173 



fleep rapids, with well-scoured Irandlmgs and reel-worms : 

 when on the shallows, if you will wade out, or can get 

 above them, so as to let out 12 or 14 yards of line, fine, 

 but strong near the hook, with one or two shots, you 

 may, by allowing your bait to play near the ground, on a 

 gravel or sand bottom, catch many about sun-rise. 



Towards the middle of die day they generally bask in 

 shallows, where the water is rapid and unfrequented. At; 

 such times, and during the whole of the evening, espe- 

 cially if there be a ruffling wind from a warm quarter, and 

 between slight showers of heat-drops, they are keen after 

 almost any fly that is on the water. 



Generally speaking, however, I should expect to find 

 them rise best at the yellow May-fly, while it is in season ; 

 and at a red, or a black, or a grizzle, or a grouse's 

 hockle; the hook being about 4, 5, or 6, according as 

 the fishes may run for size. 



You will often find whi Mings in streams whose surfaces 

 are smooth (because there is but little current), while the 

 beds are interspersed with large pebbles, or pieces of rock : 

 in such waters they snap eagerly at whatever tempts them ; 

 and, like the common trout, dart from under ledges and 

 shelves of stones, or from under stumps, &c. with asto- 

 nishing rapidity. 



But they have a wonderful faculty of checking them- 

 selves, or discovering the deception, and quickly eject 

 what, in their hurry, may have been mouthed. There- 

 fore, when you find them to be thus disposed, you must 

 be quick in striking the moment you think they have ta&ea 

 the fly. 



In worm-fishing, they do not .require much time for 



pouching, 



