CHAPTER XII 

 ADVICE ABOUT FISHING 



FOR those unfortunate mortals who have never 

 tasted the joys of a salmon trip but who are just 

 starting, I am going to give a little advice. No 

 doubt the old hand will say he knows all this, 

 and for them this book had better be finished at 

 the last chapter. Still, even old campaigners can 

 learn from each other; I hope to continue to learn 

 to the end of my fishing days. 



Suppose we consider fishing a river entirely 

 new to both guide and sportsman and see how we 

 proceed. I do not believe in luck except in 

 weather and the size of the fish hooked. Catching 

 fish is a matter of knowing how and fishing cor- 

 rectly all the time. In salmon fishing a good 

 angler will always get fish and plenty of them, if 

 there is any quantity of salmon in the river, and 

 particularly if he can see them. There is no fish so 

 sure of capture as the salmon if you know how to 

 please him and are skilful in manipulating your 

 tackle. 



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