THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 23 



finger or the barb may be broken off, and the fly rendered 

 useless. If a fish is seen to be rising steadily, he is on the 

 feed ; so note carefully all the surroundings, bring the best 

 judgment into play how the flies can be got nicely over him. 

 If he is below, the angler should go back from the river, and 

 approach him cautiously from behind. It may be necessary 

 to wade up towards him, to cross the stream, or crouch 

 abreast of him, under the shade of an overhanging bank. 

 Mark the place he rose at last, and, having judged the 

 distance, take off as much line as will cover, and cast a 

 little beyond his " haunt"; then allow the fly to float naturally 

 over the spot. Should he make no movement, rest a little, 

 when he may rise again ; then try him once more he may 

 take it, but oftener he will not. If he seems to be a good 

 fish, worth spending time upon, leave the river bank for a 

 little ; examine the flies that are hovering over or sailing 

 down the water, catch one, if possible, and endeavour to find 

 a good copy or imitation of it in the fly book, put it on as 

 the tail fly, and creep back to the same place and try your 

 fortune again. This time the right colour may have been 

 presented to him, and he will be enticed to his ruin. As a 

 rule, the single rising fish are good ones, so use every pre- 

 caution to get him to terms, and be careful not to allow the 

 fish to get a glimpse of you, if possible, until he is in the 

 landing net. Trout have very sharp sight, and, although they 

 are the gamest fish that swim, yet they fly at the first sight 

 of an encroachment on their demesne. In playing a fish, 

 always endeavour to prevent him from ascending the water, 

 so as not to disturb that part of it over which you have not 

 fished. Aim at keeping on the shallow side of a stream, as 

 the best fish lie in the deep. There is a great diversity of 

 opinion amongst anglers as to the comparative merits of up 



