82 BLANK DAYS. 



pool above or below a cattle ford very often, 

 where trout always see one and move away from 

 the bank long before you get towards casting 

 distance. 



Manoeuvre up into position during a strong 

 wind flaw and take what cover is offered. If 

 a shingly or grassy beach lie down on your side 

 and wriggle a shade closer to the water. Then, 

 with the wind to assist, begin to cover every 

 square yard you can reach ; throwing up and 

 across and allowing the flies for a dropper here 

 is most important to float right down stream 

 every time on a lengthening line. These tactics 

 have saved many a blank day, and, so long as 

 the wind continues, some fair chance of sport 

 may extend hour by hour although nothing 

 breaks the surface. This form of approach is 

 most advisable dirty, wet, and uncomfortable as 

 it sounds indeed it is far wetter and dirtier. 

 Fish which are feeding intermittently under 

 water in a shallow must be undisturbed. They 

 can see through ordinary ripples especially any- 

 thing tall, but however shy they are they will 

 often take it when one is lying down. 



As any fish caught must be beached it is 

 rather interesting to let him drift downstream 

 with an additional ten yards of line to play 

 with and exhaust himself or get off among 

 the stones in a few inches of water. He has 

 to be gradually windlassed up, until he slides 

 alongside one's elbow, and basketed without ever 

 rising beyond a sitting posture. Trout of even 

 ten ounces can be slithered up this way without 



