USING THE WET FLY. 105 



at the extreme head and tail there is little or no 

 stream, and if one attempts to wade up one causes 

 a riot of waves, and the trout may be seen scurry- 

 ing off in all directions. The only method I have 

 found successful on a windless day has been to 

 wade in and then remain quite still for a quarter of 

 an hour or so. The fish after a bit seem to 

 recover from their fright, and a rise or two may be 

 seen within reach. Then possibly a small fly on 

 very fine gut will account for one or two. But the 

 game is a slow one, and the novice will do better 

 to stick to the more promising water, paying 

 special attention to the rapid runs at the head of 

 each pool, and to the lively shallows. 



On the shallows trout may lie anywhere, but some 

 spots are more likely than others. If a rock or boulder 

 juts out, for instance, the eddy behind it is sure to 

 hold a fish or two. A deeper run near the bank or 

 under a shelf of rock, an overhanging bush or 

 bough, the mouth of a tributary stream, no matter 

 how small, all these mean fish. In fact, when 

 fishing the shallows of a western stream I always 

 look out for the spots which differ from the main 

 run of the river and endeavour to get my flies to 

 them. Trout like shelter, and they also like an 

 abode where they can lie comfortably a little 

 protected from the strength of the current and yet 



