TROUT OF LITTLE BROOKS 108 



in late midsummer earthworms are even less at- 

 tractive upon a meadow brooklet. After a rain, 

 when the water is opaque, the wise fisher dis- 

 cards his grasshopper can, even upon a meadow 

 brooklet, for the flood water has washed many 

 worms into the stream, and the trout are feeding 

 upon them to the exclusion of all other food. 

 This, then, is my conclusion, ordinarily the fisher 

 of little streams will be compelled to use some 

 form of bait, employing that which meets the 

 whims of the trout. 



The tackle used will depend upon the particu- 

 lar stream fished. Upon an open meadow brook- 

 let, where 'hoppers can be cast without let or hin- 

 drance, or even artificial flies may be employed, 

 the rod will be of the lightest, and all other tackle 

 such as to preserve the unities. I know of no 

 fishing that will so tickle a man's vanity as that 

 of the baby brooks with baby tackle. On an 

 open stream such as one finds once in a great 

 while, a three-ounce rod is none too light; you 

 may shade it half an ounce if you choose heavy 

 enough for the fishing and fish, and light enough 

 to keep you on the qui vive, lest the seldom two- 

 pounder surprise you in an unthinking moment. 

 That is the poetry of angling. However, as 

 pointed out in the last paragraph, such open 



