CHANGING THE FLY AFTER DARK 89 



few minutes, in order to make certain that it has 

 not fouled. When a breeze is blowing across your 

 line, always bring your rod back to leeward, and 

 return it to windward of the vertical plane in which 

 you are casting. 



CHANGING THE FLY AFTER DARK 



Now as to the greatest difficulty of all the changing 

 or replacing of trout flies on the cast after dark. This 

 is a difficulty which has on more than one occasion 

 robbed me of the charm of redeeming the ill-fortune 

 of a poor day, when the very audible but invisible 

 activity of the trout was telling me of a long delayed 

 and anxiously expected rise. 



In the dark, with no lantern and no one to help, 

 the chances of replacing a lost fly are infinitesimal. 

 After many trials I have succeeded in designing a 

 small portable electric light which effectually over- 

 comes this difficulty. This light can be suspended 

 round the neck, lies flat on the breast, and, when turned 

 on by means of a switch, sheds a bright and constant 

 beam of light full on the hands, etc. It is cheap, 

 light, and has a two candle-power lasting for hours. 

 It can be recharged by dry cells in less than two 

 minutes. This light is only wanted at rare intervals, 

 and never for more than three or four minutes ; its use 

 permits the angler to continue his fishing however 

 dark the evening may be. A full description of the 

 lamp is given on pages 280 and xxv. 



