CHAPTER XXIII. 



TROUTING ON JESSUP'S RIVER. 



"We could not remain quiet long at a time, for my restless 

 friend had not yet had a fair trial of the " flies" at trout. 

 After all, laugh at Piscator's violent passion for it as I 

 may, the sport which lasts longest, is the most . abundant, 

 the most admired, and most practised by the frequenters of 

 the Lake country, is that of taking the speckled or brook 

 trout with the rod ! 



The larger lakes afford good trolling grounds, when resorted 

 to in the right season ; but the trolling season, which begins 

 in March, is too early for the majority of anglers, who cannot 

 leave their spring business for mere sport. But when summer 

 comes, business is over ; then the rejoicing anglers, like chil- 

 dren broke loose from school, scatter abroad over the moun- 

 tainous places of the land, literally gasping with panting 

 bosoms for fresh air. 



To such it makes little difference, when they reach here, 

 to find that the fishing-grounds for trout are not close at 

 hand, but that they must go yet farther from five to thirty 

 miles, among the rough wild hills, to fresher streams, amidst 

 valleys deeper than these. It seems strange, to be sure, and 

 very provoking to them, if they go without a proper knowledge 

 of the season — to find that these wide clear sheets, with all 

 their inlets and outlets, are but so much dead water to them 

 — affording no sport after the tenth of June, worth notice. 

 But they are soon over this, for the mountain breezes are 

 very inspiriting ; and with expanding chests they look towards 

 the blue ridges with emulation, and brace themselves up to 



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