THE EVENING RISE. 35 



infinite astonishment, and he is then soon brought to book. But many 

 precious minutes have been wasted ; the fly has got itself fixed in one 

 of the knots in your landing net. Never mind, break it off ; you must 

 get to sterner business. So you take some few more minutes in 

 threading the eye of a small, dark sedge fly, as the fish by now must 

 be at work upon the larger flies. Flop ! flop ! on the opposite side, under 

 the shadow of the reeds. See that your fly is dry and cocks well ; keep 

 out of sight — an absolute essential in evening fishing — and go for that 

 uppermost fish. That was a good rise ; was it at your fly ? It is hard 

 to see by the waning light. Evidently not. Try him again. This time 

 he rises well, and you are fast in him ; but you struck too heavily ; he 

 was a good fish, and you have left your fly in him, bad luck to it ! 



This time you have to make use of a match to enable you to thread 

 the eye, but after some fumbling struggles you at last succeed. One 

 more try. Pity you had not put on a somewhat stouter cast, but it is 

 too late now. You must be a bit more gentle with them ; a slight turn 

 of the wrist is all you want. There is a good rise, just beyond mid- 

 stream, and a good cast just four inches above the rise. You can see 

 your fly, and also the neb of a good trout as he breaks the water to suck 

 him in. Now gently does it ! He is hooked, and goes careering up 

 stream to the tune of the song of the reel. Steady him now ; don't let 

 him get into the rushes. The light is fast going, and you are inclined 

 to hurry him. Better be cautious ; his tail looked broad as he turned 

 over that time ; he is fat and in lusty condition, and has no intention 

 of surrendering his life without a good struggle. Don't show him the net ; 

 that last run must have settled him ; he flops on the surface ; he is gently 

 led into the mouth of the net, and is yours. Not so big as you fancied, 

 by any means ; might be 1 ilb. ; you put him down as well over 2lb. 

 He is well hooked, and after taking the fly from his mouth you grip 

 him well and give his head a good hard tap against the handle of your 

 landing net; in so -doing he slips from your grasp and nearly flops into 

 the river. Hurriedly you put yourself between him and the water and 

 get hold of him, making sure of him this time, and he goes into your 

 bag. Is there still light for one more? Hardly, and it is no pleasure 

 when you cannot see your fly. 



You take up your rod again, and pass your hand down the line 



f 2 



