116 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



sportsmanlike in the case of such beautiful game 

 fish. 



There are many small streams and brooks through- 

 out the country, containing trout, that are more or 

 less bordered by woods or brush, or which themselves 

 are filled with logs and snags, fly casting being im- 

 possible in either case. When the trout season opens 

 in April or early May, as it does in the majority of 

 States, it is entirely too early for the fly to be taken. 

 Under such conditions the trout fisherman relies upon 

 bait fishing, and goes forth to match his skill with the 

 wonderful craftiness of this fish. It is a great mis- 

 take to consider stream fishing for trout with bait as 

 not requiring skill. There is no other kind of angling 

 that requires more. Trout, whether of the brook, 

 rainbow, or brown variety, are crafty fish, and very 

 easily frightened, especially in shallow waters. If 

 undisturbed, they may occasionally be seen resting 

 quietly in the deeper pools, but, as a usual thing, they 

 remain hidden. Under every shelving bank, under 

 every log from which the current has washed away 

 the sand, and under every fall where the drop of the 

 water has made a deep hole, there is the lurking place 

 of the trout. Beneath or behind every obstruction 

 that offers a hiding place, one or more fish may be 

 found. The expert stream fisherman knows this, and 

 very slowly he fishes, dropping his hook into every 



