238 DRY-FLY FISHING 



the fish, remembered from past days, and, though 

 offers are fairly frequent, only three times is progress 

 interrupted in the way we most welcome. Two of 

 the fish are fine average specimens, which display 

 remarkable resistance, being assisted, vainly how- 

 ever, by the strength of the current ; the third is 

 an immature fish, an interloper in this fine piece of 

 water. 



As a rule, having fished the pool and its stream, 

 we would return to where we commenced operations 

 and there wait until the disturbance had died away 

 sufficiently for the trout to recover their equanimity, 

 but to-day we have a desire to revisit old familiar 

 haunts on a full mile of water. Our next halt is 

 made at a great pool with a very sharp bend in it, 

 where we have never had great success, and only 

 once have we seen trout rising in it, and that was on 

 a sultry, thundery day, when the water was covered 

 with ants and the rod was being given a rest. The 

 neck of the pool is a strong rush with a high wave, 

 whither we would not expect trout to repair in 

 search of surface food. 



We do not care to pass the place without giving 

 it a trial, and happening to remember that we possess 

 a large Red Quill adorned with a stiff detached body, 

 we decide for amusement to float it down the rapids. 

 As it sails along from trough to crest at great speed, 

 a trout throws itself clear of the water upon it, 

 and making no mistake in aim firmly hooks itself. 

 Without ceremony we hurry it into slack water and 

 run it ashore, a bright little fellow of six ounces. 

 In spite of this immediate success we have not 

 experimented further with detached bodies, as, 

 though they are very natural in appearance, we 



