116 THE PBACTICAL AXGLER 



again in the evening, if the weather is mild. 



In the beginning of the month we have generally 

 met with more success in a warm sonny day ; but to 

 tell the most favourable weather with anything like 

 certainty is impossible, as the trout are very capri- 

 cious, and will sometimes take readily daring a hail- 

 storm, while at other times, in such a case, not a 

 trout will rise. Towards the end of the month we 

 prefer a showery day with west wind, or a thoroughly 

 wet one if the weather is warm. 



The best condition of water for capturing trout is 

 when there is just sufficient rain to raise the water 

 slightly, and make it of an amber colour. When a 

 large flood occurs, it scatters the trout too much, and 

 they become gorged with food, and do not take so 

 readily ; so that more trout can generally be caught 

 in clear water than after a heavy flood. If the 

 water is only coloured or slightly swollen, trout will 

 be found in the same places as when it is dear ; but 

 when the water is large and dark-coloured, it is of 

 no use fihjmr the streams, as they are too rapid, and 

 in the pools the trout are all congregated about the 

 sides. In such circumstances, therefore, the angler 

 should not waste time fishing the centre of the pool, 

 but merely fish the sides ; fishing the side he is on 

 straight up and as close to the edge as possible, and 

 the opposite side partly across and partly up as 

 usual The greatest number will frequently be got 

 on the thin side, but the largest and best trout are 

 almost invariably caught on the deep side, and very 

 close to the edge. 



