62 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



sea-trout, as these fish are easily scared; in fact they seem 

 to be endowed with an eerie faculty for scenting impend- 

 ing danger, and before you have an opportunity of sighting 

 them properly they have bolted into water dark and 

 secretive. 



How crafty, therefore, must you be in your line of 

 access. A pool may contain several sea-trout, but if 

 you do not watch your steps you may as well cast on a 

 meadow as into the water, for the fish have no desire 

 to offer favours to you. I am convinced that sea-trout 

 are more easily frightened than any other fish in our 

 rivers. Unfortunately, numerous anglers fail utterly to 

 recognize the need for caution and go blundering to the 

 water's edge. Worse than that, many wade like bullocks 

 in the water. 



You should try to obliterate yourself on the river-bank, 

 whatever species of fish you are stalking, but with sea- 

 trout your attempts to screen yourself must be re- 

 doubled, and even then the odds are ten to one against 

 you. 



When, in day-time, I intend to throw a fly over a 

 pool which I am satisfied holds a sea-trout or two, my 

 movements are most guarded, and when nearing the 

 water I take advantage of every scrap of cover. Some- 

 times, so as to avoid causing any disturbance amongst 

 the fish, I crouch on my way and make sure that my rod 

 is not raised above a horizontal position behind me. 

 Yet, after exercising all this care, my plans are often 

 frustrated by the wading angler who journeys up the 

 river as if he were otter hunting. 



One day a visiting fisherman remarked to me that I 

 acted by the river as though I were afraid of being 

 seen. I agreed with him, and added for his edification 

 that I was decidedly afraid of being seen by the fish. 



I rent a rod on an excellent sea-trout river which in 



