WET FLY TROUT FISHING 139 



is broken water with good sheltering stones, 

 amongst which fish may be lying: but neglect- 

 ing or passing lightly over many a stretch of 

 water, where at the height of the rise earlier in 

 the season dozens of trout would have been 

 hooked. In fact, at this time of the season one 

 has a roaming day, trying many places and many 

 individual fish, succeeding only now and then, 

 pleased with difficulties that are overcome 

 rather than proud of the total, and half inclined 

 to look upon all success as unexpected. Person- 

 ally on such days I am apt to spend some of 

 the afternoon very quietly, and to fall to remem- 

 bering how the river looked in the spring and 

 what happened then. Very small and gentle are 

 the best streams of many north country trout 

 rivers in July and August, and have then but a 

 tinkling sound. 



M Like to the noise of a hidden brook 



In the leafy month of June, 

 That to the sleeping woods all night 

 Singeth a quiet tune." 



And the woods are thick and silent at this time. 



In September the trout take better, but their 

 condition is becoming suspect, the days are 



