WHITE TROUT. 105 



I consider a limber, springy rod quite necessary; 

 the wild jumps of the fish are rendered ineffectual 

 by the give-and-take action of the elastic rod ; and 

 when, as is frequently the case, the fish rushes 

 under the boat, you have only to let the point 

 descend well into the water, and passing under the 

 keel renew its position on the other side. 



White trout fishing is generally practised with 

 two rods in the boat, one at each end ; the boat is 

 rowed up-wind,and allowed to drift back over the 

 favourite spots, "broadside on." Various flies are 

 used on different lakes, the size and colour de- 

 pending upon the state of the water ; but whatever 

 the fly, it should never be without a piece of gold 

 or silver twist round the body the latter for choice. 

 The mode of playing is to draw it rather rapidly 

 towards the end of the boat from which you are 

 fishing, but quite clear of it. It is scarcely possible 

 to strike too quickly at a rise. 



A fresh-run white trout, cooked within a few hours 

 of its capture, is about as delicious a dish as can be 

 set before an epicure. Those who purchase salmon- 

 trout from their fishmonger in London have very 

 little notion of what the fish was when first taken. 



The best white trout fishing in the United 

 Kingdom perhaps in the world is to be found 

 in the West of Ireland. It was there that, in direct 



