A Visit to Troutbridge 157 



the opposite bank, which has been planted by- 

 Nature with a tall hedge of willow-herb, is 

 a great place for the may-fly. Somehow the 

 insect seems to hatch there more freely than 

 at most other points ; and if you do not mind 

 going into the rushes on this side and feeling 

 the water rush in over your boot-tops — for 

 we do not allow waders on the Clear — you 

 will presently see a fish or two 'up' under 

 the opposite bank. See ! there is a good 

 trout ' up ' taking every may-fly that comes 

 within half a dozen inches of his nose. He 

 is lying almost against the clay side of the bank. 

 No, you were a little below him ; you 

 want a few more inches of line out. Now, 

 that is right — let it go down ; the fly is float- 

 ing and sitting up on the water beautifully j 



he's got it Hurrah ! Bring him down 



to that dry spot where I can get to the river 

 with the net. ... All right, I've got him. 

 . . . Well, now, isn't he a beauty ? — one of 

 our genuine old Clear trout, and you will 

 find that when cooked he is as pink as a 

 salmon. 



