STRATEGY 151 



often produce well. However, most of us fish the day 

 through and perhaps it doesn't add much to the heft 

 of our creels but it adds lightness to our hearts and 

 uplift to our spirits and there is always the anticipa- 

 tion of the luck the evening fishing is going to bring 

 us unless, perchance, it is the last day and we must 

 quit untimely to catch the 5:15 for home. Then we 

 are out of luck as the fish invariably begin to rise well 

 as the quitting hour approaches 'twas ever thus as the 

 poets say! But never mind: other days are coming 

 and for that matter if the fish become too challenging 

 one can always " miss " a train and send a telegram of 

 explanation later. Such things have happened! In 

 fact, I know bald-headed men who have, choosing love 

 before duty, thus played truant from home and busi- 

 ness under these circumstances. 



Thunder and lightning storms are unpropitious for 

 good fishing but a gentle shower often turns the tide 

 in our favor and sets the fish to rising. 



The direction of the wind has little to do with the 

 success of a day on a stream as the wind comes from 

 all directions if the river is at all winding. The 

 proverbial east wind may have local influences, in 

 England or on our east coast, but otherwise is not ob- 

 jectionable and the phases of the moon have little to 

 do with fishermen's luck or the whimsical mood of 

 Micropterus, except that the bass may do their feeding 

 on moonlight nights and be indifferent during the day. 

 In this case the angler, well prepared for mosquitoes 

 and with heavy tackle, can do his fishing after sundown, 



