly, nevertheless some fish may make a half- 

 hearted move towards it, and if the cast is repeated 

 too soon, such a fish may be scared rather than 

 attracted. By the time the end of the stretch of 

 water has been finished, sufficient interval will 

 haye elapsed for any fish which may have been 

 moved to take up their former position and 

 regain their composure ; and when the water is 

 tried the second time, it very frequently happens 

 that they will come straight at the fly and take it. 

 It is for this reason that when two men are fish- 

 ing the same river, one in advance of the other, 

 the one following will often obtain more sport 

 than the other. Mr. Kelson, the well-known 

 salmon fisherman, and perhaps the best fly-tyer 

 in England, makes a systematic use of his know- 

 ledge of this fact. Some of his patterns are made 

 extra large and gaudy ; these he terms exaggera- 

 tions. They are used for fishing over a pool in 

 which the fish are disinclined to move. The pool 

 is then tried with a fly of smaller size, in which 

 the colouring is similar, but very much toned 

 down and veiled by means of gray or brown 

 feathers. Such patterns he terms ' condensations,' 

 and he maintains that a fish, having been moved 



