142 ANGLING. 



grasshoppers, the hook may bo placed under its head 01 

 lodged in its body, or passed through the upper part of the 

 back. The fly -baits may be caught with a gauze-net, and 

 kept in a box full of air-holes. House and wood-flies are, 

 however, apt to be too nimble for the angler when the box- 

 lid is opened. An old powder-horn, with a few perfora- 

 tions, answers very well as a receptacle for these agile 

 gentry, as only one can escape at a time through the 

 aperture. 



Dipping may be practised from the middle of May to 

 the end of August. Chub and roach will rise at the natural 

 fly in September, on warm evenings. During the day 

 trout and grayling will rise at the May-fly, when on the 

 water, and in the evenings they seem to prefer a blue- 

 bottle, house-fly, or moth. The fish, however, do not jump 

 at the bait ; they appear lazily to rise, suck in the flies as 

 they flutter on the top, for they should never be allowed to 

 sink beneath the water. Strike gently ; do not play the 

 fish long ; tire him by keeping his head well out of the 

 water ; and then bring him quietly to the side. 



In bush-fishing the angler must be divested of all encum- 

 brances as far as possible. His equipment must be placed 

 in a haversack under his coat; he must approach his 

 scene of action noiselessly and unseen. Having fixed on a 

 suitable spot, twirl your foot-line round the top pieces of 

 your rod, so as to avoid the twigs and branches. Let it 

 hang over the river ; untwist the line gently by turning the 

 rod, and then let the flies gently alight, fluttering at the 

 top of the water. If there are any weeds near, so that the 

 fly may appear to have jumped from them, so much the 

 better. The angler must keep out of sight and make no 

 noise. The fish and, generally, it is big fish that are 



