264 MISCELLANEOUS. 



nerve to wade them down stream at this stage. To wade 

 them up stream is impossible. And in wading down, if you 

 loose your footing you will go to the foot of the rapids ere 

 you can possibly regain it. 



We who were disposed to wade went at once into the 

 middle of the stream, the others fished from the bank. The 

 former is much the pleasanter method of fishing this stream. 

 We waded out until clear of all brush, and here we could 

 whip and cast to our hearts' content. After fishing one riffle, 

 eddy or rapid until we felt that we had all we could get out 

 of it, we would pass on to the next. 



Occasionally you see a large rock in the middle of the 

 stream around which the raging torrent foams and surges. 

 Just below it is a deep hole, where you feel sure there is a 

 large, wary old trout lying in weight for his prey. You feel 

 that it will not do to approach too near him, for he will take 

 fright and bid you a hasty good-bye. So you stop, perhaps 

 fifty feet above him, drop your fly on the water, reel out and 

 let the current take it down until it passes through the foam- 

 ing crest, past the breaker, and just as it enters the eddy 

 there is a sudden commotion in the angry flood, a flash of 

 light, a show of crimson and gold, a tug at the line, a sudden 

 stroke of the rod, and he is fast ! He dives under the rock, 

 but quick as thought you swing him out away from that 

 danger. Then he makes a rush for a clump of driftwood 

 near the bank. As you give him the butt of the rod, and 

 check his mad career, he makes a beautiful break, and shows 

 you his rich colors glistening in the bright sun-light. 



Your heart throbs with delight as you see his size and feel 

 his weight upon the line. But you keep perfectly cool; 

 checking him at every turn, and reeling in whenever he gives 

 you a foot of line, until after a hard fight he succumbs to his 

 fate, and you gently lift him into your basket. He is one of 



