244 DRY-FLY FISHING 



in the shape of a rise, but the trout, probably now 

 well satisfied, are not rising in the same deadly 

 style, and the great majority of the offers end dis- 

 appointingly. Nevertheless by the time the stretch 

 is completed two fine trout are reposing somewhere 

 on the bank waiting to be picked up, and as the 

 landing of each required caution and restraint, the 

 sport obtained on this long and difficult reach was 

 much greater than may appear. 



The day is drawing to a close, but there yet 

 remains one pool to fish, one of the choicest bits of 

 the whole river, one that we cannot think of omitting, 

 so many and so great are the victories we have won 

 there. In some respects it is like the first pool, 

 slow and stately, where only the most delicate work 

 will yield a trophy ; in one particular it is different, 

 the gravel bed being steep and crumbling, very 

 trying to walk upon. We are tempted to put on 

 the Badger again, or by way of change a Blue Hen 

 Spider, so eminently suitable a place it is for a 

 dainty hackled fly, but we resolve to retain the 

 Olive which has already done so well. No trout 

 are visible, but yet we cannot pass it by ; so many 

 fish of the finest quality are here that it will be 

 surpassing strange if we do not come across one 

 willing to accept one fly more. 



Over to the far side we cast the flies, and though 

 we lay them softly time after time there is no result. 

 Still we persevere. Off a projecting cape near the 

 head the water is faintly ruffled, both by wind and 

 current, and, deeming it a sure place for a trout to 

 be lying expectant, we throw the tail-fly lightly over 

 it. The rise of the fish and the fall of the fly seem 

 simultaneous, and, the line being tight and the rod 



