126 TROUT LORE 



ternating, as was my portion last summer, and 

 the fish rush up into the rapids, you will think 

 yourself connected with the greatest bunch of 

 trouble that ever wore pink gills. 



Not every man can play a trout successfully 

 from the reel. Imagine a fish, say a hundred 

 and twenty-five feet away, just at the brink of 

 a long, mad rapid, your bending, lithe rod keep- 

 ing tune to the wild music of the humming line. 

 Under such circumstances if you do not experi- 

 ence thrills of several kinds I will miss my guess. 

 I have been there more than once, and even writ- 

 ing about it causes my heart to beat faster. 



Another matter, the large fish, those sleepy 

 ( ?) old fellows from the bottom of the pool, will 

 be inveigled to the surface by your properly pre- 

 sented lure. Perhaps those ancient denizens are 

 stirred by curiosity, I only know that they are 

 stirred, and that is enough for me. The whole 

 thing is un-trout-like, but it is mighty interest- 

 ing and highly satisfactory. 



In the matter of tackle the rod naturally comes 

 in for the most attention, though I am not so 

 sure that as much depends upon the rod, in the 

 hands of a careful angler, as upon the reel; but 

 be that as it may, the rod must be of the best, 

 and as light as is commensurate with your skill. 



