190 COARSE FISH. 



be blamed for this, but civility generally brings 

 custom sooner or later. In some weirs, it is 

 next to impossible to land fish without help, but 

 your attendant should keep quiet and allow you to 

 give your whole attention to your tackle. Watch 

 your line and bait carefully, as inattention will 

 cause you to lose fish ; as a rule, if you prick a 

 trout you may put him down as "done for," for 

 some time to come, though I once landed a trout 

 in the evening that I hooked hard in the morning. 

 It may be held that this was a different fish, but I 

 knew the fish too well to make any mistake about 

 his identity. It is simply maddening to lose a fish 

 by having your attention diverted and failing to 

 strike him at the proper moment ; prompt action 

 is required, without the least bungling or delay. 

 Nailed boots should be worn to avoid slipping on 

 wet stones or greasy (damp) platforms. I have 

 damaged my elbows once or twice with bad falls, 

 through going on wet, slimy stones in slippery 

 boots ; when falling, the angler instinctively en- 

 deavours to save his rod, and an elbow, or wrist, 

 generally suffers in consequence. 



Anglers who thoroughly study and watch the 



river are the most successful with Thames 

 "Mark- . r 



ing trout ; one is seen feeding, and carefully 



down" "marked down," his -feeding-time noted, 

 trout 



and the best situation for the punt carefully 



considered, that is if a punt must be used to 

 approach the fish. Thames trout are specially 

 noted for feeding in the same spots and at regular 

 times ; .and I always note the time when I see a trout 

 feed. Bleak collect in certain places, and these 

 should be carefully watched, either in weirs or in 

 the open stream. Trout generally have some quiet 



