SALMON-ANGLING. 327 



casts, especially when trees or other obstacles are behind. 

 Although not properly spinning, yet the line is pulled in 

 exactly like underhand trolling ; with this difference, that in 

 bait-trolling the whole line is drawn through the rings (except 

 the yard at the rod-point with the appended bait), and lies 

 coiled on the bank, preparatory to the next throw ; whereas 

 in salmon-fishing you can only draw in line until it touches 

 the ground. By also giving one or two turns of the line round 

 the hand, there are about two yards and a half saved from the 

 back cast, and added to the clean sweep of the river. Con- 

 siderable knack is required ; but when a man is quite master 

 of the cast, the line is delivered straight as a rule, and the 

 fly lights soft and smooth at the end of it. Having thus 

 fished with a long line to the foot of the pool or stream, most 

 anglers would wind up, and proceed to new water. I am 

 loath to do so (unless stinted by time), without giving the 

 most likely spots another chance by winding over them. This 

 is done by fishing backwards ; not up stream though that 

 would never do. Throw the line fairly over the water you 

 expect a fish to lie in, then wind up very slowly over him ; 

 continue taking a step or two backwards, repeating your long 

 throw and slow wind over these choice places until you are 

 satisfied. 



The angler, if he pleases, may cast and wind over alter- 

 nately in going down the stream, and not fish it backwards at 

 all ; or he may reserve his wind-over for a favourite spot, 

 where he is certain a salmon has taken post. But the man 

 who knows the river best will always make the most of the 

 wind over : for even an able angler without this knowledge 

 may waste too much time in winding over tempting places 

 where fish seldom harbour. It is the exact perception of the 

 seats of fish, and where they may shift about according to the 

 varying moods of the river, that constitutes half the science 

 of angling. As the late eminent Dr Munro used to say of 

 medicine, " It is but shrewd guessing after all." Nevertheless, 



