120 TROUT FISHING 



warm golden hue, yourself concealed and in 

 readiness what a fine trout you will surely catch ! 



I know of no stream in the North of Devon 

 which may be so surely relied on for affording 

 sport with the rod and line, as the Bray ; and 

 though the trout in it are small, they are neverthe- 

 less most wonderfully active and strong. I believe 

 that if this stream, together with the rivers below, 

 which it joins, and the small brooks which con- 

 tribute to it, were well preserved, in a few years 

 there would be found abundance of fine trout in it. 



The little stream, commonly called the Nymph, 

 which crosses the Turnpike Road at Bish Mill, is 

 a beautiful stream for sport in the early months, or 

 in the autumn after rain, when it is of a more than 

 ordinary size ; but for bright water fishing during 

 the hot months of the year, with low water, it is not 

 at all to be relied on for sport at such times the 

 conditions before mentioned as requisite for sport 

 are not present, but, on the contrary, very little 

 else than still water will be found in the bed of 

 the river. 



The upper part of the Mole, above South Molton, 

 is admirably suited for bright water fishing ; and 

 I know of no water on which a beginner could 

 better learn the art of up-stream fishing as I 

 have practised it, and endeavoured to teach it, 

 than this little stream. Indeed that portion of it 

 above and immediately below North Molton, will 

 be found to be exactly the kind of water 1 have 

 been so particularly writing of. 



