110 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



mouth. When hooked in the mouth, the strain 

 that is kept on it prevents it from moving its gills, 

 and suffocation ensues. This takes place sooner 

 when the trout is drawn down a strong stream ; so 

 that the popular notion of pulling a trout down 

 the water to drown it is correct, though the word 

 is rather misapplied. If the trout is hooked by the 

 outside of the body, the respiratory organs are left 

 free, enabling it to run a long time ; and when it 

 does come to the side, the angler is disappointed at 

 the small size of a fish which has been making such 

 a desperate struggle. 



In fishing up, the rise of a trout is by no means 

 so distinct as in fishing down. They frequently 

 seize the fly without breaking the surface, and the 

 first intimation the angler gets of their presence is 

 a slight pull at the line. The utmost attention is 

 therefore necessary to strike the moment the least 

 motion is either seen or felt. This is in some 

 measure owing to the flies being in general a little 

 under water, but principally to the fact that trout 

 take a fly coming down stream in a quieter and 

 more deadly manner than a fly going up. Seeing 

 it going across and up stream, they seem afraid it 

 may escape, make a rush at it, and in their hurry 

 to seize, very frequently miss it altogether. It is 

 very different in angling up stream : the trout see 

 the fly coming towards them, rise to meet it, and 

 seize it without any dash, but in a firm deadly 

 manner. 



