NIGHT-FISHING 133 



banks, therefore, carefully, for even if you do not see or hear a 

 rise anywhere, there is always hope under the bank. At night, 

 a fly drawn against the stream will be taken almost as readily 

 as one floating down which of course is not the case by day. 

 It is seldom so dark but that the angler can see a little ; and, 

 although he will not detect perhaps the exact rise, yet he will 

 see a slight ripple, which will be sufficient to guide his fly to the 

 right spot. If, however, he cannot see the rise, let him listen 

 carefully, and now and then he will hear a faint tinkle like the 

 falling of a big water-drop ; that is the rise of a trout, and his 

 ear must then guide him to the right spot. He will often hear 

 a " suck," like a slobbery kiss ; that is not a trout feeding but 

 an eel. How to get the exact distance of line required I cannot 

 lay down any rule for, but judgment and practice alone will 

 help him. One thing it is very advisable not to do, and that is, 

 when he has got out a length of line which he works well, to 

 lengthen or shorten it. In some places now they go to the 

 length of fishing with a dry fly at night-time. This, I confess, 

 evidences a civilisation and progress on the part of the trout 

 which I cannot understand at all. 



