480 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



flags and reeds. In colder weather they seek the shelter 

 of the deeps. As a matter of course, if the angler ap- 

 proaches full in view, and with heavy and incautious tread, 

 the place where a fish is lying, it becomes almost equally 

 certain that the fish sees him long before he is close to his 

 abiding place; and with one stroke of his great tail, he 

 shoots out of the shallows and into the deeper portions of 

 the river. So let us then "softly tread, 'tis hallowed 

 ground," and having gained a likely spot, reel off some 

 loose line, letting it fall clear of roots, grass, stumps, and 

 rushes, to the left hand, and cast quietly, with as little 

 splash as possible, if on a fine quiet day on a windy day 

 it doesn't matter first to the right and then left, until 

 converging to the centre. If the water has been fairly 

 covered, and these preliminary casts need never be more 

 than 10 or 12 yards from the side, and if further success 

 does not attend you, draw off yard by yard from the reel, 

 until a long cast, yet well within your power of rod and 

 arm, has been attained. Never attempt to overdo it, 

 because it always results in failure, and the tyro who tries 

 to do a tremendous throw, will find that the extra 

 momentum simply brings his line into a glorious tangle, 

 and a very nice thing in fishing is a real, downright tangle 

 soothing to the feelings, very! As soon as the bait 

 touches the water after the cast has been made, draw it 

 across and against the current, with long regular strokes, 

 with the left hand, avoiding a jerky motion, and taking 

 care to keep the point of the rod well down, almost touch- 

 ing the water. The moment the point of the rod is raised, 

 it causes the bait to spin nearer the surface, which is not 

 to be desired, save in shallow, weedy waters. Spin the 

 bait right up to your feet, and do not be in a hurry to get 

 it out of the water for a fresh throw, for it often happens 



