TACTICS in 



late ; often a trout may be got, but, if so, it is fairly 

 certain that the angler did not fix the hook. 



In a stream of the kind under review, trout will 

 rise within five yards of the angler, who, therefore, 

 should use a very short line, cast it straight across 

 stream, allow the flies to fall on the quickly flowing 

 water and to float not more than a yard, when he 

 should take one step forward, cast again, and so 

 to the head of the pool. For this work we consider 

 two flies infinitely better than one. This is the sort 

 of place where natural rises are often scarce, and 

 yet dozens of trout are waiting and willing. If a 

 rise is missed even with this procedure, a further 

 shortening of the line may bring the welcome resis- 

 tance at the next offer, but restraint in the power 

 of the answer is required, for, when the line is short 

 the strike is quick. 



For the majority of flats and pools, the most 

 profitable direction lies between these two casts, as 

 it combines the advantages of both and reduces 

 their undesirable features. When a fly is presented 

 accurately with a cast up and across stream to a 

 rising fish, little of the gut passes over it, hence 

 the trout is likely to offer and, if the fly has not 

 been given a long journey to perform, this offer 

 should be accepted. 



Often the angler will see a trout which is rather 

 beyond his powers to reach, and depth of water 

 may make it impossible for him to reduce by a 

 direct advance the distance between it and himself. 

 Perhaps it is accessible from the opposite bank, 

 and if so, he should, after marking its position 

 clearly, proceed in search of a ford ; he may then 

 assail it from close quarters. If this involves a 



