THE FELL BECKS 123 



gorges it is advisable to travel light, but not lighter 

 than the weight of a substantial lunch. Short 

 knee-top waders are useful all the way for crossing, 

 but some fishermen only use a strong pair of shoot- 

 ing boots with nails. 



In any case the start should be early, and the 

 first cast be falling on the water not later than nine 

 o'clock. Even when the intention is to set out and 

 only fish lower reaches, one may often be tempted 

 to go farther. 



The rod should be of the general kind for 

 casting either a fly or a worm, and at times a small 

 minnow. 



It is advisable, where possible, to keep well 

 below the banks if wading. If not one should, at 

 odd times, be prepared to creep on them. " Fine 

 and far off " never appealed to me, but it is 

 certainly sheer nonsense to use this method for 

 becks. Here one cannot be far off, and to be fine 

 is to be far too tender. 



When your wild hill-burn trout is hooked he 

 immediately makes yiolent efforts to get home 

 under some old root, or hollow bank. Now a good 

 deal has been written about " playing " trout, but 

 I submit that in this case, the safest place is the 

 pannier. It is well, too, to beware the conventional 

 catch words, for quick despatch is the way of the 



