214 TROUT FISHING 



only be reached by a side flick, in the course of 

 which the line got entangled in the nettles on the 

 bank. Therefore, though he took the fly all right, 

 the rod could not get on turns with him, and he 

 departed untouched. 



Think what a leash it would have been, for the 

 other fish were quite as big as the one I caught ! 

 But Providence evidently meant me to suffer the 

 pangs of regret, and to make sure of it, sent me to 

 the same spot on the following morning. Then, a 

 few yards lower down, I at once hooked yet another 

 four-pounder, played him for several minutes, and 

 was just preparing to use the net, when a voice said 

 " Hi," or " Good-morning," or " Any Sport ? " or 

 some other offensive thing, my attention was dis- 

 tracted for a moment, and the fly came away. For 

 twopence I would have pushed the owner of the 

 voice into the river. Providence I would have 

 pushed in for nothing at all had I had the chance. 

 I have never had to do with four such big fish in 

 such close succession before or since. 



Francis Francis and others used in old days to 

 begin the Mayfly season on the Itchen and continue 

 it on the Kennet, thus getting some three weeks 

 of fishing. One season I tried to emulate this 

 achievement and pursued the insect to three different 

 rivers. It was not a great success. Here is the 

 record of the business as I set it down at the time. 



