SALMON- ANGLING. 335 



chiefly through peat-mosses, fish seldom rise well when the 

 water is of the highly-prized coffee-brown. This is worth at- 

 tention ; for whenever such rivers brighten up, they take 

 famously. In July, when the days are sultry, fish are dull 

 and sick with the tepid water, even in the late evening. Be- 

 coming very hungry after the cool of the night, morning fish- 

 ing from five till nine is always most deadly then ; earlier, is 

 often too dull and grey. Before the weather grows so hot, the 

 evenings are preferable, the day sun having warmed, but not 

 heated the water, and his glare becoming mellowed or sub- 

 dued. In decidedly cold stormy days at the beginning of the 

 year, they take best, of course, in the middle of the day. 

 When the air looks blue on a frosty evening, there is good 

 chance of a fish rising ; but when the mountains are veiled in 

 their misty drapery, it is a very unpropitious sign. A bril- 

 liant day at the first of the season is not good, especially for 

 red fish ; a rough wind is best then. In spring, change from 

 larger to smaller flies ; in autumn, from less to larger. Always 

 fish with larger flies in the evening than in the daytime ; but 

 do not apply this rule to the early morning. At the opening 

 of the season, even clean fish much frequent quiet water at the 

 tail of the pools. 



In boat-fishing a salmon-pool, begin at the foot ; throw 

 straight out across stream (not a point down, as from the 

 bank); and by making the boatman row slightly aslant, and away 

 from the pool, as it were sloping up-stream, you have beautiful 

 command of your tackle. The fly plays longer on the water, 

 and by following the motion of the boat, rises the fish better, 

 and, lastly, by keeping the line " stent," hooks more surely. 

 In repeating each cast, always make the boatman work closer 

 to the pool, starting away from it again as soon as the fly is 

 delivered. When stream-fishing, especially if the current is 

 strong, you must begin at the top, and fish down as from the 

 bank ; but in so doing the salmon can more easily detect the 

 boat. Should the water be fine and clear, all river boat-fishing 



