94 FLY FISHING 



light before sunset, the trout are often very shy, 

 both of the angler and the gut. Trout differ 

 very much in this respect on different days, and 

 on all days individual trout differ more or less 

 from each other. 



A great deal may be learnt of the behaviour of 

 trout on bright days, when they can be seen in 

 the water. Let us suppose that a good fish is 

 seen feeding where the angler can get into posi- 

 tion and prepare to cast without disturbing it. 

 The fly is thrown above the trout, which may 

 of course take fright at once and rush off to 

 Its shelter, and if so there is an end ; but short of 

 this the trout may drop slowly down stream and 

 go quietly away, or may just sink in the water 

 and cease feeding. Assuming, however, that the 

 trout takes no offence at the first cast, it may 

 then take the fly with hesitation, as if it were 

 making an experiment, or with confidence as if 

 the fly were exactly like a natural one, or with an 

 appearance of rapture, as if the angler's fly were 

 the one thing for which it had been waiting ; 

 or finally, the trout may take a middle course 

 between, the two possible extremes of fear and 

 confidence, and either take no notice whatever 



