THAMES TROUT. 213 



bottom to get out of the fiercer rush. Legering 

 can only be practised in gravelly weirs, for those 

 with blocks of stone on the bottom prevent the use 

 of this tackle. 



Paternostering with a single bait will also take 

 trout, but the paternoster is not looked Pater- 

 upon as a sportsmanlike tackle, and is n stermg 

 very little used. 



Little throwing is required in weir-fishing, except 

 in slow corners or cross-stream spinning, as the 

 angler generally works from the weir-head. The 

 water itself will, in most cases, carry the line out, 

 and distant spots can be worked over by drawing 

 the bait to, or through, them from the ends of the 

 large runs. Never hurry fish in play, but do not 

 let them rest or have unnecessary liberty. A 

 sulking fish may be started by tightening the line 

 and tapping the rod with the finger-tips, as I have 

 done on one or two occasions. Above all things, 

 avoid poking at a fish with the landing-net ; drift 

 him over it quietly, lift steadily, and wait till the 

 fish is completely within easy reach. 



It is important to try close up to the weir-fall ; 

 in these places trout will possibly miss the bait 

 once or twice, but generally come again in a few 

 minutes if they are not scared. Keep as still as 

 possible on seeing a fish dash at the bait, and work 

 it in the same spot ; you are almost certain to get 

 hold of him. In very swift streams, trout some- 

 times miss the bait, being carried beyond it by the 

 force of the water, for, when greedily feeding, they 

 will dash into the swiftest run after a bait. They 

 may sometimes be tempted to take a bait by in- 

 cessantly moving it in short jerks, fishing one 

 particular spot ; nor is it uncommon to take trout 



