DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 131 



a pity!" and then added: "November days are 

 short and the flies may cease to rise at any moment, 

 so let's be off, dad. I will go beyond the point 

 while you begin where you left off." 



Cleverer men than I say that more is to be done 

 with grayling with an upstream cast but, after 

 much experience, I am content with a little up and 

 across, straight across, and across and a little down, 

 all without a movement of the foot ; the vibration 

 of our footsteps warn the fish quite as much as a 

 sight of our doings : so keep down, tread lightly 

 and fish as fine as you may dare while leaving hope 

 of strength sufficient to hold the prize you covet. 

 Try never to forget, though I sometimes do, that 

 re are as many fish near the bank on this side 

 as on the other. Many somewhat experienced 

 anglers throw their fly as if the fish were all close 

 to the opposite bank and, if for a moment a different 

 thought comes to them and they make a cast or two 

 without success from a distance back, they will be 

 sure to step as far forward as they can, and per- 

 severe with all their might for lengthened periods 

 to reach a spot no more likely to hold a fish than 

 the bit of water over which they are casting animated 

 shadows. It's so much easier and more artistic 

 to drop your fly on the water that curls and gurgles 

 near your bank while showing only the gut and fly. 

 When you must go forward do it cautiously and 

 grudgingly, searching up and down, with as little of 

 your rod flashing on the water as you can. 



Up to this time my one fly had fulfilled its 

 promise, but there seemed a lessening desire to 

 take it, so I chose a red spinner for a dropper and 

 gave the fish a choice, not only a choice of flies but 



