294 TILL TROUT. 



with an occasional two-pounder in a day more than ordi- 

 narily lucky. But the worst thing attending them is, 

 that they are far from numerous, full fed to repletion, 

 and lazy and capricious in the extreme, and at all times 

 bad to capture by even the most tempting baits used in 

 the most scientific manner. One dozen is considered to 

 be a very good day's work for the most accomplished 

 angler, and that also on a more than ordinarily favour- 

 able day ; while I would warn the more sanguine votaries 

 of the craft, who may choose to woo this sullen stream, 

 that they must neither be much surprised, nor more than 

 usually disappointed, if after exhausting all their skill 

 and ingenuity for hours in endeavouring to win the smiles 

 of fortune, the fickle jade may ultimately jilt them, and 

 oblige them to return with elongated visages and creels 

 totally innocent of contents. Two dozen and a half of 

 trout is the largest basket I ever succeeded in making on 

 the Till in the neighbourhood of Wooler, and I have 

 fished it frequently, and under every variety of weather, 

 water, and season, with minnow, worm, and fly ; and few 

 of the best anglers of the district have exceeded this by 

 fair means during late years. But then a dozen even of 

 Till trout, both as regards weight and flavour, is worthy of 

 being called a dish of fish, and of more value for the table 

 than three times the number from most other streams. 



SHYNESS OF TILL TROUT. 



The majority of the trout in this river seem to repose 

 the greater part of their time on the sand-beds at the 

 bottom, and feed almost exclusively on worms, caddis, 



