A BOOK OF FISHING STORIES 



besides a number of fresh run sea trout, which were all wasted 

 as far as sport was concerned. The memory of that week is 

 one of wasted opportunities which have never recurred. On 

 the other hand, if I were by that pool again and the same 

 conditions were present, I should remember that once in July 

 a friend of mine landed fourteen fresh run salmon and grilse 

 in one day from the stream there, and if I gave myself up to 

 sea trout fishing I might be tormented by the thought that 

 I was missing an opportunity of having such a day as he once 

 had. Such are some of the perplexities of sea trout fishing 

 in large rivers. 



Large rivers, however, are not the most suitable for sea 

 trout fishing. The sea trout is not content to stay for days 

 and weeks in running water or strong streams, as the salmon 

 is. What it really likes is to get to deep, still water as soon as 

 possible ; and small rivers giving easy access to lochs, or having 

 deep still reaches of their own, are the best places for sea 

 trout fishing. 



The streams and shorter pools of these rivers give the best 

 sport of all, when the fish are there^ but it must be remembered 

 that sea trout pass quickly through the running water, and the 

 best river fishing for sea trout is limited to the particular weeks 

 of the season and the special conditions of the river, in which 

 sea trout run up from the salt water. The season during 

 which these fish run in the greatest numbers is in July and 

 August. During these months they accumulate at the mouths 

 of small rivers and burns, going to and fro in the tidal water 

 waiting for a flood. With each flood or spate, as it is called, 



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