THE RISE 55 



series of observations extending on one occasion 

 over a period of four successive days, I am al- 

 most ready to believe that the fish do not wait 

 for them to fall upon the water. This notion 

 perhaps fanciful came to me while on a pool 

 that had been my objective during an after- 

 noon's fishing, and upon which I intended to 

 close the day. Arriving there about a half hour 

 before sundown, I was not a little delighted to 

 find fish rising freely all over. After studying 

 them for a few moments I concluded that they 

 were not "bulging," because the surface was 

 broken each time with a distinct "smack/' 

 They could not have been "tailing," because 

 the water was about four feet deep. They 

 were not rising to any insects that I could see, 

 although I looked long and steadily. Yet they 

 rose freely, and each fish rose again and again in 

 practically the same spot. 



Using the smallest fly that I had with me, 

 a flat-winged "black gnat" tied on a No. 16 

 hook, I cast faithfully but unavailingly for some 

 time, endeavouring to interest two fish which 

 were nearest me, and until I was quite ready to 

 confess myself beaten. However, I decided to 

 try them with a larger fly, and while preparing 

 to tie this on my attention was attracted by four 



