PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



comes a fisher ! we '11 send him to those fish 

 that are rising in the pool below, that we have 

 been throwing at so long.' The man looked 

 like a mechanic, or weaver; he was plainly 

 dressed, and seemed very poor; but his 

 countenance was cheerful and intelligent. His 

 rod was of hazel, a top and a butt, tied 

 together with a waxed end ; his line of about 

 five yards long, with four more of single hair, 

 was tied to a loop at the end of his rod, and 

 was there so thick as to seem almost a con- 

 tinuation of it (being well adapted for the wood- 

 encumbered Derwent). He had neither reel, 

 nor rings, nor varnish. { Master,' said one of 

 the Gentlemen, 'you may have some rare 

 sport ; here are half a dozen good Trout and 

 Grayling rising in this pool.' The man seemed 

 glad to hear this, for he had been angling some 

 time ; had ascertained what insects the fish 

 were feeding upon, and having made himself a 

 set of flies upon the river's bank, had about 

 half filled a small woodland pannier, which 

 hung at his shoulder. He went down to the 

 rough stream at the foot of the pool, and un- 

 winding the line from his left hand, made a 

 few throws to soak and straighten it. He then 

 proceeded to the fish, as the Gentlemen pointed 

 them out to him, and after being successful in 

 taking them all, he looked up rather archly, 

 and said, f Gentlemen, can you show me any 

 more ? ' 



CONISTON LAKE, January i, 1849. 



