JUNE 85 



While the train speeds on its way the tackle is got 

 ready, the double tapered lines are vaselined, and the 

 casts are put into the damping box. Good lake trout 

 these are, strong enough to hold a small donkey, and 

 thoroughly suitable for the work on hand ; for it is to 

 be remembered that, in the weedy deeps and the swift 

 shallows alike, if fish are to be landed they must be held 

 from the start. Moreover, these fish are not in the least 

 gut shy, if they have not become aware of the angler's 

 presence. 



Arrived at our destination, we made for the village 

 inn, and proceeded to consume with avidity the second 

 breakfast, which was to be the only solid meal of the day. 



While thus occupied the keeper was announced as wait- 

 ing outside, and within half an hour, i.e., about 9.30, we 

 were en route for the river. The day did not look 

 promising, dark grey clouds overhung the sky, and a 

 stiff breeze was blowing from the south-east. The keeper 

 told us that there had been a scattered rise the day before, 

 but that the fish did not seem to be taking the fly, and, 

 in fact, had not got used to it. 



We arrived at the river bank, and, while we were 

 fitting up, a good trout rose and took a mayfly right 

 opposite where we were standing. Below lay a shallow 

 with about two feet of water over it, so, wading out in 

 this, I cast upstream over the rising fish, which I 

 promptly put down. Turning to come ashore, I noticed 

 a boil about ten yards below me, and without measuring 

 cast the fly down-stream in that direction ; a boil, a 

 strike, and I was into a good fish, which, being below 

 me, at once weeded himself and got away. 



Coming ashore, I indulged in the luxury of a smoke, 

 and awaited the resumption of business on the part of 

 the other trout on the shallow. At the end of ten 

 minutes I noticed another rise, cast over it, and hooked 

 a nice fish, pulled him downstream, and landed him ; he 

 weighed 21bs. The pulling of these trout down the 

 stream as soon as they are hooked is, in the writer's 

 opinion, the secret of success, for if they are once given 

 a chance they are in and out of the weeds with lightning 



