DIBBING IN DIFFICULT SPOTS. 155 



the river than on the north, yet on this latter side 

 I have always found the most and the largest 

 trout. I suppose the sun being more intense and 

 warm on the north side, with its southern aspect, 

 may occasion more flies, erucas, and insects of 

 various sorts to creep upon those bushes, and con- 

 sequently the more fish will frequent them. Where 

 the trees or bushes are very close, I advise the 

 bush-angler to take a hedging-bill or hatchet, or 

 in want of that his sporting knife, and cut off two 

 or three branches here and there, at proper places 

 and distances, and so make little convenient open- 

 ings, at which he may put in his rod and line ; 

 but this is to be done some time before you come 

 to fish there. If you come to a woody place, 

 where you have no such conveniences, and where, 

 perhaps, there is a long pool, and no angling with 

 the fly, or throwing the rod, there you may be 

 sure of many, and large fish. For that very 

 reason I have chosen such places, though very 

 troublesome, where I have been forced to creep 

 under trees and bushes, dragging my rod after 

 me, with the very top of it in my hand, to get 

 near the water ; and I have been well paid for all 

 my trouble. Whilst you are getting in your rod 

 throw a brandling or grub, or what you fish with, 

 into the place, which will make the fish take your 

 bait the more boldly." 



The grasshopper is a most valuable bait for 



