162 FLY-PISHING. 



most of it in casting his fly, by keeping it at his 

 back as much as possible. 



Let him always place himself as far from the edge 

 of the bank as he can, and keep the shadow of the 

 rot! from the water. Fish are very quick -sighted. 



As far as my observation goes, all fish get into 

 deep water when the weather is cold. A recollec- 

 tion of this circumstance may save the young angler 

 much unnecessary trouble. 



When the water is low and* clear, without any 

 curl upon it, with a hot sun, but little sport can be 

 expected. Under these circumstances, however, fish 

 may be taken, and the angler is recommended to 

 try with a black hackle, fishing down the water by 

 tin- >ides of banks, with very fine tackle, and with 

 a considerable length of line, taking especial care 

 to keep himself quite out of sight. 



The following hint, by a brother angler, is worth 

 attending to. When a fish is seriously feeding on 

 the fly, he stations himself at no greater depth than 

 his own length, and, making his tail the hinge of 

 his motions, he gently raises his mouth to the top 

 of the water, and quietly sucks in the fly which 

 may be passing over him. A rising of this sort 

 is not easily seen, but it is worth looking for, be- 

 c luse, although a fish feeding in this manner will 

 rarely go many inches on either side for a fly, he 

 will as rarely refuse to take one which comes (with- 

 out any gut in the water) directly to him.* 



Maxims and Hint* for an Angler. 



