24 FLY FISHING 



some satisfaction in doing things well, even when 

 the results are not great, in continuing to throw 

 a long line straight and lightly even when fish 

 are rising badly, or in putting a dry fly perfectly 

 to a trout in a difficult place though he refuses 

 to take it. Some measure of success, of course 

 is always desired, and a man must surely be a 

 pedant, or a prig, to be content to fish all day 

 without it ; but for all that, there is a certain 

 delight in fishing water well, which for a time 

 at any rate is independent of results. This is 

 especially the case at the beginning of the day, 

 when, for the first hour or so, to know or to 

 think that we are deserving success contents us. 



What are the qualities which a man most 

 needs to become a good angler ? Let us assume 

 that he starts with keenness, that the prospect 

 of hooking a fish produces in him that feeling 

 of excitement which is the motive for a desire 

 to succeed, is the beginning of delight in angling, 

 and, like a first element, cannot be analysed. 

 What are the other qualities which he must 

 possess or cultivate in order to become really 

 skilful? He must, in the first place, have 

 enough strength and aptitude of body to enable 



