262 



TROUT FISHING 



I had insufficient control such as nerves, hand and 

 so on combined to make the basket unimpressive 

 in relation to the opportunities. But that was not 

 the fault of the weather or the fish. 



I do not like fishing in heavy rain, but that is not 

 because I expect to find the trout out of humour. 

 I have seen such brave doings in spite of rain that 

 on the whole I am surprised if there is not a good 

 rise at some time on the wettest day. It is mere 

 human weakness that makes me prefer a dry jacket 

 even if the rise is not quite so good. 



Even more does human weakness prejudice me 

 against wind. Frankly, I hate wind when I am 

 trout fishing, in spite of the fact that, like rain, it 

 seems sometimes to induce a good hatch of fly and 

 consequently a rise of fish. Often, I must admit, 

 the wind is really no great matter, though it has 

 great power to annoy. The gusty puffs which 

 wreck an occasional delivery, crack off a fly here and 

 there, or cause the gut-cast to wrap itself round the 

 rod now and again these, though a stimulus to 

 what is pleasantly called " langwidge," in very old 

 as well as in new spelling these puffs can be endured. 

 They colour, but they need not destroy, a day's 

 fishing. Once a foolish fish, or an exhibition of 

 fancied skill, has improved the mental condition, 

 the puffs have to a large extent lost their power to 

 madden. Recovered sanity makes it plain that a 



