32 TROUT LORE 



I have proved to my own satisfaction that trout 

 will take both artificial flies and bait during such 

 atmospheric disturbances. I have caught trout 

 on flies again and again when fierce thunder and 

 lightning all but drove me from the stream, 

 though the fish never seemed disturbed in the 

 least ; they continued to rise so long as the water 

 remained clear. Some summers ago I was 

 spending a week with the trout of a small creek 

 and one morning Jove seemed to be in an extra 

 angry mood, so I hurried to the stream. The 

 water was turgid and very muddy, so fly-fishing 

 was out of the question, but worms were avail- 

 able and availing. In spite of the awful thun- 

 derstorm, one of the worst to which I have ever 

 been exposed, I secured a nice catch and some 

 very large fish. I might have made a record 

 that day had not Jove let fly one of his thunder- 

 bolts, smiting a pine stub within ten rods of 

 me, shivering it to atoms. That was too much 

 for my courage. I fled. Yes, trout will bite in 

 a thunderstorm if they are hungry; and I think 

 that is the whole secret if they are hungry. 



Another matter regarding which there is little 

 unanimity of opinion is which portion of the day 

 is best for trout fishing. I think the answer all 

 depends upon the feeding habits of the fish in 



