122 Dry-Fly Fishing. 



disturbed him from continuing his repast. But as 

 I am not ambidextrous, it was difficult to place one's 

 fly by the right hand the proper distance before 

 him. Trial after trial was made until he became 

 suspicious and sank to the bottom, but was not 

 scared away ; I could see him plainly. Anon he 

 rose again, but, fortunately for me, not so close to 

 the sedge. To have made any bungle in casting 

 now would have been fatal, therefore I felt it to be 

 a crucial test of skill to place the lure just right. 

 At the first presentation he took it, and by a gentle 

 turn of the wrist, making a draiv rather than a 

 strike (for my red quill fly was dressed on a 000 

 hook), he was firmly hooked, and instantly rushing 

 up stream ran out ten or fifteen yards of line ere I 

 durst attempt to restrain him. And when I did so, 

 wound the line in, and played him from the bowed 

 rod, he turned and scurried down stream, leaping 

 out once only, but flouncing several times on the 

 surface, thus helping to exhaust himself. Now 

 was the moment for masterful pressure to be put 

 on him ; accordingly, when I drew back the line 

 by degrees, and he felt the strain, he turned and 

 headed up stream in wild affright, and it seemed 

 some minutes before his struggles were over and he 

 was safely netted out, the gut cast several times 

 twisted tightly round his gills. He was a splendid 

 trout weighing 21b. 13oz. Men from the adjacent 



