Sea-Trout Fishing. 523 



through the rapids; and it will be late in the afternoon before the 

 ring of their iron-shod poles against the stones, heard in measured 

 cadence half a mile off, gives the signal of their return. 



The time of their absence may be improved to review tackle and 

 perfect it for serious work. The prudent angler will take at least 

 three rods. Two of these should not be very light, for they may be 

 called on, as has happened, to handle a salmon. In any case, the 

 fish are so plentiful that it is not worth while to waste time over the 

 smaller ones, and the most useful rod is one stiff enough to snub a 

 pound trout, and bring him promptly to net. A duplicate reel and 

 line are, of course, provided. As to flies, the indifference of sea-trout 

 about kind, when they are in the humor to take any, almost warrants 

 the belief of some anglers that they leap in mere sport at whatever 

 chances to be floating. It is true they will take incredible combina- 

 tions, as if color-blind and blind to form. But experiments on their 

 caprice are not safe. If their desire is to be tempted, that may most 

 surely be done with three insects, adapted to proper places and 

 seasons. One need not go beyond the range of a red-bodied fly 

 with blue tip and wood-duck wings for ordinary use, a small all-gray 

 fly for low water in bright light, and a yellowish fly, green-striped 

 and winged with curlew feather, for a fine cast under alders after the 

 patriarchs. By all means make your own flies, or learn to do so, 

 for the sake of practicing a delicate art and amusing some idle hours 

 on the stream. Besides, one's own handiwork is stronger than that 

 of most shops, and with a pocket-book full of material, it will be easy 

 to replace a loss, by no means infrequent, caused by the tipping of a 

 canoe. 



Wading drawers of India-rubber, reaching well above the waist, 

 are indispensable ; and the foot that is shod with anything but a 

 nail-studded sole will surely bring its wearer to great grief when it 

 touches the treacherous clay. Much of the bottom is of this greasy 

 stuff, looking like stone, but as slippery as glass, and unsafe for any 

 foot-gear whatever. In some runs, the river-bed is pebbly, but 

 usually strewed with large stones, and the current is so swift as to 

 render a knee-deep stand unsteady. 



The day's work in camp follows quite a regular routine. About 

 six. the light wakes you — the guide never will. A dip in the pool 

 or a bucket dash at the brink tones the nerves for a firm touch of the 



