86 BEST TIME TO FISH 



one hand, and, with a firm upward pressure of the 

 fingers of the other hand along the lower sides of the 

 abdomen of the fish towards the gills, expressing, or 

 forcing into the mouth, the latest food swallowed by 

 the trout, which may then be examined. Should this, 

 however, not succeed to the satisfaction of the angler, 

 the knife can be used to open the upper part of the 

 gullet or stomach, in order to discover of what this food 

 may happen to consist. 



THE BEST TIME TO FISH 



The forenoon is, in my opinion, the most fascinating 

 time for fishing ; there is no arriere-pensee as to coming 

 darkness, the whole day is before one, the creel is light, 

 and the anticipations and hopes of sport are keen. 



As proving from my own experience the varying 

 times of the day at which big trout may be caught 

 with the dry fly, I give the following extract from some 

 latter day fishing diaries : 



1893.* The Wye, Bakewell, noon, cloudy, 2 pounds 6 ounces, 

 Olive Quill. 



1903. The Test, Nursling, noon, bright, 4 pounds, May-fly. 



1905. f The Otter, Devonshire, 9 p.m., calm, fine, 1 pound 

 10 ounces, Coachman. 



1905.* The Otter, Devonshire, 5 a.m., light breeze, fine, 1 pound 

 6 ounces, Red Quill. 



1905. The Irfon, Llangammarch Wells, noon, fresh breeze, 

 bright, 1 pound 6 ounces, Stone-fly. 



1899.* The Wutach, Black Forest, 11 a.m., baking hot, 2 pounds 



* These fish were caught by fishing the stream, no rise guiding 

 me as to the fish. 



f On Mr. George Peppin's water at Harpford. 



