5O THe Determined Ang'ler 



the eighteen and had two hundred and fifteen rises. 

 The day was dark, the water very clear and shallow, 

 and there had been no rain for ten days. 



This was the occasion of learning more about strik- 

 ing the Eastern brook trout than I had ever before 

 enjoyed. The old rule is to strike on the second of the 

 rise, and, while I do not think this electric quickness 

 should be practiced in all cases and under all condi- 

 tions, I found it was the rule this day, especially in the 

 one deep pool I found. In other places one in partic- 

 ular, where I saw six of my catch make every move in 

 taking the flies I found it necessary to depart from 

 the old rule and strike not upon the second of the rise. 

 I very often gave wrist too quickly. It all goes to 

 prove that rules are not to be exercised at all times and 

 under all conditions. We must make allowances. 

 I came upon one quiet piece of water that was as 

 clear and still as glass; I could see every detail of the 

 pebbles at the bottom. Eight pretty trout were in 

 this bed of silent water, resting without a perceptible 

 movement not even that delicate wave of the tail 

 so common with the trout in his balancing in running 

 water. They did not see me; a bush hid my form. 

 When my slender rod-tip moved over the water and 

 the leader with the flies went down gently upon the 

 surface, the trout thought (all animals think) the wind 

 had stirred the frail branch of an adjacent tree and 

 swept into the water upon a cobweb three insects for 

 their feeding. Four rushed for the deceit and two 

 were hooked quietly and quickly. I landed them and 

 went away to return to the same spot a half-hour later. 

 Seven trout were there this time. I flailed gently 

 over them, but received no rushing rise; one little 

 fellow came up deliberately, broke water two inches 



