WILLING TO WOUND BUT YET AFRAID TO STRIKE. 29 



creased by rain, a larger lure may be made use of. 

 When the streams are brown with rain, an orange- 

 coloured fly is good ; in very clear weather a light- 

 coloured one ; and a dark fly, with a turn or two 

 of gold or silver twist, is advisable for troubled 

 waters. 



Though a great deal, no doubt, depends on a quick 

 eye and an active and delicate hand, we are no great 

 advocates for what is called striking a fish. If a 

 large trout rises in a deep pool, it may be of advan- 

 tage so to do ; and this will be sufficiently accom- 

 plished by inclining the rod quickly upwards or 

 aside (if in the latter direction, then towards the tail 

 of the fish, so as not to drag the fly from its mouth), 

 in such a manner as to draw out a few inches of 

 the line ; for if the reel is not allowed to run, this 

 operation is apt to snap the gut, or otherwise injure 

 the tackle. But if a trout, whether great or small, 

 rises in a current or rapid stream, the sudden 

 change in its position, immediately after it has 

 seized the fly, is generally quite sufficient to fix the 

 barb, without any exertion on the part of the 

 angler. 



A variable state of the atmosphere is not good for 

 angling ; but neither is a uniformly dull gloomy 

 day the most favourable. It is scarcely possible to 

 lay down any general rules on this branch of the 

 subject, and this is of the less consequence, seeing 

 that although we may " Tax the elements with 

 unkindness," we can no more gladden a gloomy or 

 subdue a glaring day, than when desirous to cross 

 a ford, we can add a cubit to our stature. We 



