158 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



their holes and corners. They renew 

 their youth, and are as rash as the 

 incautious smolts. Still, what of that ? 

 On any water which has no rise of 

 Mayflies imitations cannot be presented 

 with success. Even where there is a 

 rise, the insects, real or artificial, are 

 forbidding to begin with. Until the flies 

 have been on the water for a day or so, 

 they scare the trout, which, instead of 

 leaping at them, crouch or flee. Where 

 there are only a few Mayflies, they seem 

 to be not very exciting to the fish. 

 Thus, opportunities to raise a trout 

 whenever the lure touches the water 

 have become rare. 



Nevertheless, certain lessons may be 

 learned from the incident which I have 

 described. It was not only because he 

 was fishing in one of the fat years that 

 our memorable angler was so successful. 

 It was also because he was working 

 from behind a screen of reeds. That 

 gave him an advantage similar to that 

 which the Irish angler has when out 



