126 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



always be cast to one side or the other, slightly 

 above, and at an angle. This suggestion may 

 be safely followed in every case where fish are 

 seen and it is possible to so cast from the posi- 

 tion occupied by the angler. When the fish are 

 found to be occupying positions at the tail of 

 pools whether it be early morning, or just at 

 dusk, or, as it sometimes happens, at midday 

 they are almost invariably ready to feed; and, 

 while not always interested in insects, they are 

 frequently induced to take the artificial because 

 it appears close to them. Though there may 

 have been no indication that the large fish have 

 dropped back from the deeper water to the lip 

 of the pool, the angler's actions should always 

 be governed by the assumption that they are in 

 that position until he is convinced that they are 

 not. If he has been incautious the widening 

 wake marking the fish's swift dart up-stream 

 makes it quite certain that the hope of taking 

 a trout from that particular pool must be de- 

 ferred. Small fish occupying this "tail posi- 

 tion" are as easily frightened off by sight of 

 the angler as the large ones are, and their 

 alarm, being communicated to the fish above, 

 destroys whatever chance there might other- 

 wise have been on the upper water. It is the 



