MANAGEMENT OF THE LINE. 125 



spectively demand attention. In heaving the bait up 

 against the course of the stream, more than one ad- 

 vantage accrues to the angler. He is, first of all, kept 

 better concealed from the wary eye of the trout, which, 

 as is well known, always, when resting, fronts the cur- 

 rent; and although possessed of visual organs suffi- 

 ciently prominent to detect objects above or on either 

 side of it, can descry but very partially what takes place 

 in its rear. Again, from his position, he can strike with 

 greater effect. In this particular he acquires a very 

 decided advantage over the old-fangled mode of worm- 

 fishing, that, namely, of casting down the stream; adopt- 

 ing which system the angler, when striking, is more apt 

 to pull his hook fairly out of the mouth of the .fish with- 

 out even pricking it than, as when he throws against the 

 current and strikes downward, to bring it, bend and 

 barb, into direct contact with the open jaws of the 

 biter. A third advantage obtained by the mode of 

 casting I am recommending is, that the water is less 

 disturbed; the unavoidable plunging of the wader 

 affecting only those portions of it that lie below him, 

 and which he has either thought proper to omit as 

 useless, or has already ransacked. 



The other advice conveyed by the practice of able 

 worm-fishers is, never to allow the bait, which is car- 

 ried down with the current, to pass below you. Lift it 

 always before it comes into line with the opposite bank 

 of the river. In permitting it to descend further, you 

 not only angle without much hope of success, throwing 

 away time and labour, but you frighten off more good 

 trout than you are actually aware of. A fish, for 

 instance, has just caught a glimpse of your bait, as it 

 travels home towards you, he follows it, but by the 

 time he can give any indication of his approach it is 



