FISHING -A CAST 239 



first a gentle undulation of the rod point ; then an even draw ; 

 then a regular frantic witches' dance, bobbing, and jerking, 

 and working as though your fly were possessed of St. Vitus or 

 a tarantula bite ; then you sink the fly, and perhaps none of 

 them avail, and then what is to be said of it ? Perhaps he 

 does come up to one or the other. If so, that is the killing style 

 for the time ; for salmon, like maidens, are sometimes capri- 

 cious. Sometimes they like a quiet partner in a corner all to 

 themselves, and sometimes nothing but a regular frantic 

 deux temps will suit them. Depend upon it, brother angler, 

 that there is no dogmatic rule to be laid down either for 

 maidens or fish. Take the word of one who hath had ex- 

 perience of both. You can't diagram them ; you must study 

 their humours as well as you can, and suit your arts to your 

 customer as near as may be. If that fails, try perseverance. 

 Versatility is good, but perseverance will often carry the day 

 against all comers. How often have I seen a salmon regularly 

 bullied into rising by an obstinate customer who wouldn't 

 take no for an answer, but who kept flogging on till the favour- 

 able moment arrived, when " Ah ! there he is at last : and 

 hooked too, by jingo ! " just as often as I have seen a girl take 

 at last a suitor to whom she has said " No " half a score of 

 times ay, and meant it too at the time, you know, only she 

 happened at last to change her mind, and he happened to be 

 present when she changed it. So " c'est 1'amour, 1'amour, 

 1'amour." Is it ? It may be very often ; but then again very 

 often it is something else. So, having said so much, I will for 

 the benefit of the embryo salmon-fisher give the generally 

 accepted plan. It is a tolerably safe one ; and as he grows 

 experienced, he can vary it to suit his own views. 



Having cast your fly say across and a little downwards, 

 let it sweep round into the stream. You needn't " humour it," 

 as poor dear " Ephemera " used to call it ; it will find its place 

 without it, and will not require any humouring on your part 

 beyond free permission to do as it likes ; and be sure and keep 

 an eye upon it just as it sweeps round into the stream, for 

 that is a very fatal moment, and it is odds, if there's " a 

 fusshe aboot," if you don't at that last fatal curve see a boil, 

 ay, and feel a pluck too, if you are not in too great haste, 

 which will send your blood spinning with excitement. And 

 when you do see the boil and feel the pluck, what then ? 

 Now, don't be in a hurry ; that is what you should never be 

 in striking a salmon pause, and I will tell you why presently. 



