150 DRY-FLY FISHING 



ders up the gravel to the water's edge, then long 

 before he comes within his casting distance the 

 trout become aware of his presence and flee for 

 refuge to their hiding-places under the bank or in 

 some deeper corner of the pool. Any skill he may 

 possess is now of no avail. He should instead 

 survey the scene from safe range, study the rising 

 fish, mark clearly the most desirable, and set him- 

 self the pleasant task of attempting its down- 

 fall. As at most only one capture is likely to be 

 effected in such thin water, why should it not 

 be the best ? He may make a mistake in his 

 deductions from the spreading rings, but his satis- 

 faction will be in no wise diminished, for he will 

 probably remain in ignorance of the error. 



His selected victim will in all likelihood be rising 

 close to the bank, as that is the position favoured 

 by big trout. If that bank happens to be the 

 right, he should lay his fly lightly on the grass 

 or rock overhanging the fateful mark, and then, 

 after an interval of a few seconds, he should bring 

 it to the water, not, however, by any raising or 

 other movement of the rod, but by gently pulling 

 on the line with the left hand. The fly may refuse 

 to leave the grass, in which case the pool is lost, 

 as he will probably be unable to retrieve his fly 

 without exposing himself to view. 



Should the trout occupy a station under the 

 left bank it is a less easy conquest. The fish in such 

 open flats as we are discussing will see the angler, 

 unless he is immediately behind them ; that is 

 to say, he must be on or close to the same bank 

 as the trout. He who is able to cast left-handed 

 will adopt the plan already recommended ; almost 



