206 DRY-FLY FISHING 



they contain. Undisturbed for so long a period, 

 the fish forget the lessons learned in the previous 

 season, and do not at once acquire the extreme 

 wariness which later in the year will be their char- 

 acteristic. They are as a rule well advanced in 

 condition, within casting distance of the bank, 

 not too saucy or discriminating, and they have 

 not as yet regained their old annoying habit of 

 fasting all day in preparation for a gorgeous ban- 

 quet at an hour when the angler must usually 

 be elsewhere. 



April holds many attractions still to be enum- 

 erated. The waters are not so crowded as they 

 will be later, but perhaps we are only deluded 

 into thinking that is so, because, the river being 

 full, each stretch takes longer to fish, so that more 

 anglers can be accommodated. The larger body 

 of water affords greater concealment, which is a 

 great advantage, but for ourselves we would much 

 prefer to have the river low and clear so that we 

 could approach within deadly distance of every 

 tiny, tricky corner. We might reach the goal 

 desired, even if the water were full, by lengthening 

 of the line, but every foot beyond each individual's 

 comfortable distance involves a sacrifice of efficiency, 

 a handicap we at least would rather not concede. 

 In smaller streams the case is entirely altered, 

 but the larger rivers we like to see at summer 

 level. 



Possibly the most outstanding feature of an 

 April day beside the river lies in the manner in 

 which sport is provided. First there is a long 

 period of inactive waiting on the bank or of desul- 

 tory casting at a venture ; then follows a burst 



