THE MAYFLY IN HAMPSHIRE. 165 



There is no drawback to them : consequently 

 they inherit an unlucky name among the more 

 superstitious trout, who have missed too many 

 relations from the tempting spot to be keen 

 about annexing the run as an easy food 

 provider. 



It is a time full of suppressed excitement. 

 You have been fortunate to get the place to 

 yourself. The fly is coming down, and you can 

 locate two, at least, thoroughly good trout who 

 are taking it confidently and with relish. A 

 very noticeable fact also is that the flies which 

 give the faintest movement or flutter are always 

 the first to go. Many that lie motionless are 

 allowed to drift along, first over riser number 

 one, and then over the lower fellow. Both of 

 them are old hands and have so far kept their 

 places for several days, despite the tramp of the 

 passing angler. 



You must wait for a time, and make quite 

 sure that you can hit the distance exactly with 

 your fly. Time it, if possible, so that it comes 

 over the lower fish just after he has taken one. 

 Two throws, if correctly made, are ample if he does 

 not respond. You stand uneasily in the chalky 

 mud, trying to double some rushes under your 

 feet to delay the sinking process. You can 

 already feel, and hear, your boots settling down 

 in the ooze. You can even smell the sub- 

 sidence as well, so if inclined you can light 

 your pipe by way of passing the time and 

 changing the odour from miasma to nicotine. 

 Provided you think your pattern is right do not 



