256 DRY-FLY FISHING 



where, at comparatively small cost, very sub- 

 stantial improvement could more easily be effected. 

 By a judicious disposition of small concrete blocks, 

 or by the removal and redistribution of the larger 

 stones, many places at present useless could easily 

 be converted into excellent haunts of trout. An 

 enthusiastic angler resident in the district could in 

 a few hours accomplish much, but it never seems 

 to occur to some people that such things are possible. 



The last visit we paid to Duneaton Water was on 

 the closing day of April, a day of gentle east wind, 

 unclouded sky, and remarkably high temperature. 

 Scarcely a single fly hatched out ihe'Ephemeridce 

 of spring like sterner conditions and not one 

 natural rise was seen throughout ; the water was 

 at lowest summer level, the long green trailing 

 weed was already conspicuous, and therefore results 

 were meagre. We found it extremely difficult to 

 fish, everything but the wind being against us, and 

 yet we wandered contentedly enough for miles 

 above the sequestered village of Crawford John. 



The trout were in their most aggravating humour, 

 rising with great freedom but refraining from taking 

 a firm hold, presumably bold enough at the outset 

 but spluttering over the fly at the last moment. 

 We must have raised more than fifty fish, from 

 which we conclude that the stream is well stocked, 

 but we succeeded in capturing only four trout, 

 from a quarter to half a pound in weight, and a 

 grayling somewhat heavier. The best trout put 

 up a capital fight, struggling valiantly as we sought 

 for a gravelly bank whereon to land it, but the 

 grayling, not being in condition, allowed itself to 

 be pulled about in any sort of fashion. Of course, 



