TROUT AND THE WEATHER 29 



"Shall be a little superstitious" I like that. 

 So far as the direction of the wind is concerned, 

 the average trout stream is so crooked that it 

 blows from almost any direction of the compass 

 in a half-mile of the stream's course. The only 

 objection I have to the east wind is that sug- 

 gested by Father Walton it is apt to produce 

 cold and nasty days, days when to fish is any- 

 thing but a pleasure. I feel that trout should be 

 lured only when the weather is as beautiful as 

 the fish. Gentle sunshine, springing flowers, 

 and soft south winds make days a-stream in 

 springtime a delight. Upon the other hand, if 

 I am fishing and the wind whips round into the 

 east, I do not reel in my line and make my way 

 homeward; indeed not! More than once I have 

 made record catches when the wind was blowing 

 a half -gale from the east, the sky overcast with 

 heavy clouds. The secret of the matter is here: 

 if we think we can catch trout, we generally can; 

 if we think the weather is against us, we only 

 half fish and lay our failure to the weather. 



We sometimes read of record catches of trout 

 being taken when the ground is covered with 

 snow, or the air filled with flying flakes, the only 

 lure used being some sort of an artificial fly. 

 Now I do not know what you will do with me 



