OX DRESS. 179 



bunch of weeds to shelter in handy, are always more shy 

 than those which are feeding under banks, &c. 



It is quite needless to say that the angler should avoid 

 showing himself to the fish as much as possible, and should 

 always take advantage of any bush or tree which may 

 easily afford him a screen ; when the banks are too open 

 to the river, he should even go down upon one knee nay, 

 I have known good service done by an angler lying prone 

 upon his stomach. In many places and streams it is quite 

 impossible for anyone to approach within casting distance 

 of the stream in an erect position without seeing every 

 trout for twenty yards or more rushing off to his hiding- 

 place. In places of this description, the angler will find 

 much service in sticking a loose bush or two into the 

 ground in a favourable spot, should he design to come 

 there again the next day ; and he should al ways bear this 

 in mind, that the higher up in the air he is the more 

 likely the trout is to see him. Shy fish will often take 

 alarm at the angler as he comes along the bank, even 

 while he is twenty or thirty yards away ; but if he could 

 get down on a level with the water, with the bank at his 

 back, so that his head did not appear above the sky line, 

 they would not appear to see him at all, and would take 

 the fly without hesitation, provided no sudden or violent 

 motion were made to attract attention. Height, therefore, 

 is not an advantage, and wading up-stream (provided no 

 disturbance be made in the water) is. 



With regard to dress, some people are inclined to ridi- 

 cule the idea of there being any necessity for attending to 

 it at all. I am very sure, however, that excellent grounds 

 exist for not being too conspicuous in this respect. The 

 trout is a very gentlemanly fish, and does not like ' loud 

 dressing ;' positive black and white, too, or anything which 

 glitters or is unusual, should be carefully eschewed, par- 

 ticularly on the upper and more conspicuous part of the 



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