72 Salmon Fishing. 



fraternity in general, that neither trout nor 

 salmon will rise well before rain. And yet 

 in several instances I have proved the opposite 

 of this to be the case ; that is, just immediately 

 before the expected rain-fall came, and during 

 its first appearance. 



Once, from the mouth of the Dore that falls 

 into the Monnow about a mile below Pontrilas, 

 in Herefordshire, I commenced fishing with a 

 fly up the stream. The trout came, and came 

 well too ; but not satisfied with this, I changed 

 the fly, quite contrary to my custom, for a small 

 brass killdevil. The reason for my doing so, 

 was this. I had promised an old lady not far 

 off, the next time I came near her house, a 

 good dish of trout, which promise, I fancied, 

 from a faint smile that played about her mouth 

 for a moment, she received with slight symptoms 

 of incredulity. Remembering this, and seeing 

 evident signs of a speedy change of weather, 

 I felt all the more covetous of filling my basket 

 in the speediest way possible. And well was 



