124 HOW TO PROCEED. 



bush or over-hanging bank ; and at the same time take 

 the utmost care to render the rod and tackle as little con- 

 spicuous as possible. He must then draw out as much 

 line as will reach from the tip of the rod to the surface 

 of the water, but no more ; and having attached to the 

 hook the bait, say a green drake, and the bank before 

 him being clear of bushes, he must swing it cautiously 

 over, and allow it slowly to descend to the surface of 

 the water, taking care to permit as little of the tip of 

 the rod to project beyond the bank as he conveniently 

 can. If, on the other hand, the margin of the water is 

 incommoded by bushes, or boughs of trees, he will not 

 be able to swing his bait over in the above fashion, but 

 after affixing it to the hook, he must proceed to coil the 

 line around the tip of the rod, until it will pass among 

 the branches without getting entangled, when the rod 

 must be introduced very slowly and deliberately through 

 the branches into a proper position, and the line uncoiled 

 and the bait lowered, by twisting the rod in the opposite 

 direction, until the hook reaches the water. The top of 

 the rod should be concealed as much as possible among 

 the branches ; while, in the process of lowering the bait, 

 if it is found necessary to move the rod at all from its 

 position, it must be done very slowly and deliberately, 

 to avoid creating alarm, as the more it is made to assume 

 the character of an extended branch, the less likely will 

 it be viewed with suspicion. Before reaching the water, 

 the bait should be suffered to dangle backwards and 

 forwards a few times, just hovering over the surface. 

 This will exhibit it in a very tempting manner to the 



