ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING 59 



so that the angler fishing down will be seen by them 

 twenty yards off, whereas the angler fishing up will 

 be unseen, although he be but a few yards in their 

 rear. The advantages of this it is impossible to 

 over-estimate. No creatures are more easily scared 

 than trout; if they see any object moving on the 

 river's bank, they run into deep water, or beneath 

 banks and stones, from which they will not stir for 

 some time. A bird flying across the water, or the 

 shadow of a rod, will sometimes alarm them ; and 

 nothing connected with angling is more certain than 

 this, that if the trout see the angler, they will not 

 take his lure. He may ply his minnow in the most 

 captivating manner, may throw his worm with con- 

 summate skill, or make his flies light softly as a 

 gossamer all will be unavailing if he is seen by 

 his intended victim. 



The next advantage of fishing up we shall notice, 

 is the much greater probability of hooking a trout 

 when it rises. In angling down stream, if a trout 

 rises and the angler strikes, he runs a great risk of 

 pulling the flies straight out of its mouth ; where- 

 as, in fishing up, its back is to him, and he has every 

 chance of bringing the hook into contact with its 

 jaws. This, although it may not seem of great im- 

 portance to the uninitiated, tells considerably when 

 the contents of the basket come to be examined at the 

 close of the day's sport ; indeed, no angler would 

 believe the difference unless he himself proved it. 



Another advantage of fishing up is, that it does 

 not disturb the water so much. Let us suppose the 



