THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 243 



that none of it be missed. If, on the contrary, it is low and 

 clear, he must search out for himself the best eddies, runs, 

 or dark spots, and render himself as invisible as possible. 

 If the water is flooded, he may try the artificial spoon or 

 minnow, or the natural bait, such as a well-scoured red worm. 

 Trout in the early season begin to take sooner in the day 

 and leave off soon in the afternoon ; as days lengthen, 

 angling may be begun later and continued until the sun goes 

 down ; and in autumn, in lakes, lochs, or ponds, evening is 

 the best time, when it may be carried on until dark or even 

 during the night. Trout lie with their heads up-stream, 

 consequently the angler should approach them from behind, 

 that is if the wind is favourable and the water clear; if there 

 is a good supply of water, the angler may allow his flies to 

 pass below him, and even to cast below with a long line. 

 Trout are capricious feeders, and although they must cater 

 for their appetites at some time or other during the day, 

 yet it is uncertain when that period will arrive. An angler 

 may sit on the bank and watch for hours for even the shadow 

 of a dimple on the water without seeing one, when suddenly 

 the whole surface becomes alive with rising fish. This is 

 attributed by some to the wholesale hatching of flies taking 

 place at the one time, and which the fish, with a natural 

 instinct, have been waiting for. But again, it has often 

 been noticed that there were lots of flies sailing down the 

 river all day without a fish seeming to take one, and still 

 this unaccountable rise will take place, and is the time 

 when the angler can fill his basket if he is apt at the work. 

 These special rises occur generally in the warm summer 

 evenings, just as the sun is going down, and are called the 

 " night rises," during which period the best fish are taken. 

 Very often when trout are not seen rising, and will not take 



