FISHING UP AND DOWN STREAM. 107 



and hU fly -book. Let us hope the sandwich-case, spirit- 

 flask, and cigar or pipe- case is not forgotten. Thua 

 equipped for the day, he may sally forth on his piscatory 

 campaign with pleasurable anticipation. 



For all ordinary purposes a rod of some ten to twelve 

 feet long will be sufficient for all ordinary waters. The long 

 double-handed rod will be found tiresome and unmanage- 

 able when fishing for trout. Young fishermen should use a 

 stiffish rod, and indeed some authorities recommend, for a 

 variety of exceedingly profound reasons, that no other 

 should be used. Of the lines and casts we have already 

 treated. Let us now proceed to the fish. 



One of the first trout streams I ever fished presented 

 greater variety of scenery and water in a shorter space than 

 any other I have met with. While my eyes were feasting 

 themselves on beauty, a learned discussion commenced as 

 to whether the stream ought to be fished "up" or "down." 

 Since that time a great deal of good paper and ink has 

 been wasted on the subject, but it is not yet decided autho- 

 ritatively either way. Excellent authorities can be brought 

 forward to prove that each plan is the correct thing. My 

 experience goea to show that, whilst it is more difficult to 

 fish up a stream, and harder work, it is more truly scientific, 

 and is likely to bring a greater weight of fish to the creel 

 The fish, which generally lie with their heads up stream, 

 are less likely to see the angler when he is going up than 

 when he is going down, and they can be struck easier, and 

 in their subsequent struggles they are less likely to disturb 

 the unfished water than when fishing down a stream, as 

 " troutie " generally rushes downwards when he finds his 

 jaw tickled with the barbed hook. To fish down a stream 

 is easier, is more common, and fair sport may be obtained. 



