270 NOT SO KASV A< IT L 



river, and never noticed a tiling all day but blue duns and 

 flattering willow-flies. And you do not indulge in such a 

 ramble for the sake of showing your fish against all comers, 

 but for solitude and self-communion among scenes that 

 tell no lies and brook none. 



There is not much to learn, apparently, in this kind of 

 fishing ; and yet it is astonishing what queer and unlikely 

 places an adept will pull the little speckled fellows out of, 

 which a tyro would deem hopeless, and what a difference 

 their two bags will present at the day's end. A hook of 

 Nos, 5, 6, or 7, or of the straight round Carlisle bend, is 

 all that you need, with some four feet of moderately fine 

 gut ; no shot or sinkers the gravity of the worm itself 

 is sufficient. Any kind of worms do, but the toughest are 

 the best; and very small dew or lob-worms answer the 

 purpose, if you can get enough of them, better than others. 

 Put the hook in at the head (not, as some prefer it, at the 

 ride) ; string the worm on down till there is but half an 

 inch of tail left beyond the point. Now you are ready. 

 Yonder is a small cascade some two or three feet in width ; 

 drop the worm into it, and let the stream take it where it 

 will. Soh ! No sooner is it clear of the down draught, 

 and near the edge of the little basin, than there is a * pluck, 

 pluck ' at the line. Drop the point of the rod for a brief 

 second, to let the marauder get the worm in his mouth ; 

 then give a short sharp stroke, and a lift of the rod-point, 

 and you pull the little rascal out flopping on the bank a 

 noble quarter-of-a-pounder. Never mind ; on with another 

 worm, and try again. Let it run close under that bank. 

 * Dab ! ' your line goes under it with a shoot. Ah ! you 

 did not drop the point quick enough ; he felt the check, 

 and has left it. Don't worry him leave him, and he may 

 take in a few minutes, but not if you show him the worm 

 too often. Now try by the side of that stone, and steer 

 nicely through that little channel, cut between the rocks. 



