How to fish in a Wind. 61 



does so put your hand well forward, so as to let him beat 

 easy on the water, and ease your line if he should chance to 

 hit with his tail ; but, as soon as he beats, haul him taut 

 again, and so wind up your line until you can reach him 

 with your landing-net. If, with the line thus shortened, 

 he leap out again, quickly ease him as before, and again 

 hold him firmly, and then, if you have your net held 

 ready and draw him gradually and smoothly over it, he 

 is yours. It often happens that, in striking a fish which 

 has risen at your top-fly and missed it, you hook him in 

 the side, or on some part of his body, with one of your 

 other flies ; if you do so, be careful with him, for he will 

 be twice as strong as if hooked in the mouth. 



A gentle breeze, as it aids the lure, is always favour- 

 able to Fly-fishing. The natural flies are blown on to 

 the water, from which they cannot rise on account of 

 getting their wings wet, and so become an easier prey to 

 the trout ; the fish* are thus tempted to rise and feed 

 more greedily. There is nothing like throwing against a 

 wind to test the spring of your rod from butt to top : if 

 you find this faulty, either alter it yourself or get some 

 one to do it for you ; for a bad tool never turns out neat 

 work. While fishing you should be constantly watching 

 your flies, otherwise they will be taken at a disadvantage 

 to you, and the fish most probably lost. When a lull in 

 the feed takes place, sit down either to lunch or to rest, 

 or to have your pipe, and you will be ready when the feed 

 begins again, and all the fresher for your work. 



When the fish are rising badly, and the wind blows up 

 stream, it has been found that by casting against the 

 wind, and allowing it to hold the line and flies against the 

 water, they have been taken. In strong streams, and on 

 warm days, this method frequently answers after all 

 others have failed. But, for general fishing, never forget 

 the oft-repeated advice to fish up and across the stream, 



