136 DRY-FLY FISHING 



of the pool, at the tail, or at the neck ; their situa- 

 tion depends on the type of food which is available. 



When they are expecting the gravel-bed fly, 

 for example, they are congregated near the edge, 

 especially in such pools as chance to have the 

 gravelly bank on the windward side. When creepers 

 are assuming the winged state, the trout crowd 

 the neck of the pool. If the day favours the hatch- 

 ing of duns, the shadow of the high bank and the 

 rippling entering current are greatly favoured, 

 while if a good breeze is blowing, and nothing in 

 particular is expected, the tail of the flat is sure to 

 be well tenanted. The angler, therefore, desirous 

 of the best sport possible under the conditions, 

 must know where to expect the trout or discover, 

 by observing the rises or other means, their where- 

 abouts, and plan his campaign accordingly. 



If the trout are not confined to any particular 

 area, but are rising in all parts of the pool, he need 

 not even then conclude that it is immaterial which 

 bank he fishes from ; one side is almost sure to 

 be better than another in that it offers an easier 

 approach. There may be a bush to provide cover, 

 or it may be that the background of one bank 

 confers invisibility. As the day progresses, the 

 superiority of one side may or may not be con- 

 tinued. It may be transferred not so much be- 

 cause the sun may throw the angler's, shadow up 

 the stream ; but because, owing to the water 

 being differently illuminated, the trout are enabled 

 to learn that they are being attacked. Still we 

 know pools, mostly narrow pools, fast-flowing and 

 broken, which invariably fish best from the same 

 bank, not the one that would be selected by an 



