72 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



fishing. The landlady of the inn, who told me, said that 

 she hoped one fish would be taken that day because < it 

 made them so hard to please." These trout evidently 

 know a little more than others, or else they feed a little 

 less. 



Now there is no doubt, though scoffers may deny the 

 fact, that Test trout do feed on fly, and that freely 

 during the month of May. One peaceful May morning 

 I discovered four large fish none of them undei 21bs. 

 apparently quietly sucking in the flies which were 

 floating down over them. By kneeling under a large 

 tree and using the underhand cast, I could easily cover 

 the nearest fish, which was rising freely under my own 

 bank. The first cast with the Hare's Ear he came up, 

 put his nose against the fly, followed it down a couple of 

 feet, and then sank to the bottom. I rested him and 

 tried him again with the same fly, but this time he would 

 not budge. I then tried him with the Blue Quill, and 

 again he came and inspected it, but refused to take, 

 although a moment earlier he had risen and sucked in a 

 natural fly. I stuck to that fish all the morning and 

 tried ten different patterns, each of which he carefully 

 examined the first time it came over him, but took no 

 further interest, although taking natural flies every now 

 and then. At last I put up the Orange Bumble, and this 

 he followed down until he saw me, when he at once 

 bolted for cover, scaring the other fish as he went. 



After fishing the Test I have come to the conclusion 

 that if the first cast does not hook the fish it is better to 

 change one's fish, for his suspicions are bound to have 

 been aroused. When captured the Test trout is a 

 beauty, brilliantly coloured, well-conditioned, and well- 

 flavoured he is and ought to be, for he takes a deal of 

 catching. 



As to the pattern of fly, my personal opinion is that, 

 if his suspicions are not aroused, he is not very 

 particular; but that, if they are, the pattern must be 

 correct, the gut transparent and inconspicuous, and the 

 cast perfection, if one hopes to induce him to take hold. 

 One bit of advice as given by Halford ought to be 



