TROUT-STALKING 153 



There is a great deal to see and to learn. A trout 

 raises itself towards a fly floating overhead, backs 

 downstream in close proximity to it, till finally, 

 a foot or more from its original position, it takes 

 courage and gulps down the struggling insect. It 

 then returns to its post. The angler's lure placed 

 on the rise will be unseen, but, if cast above it, 

 it may succeed in bringing the fish up. It is obvious 

 that the fly may be delivered too soon. 



Another trout discovering a fly some distance to 

 one side shoots forward and seizes it. If the arti- 

 ficial fly covers the rise while the fish is on the 

 return journey, the rise will not be repeated. More- 

 over the cast will more than likely fall over the 

 returning trout, effectively scaring it. A few 

 seconds' delay in such a case is advisable. Of 

 course, movement of this kind, which seems to be 

 confined to brisk streamy water, cannot be clearly 

 seen when one is engaged in fishing, but under 

 certain conditions of water and sky it can be 

 detected, and it can always be guessed. 



In the strong current at the neck of the stream 

 a fish hurls itself upon a fly, is thrown off its balance, 

 and is carried down for quite an appreciable dis- 

 tance. It must be allowed time to recover its 

 position before another fly is offered. It would 

 appear that the fish concentrates all its attention 

 on securing its prey and cannot at the same time 

 retain its place. From these considerations we 

 conclude that in streamy water the angler should 

 be slow rather than quick to send his fly out, and 

 that he should place it from one to two feet, accord- 

 ing to the strength and nature of the current 

 beyond and above the point indicated. 



