RIVER -ANGLING. 207 



Another hint to the young angler is to mind what he is 

 about when he approaches the still deeps of the river. 

 Many are apt to pass them by altogether, and scarcely 

 try a cast until they come to the pools and streams again. 

 Perhaps the best test of a finished performer is the manner 

 in which he fishes these dead deep places, especially if there 

 is little wind, for they generally harbour the largest and 

 best-fed fish, which are, of course, the most suspicious and 

 difficult to rise. We will suppose a first-rate angler ap- 

 proaching one of these unrippled deeps : his tackle is of 

 the very lightest description he is watching with a hawk's 

 eye for the rising of a trout. Should he see one, he instantly 

 moves up till within rather a distant cast of the place, taking 

 advantage of any bush or tuft of reeds which may the 

 better conceal him ; or, if necessary, going down on his 

 knee, ready to drop his cast, light as gossamer, right across 

 the next circle, which the crafty fish may make by sucking 

 down another incautious fly. If the trout should rise, he 

 is not unlikely to be one well worth hooking, and to give 

 good sport in such quiet water. When there is breeze 

 enough to make much ripple, it may prevent any but a 

 quick and practised eye from seeing the rises most worth 

 notice; in which case the water should be fished with as 

 long a line and as light casts as possible. You need not 

 despair should trees or any other obstacle prevent your 

 sweep from being so free as otherwise it ought, for if you 

 are suitably dressed,* and make no rapid motions, you will 



* The slate-blue of the heron's back is the best colour for a fisher's 

 dress. 



