Conditions of Water and Weather. 281 



as though he had found one ; and only after, it may 

 be, two or three successive freaks of this kind, does 

 he settle down to enjoy it. When he comes to a 

 final "stand," strike by sharply raising the rod. 

 This will send the hook well home, when nothing 

 remains to be done but to play him in the usual 

 manner till he is exhausted. During its progress 

 down-stream, the line may of course be arrested by 

 some obstruction at the bottom ; but the fact must 

 be ascertained only by its subsequent movements, 

 and no attempt should be made to interfere with 

 its free motion, until sufficient time has elapsed 

 for a fish to reveal his presence. 



Though salmon sometimes take the fly in a 

 pretty heavy water even in one passing from the 

 clayey condition to the black they are seldom 

 allured by either the minnow or the worm in such 

 circumstances. Worm-fishing is always best in a 

 low clear water. It should be practised during the 

 summer and autumn months ; and the most favour- 

 able hours are in the early morning before the sun 

 comes forth in his strength, and in the evening 

 after the heat of the day is over. In its proper 

 season the worm in the morning, when the water 

 is "small" and clear, often proves a greater success 

 than any other lure throughout the day. 



As a frequenter of most of our salmon-rivers, the 

 sea-trout cannot be passed over without some little 



