78 TROUT FISHING 



do not hook them, or but hook them to lose 

 them at once. This period of the evening is 

 supremely unproductive, and I have practically 

 abandoned hope of doing anything with these fish. 

 This in itself is almost fatal to success. " I shan't 

 rise you and if I do I shall lose you " when the 

 angler thus addresses his prospective quarry he 

 invites failure to be his companion. 



There was once a huge trout in a hatch-hole. I 

 knew him well but had never seen him rise, nor did 

 I believe him capable of it. He seemed to me one 

 of those established features which add dignity to 

 a fishing without any risk of being upset. Most 

 waters possess such fish, much as London possesses 

 the Tower and St. Paul's. Your only lawful chance 

 with them is with a red sedge at twilight, and if you 

 do hook one of them then, it generally proves to be 

 a smaller brother after all. Irish anglers, at any 

 rate, will know what I mean. Well, one evening 

 about half- past five I came to the head of the hatch- 

 hole, to find it low and placid ; the customary stream 

 was diverted into carriers, and the usual turmoil 

 had quite ceased. I looked and was about to cross 

 over and go on when I saw a dimple in the far corner 

 downstream. This seemed worth investigating so 

 I went round and peeped. There in but a few 

 inches of water was the big trout, and he raised his 

 nose as I watched and took another trifle. In great 



