TACTICAL 181 



wind fallen, the water smooth and glassy. Happy then 

 is the angler of whom the phrenologist can say, in the 

 words of the Bab Balladist, " unusually large his bump 

 of pocket-pickery," for the picking of these pockets in the 

 weeds is his game. 



In many of them there will be a trout, probably not 

 taking surface food, but willing to be tempted if properly 

 approached. If you make up your mind to offer him a 

 dry fly, the probability is that your first offer will be your 

 last. Either he takes it or the disturbance necessarily 

 made in recovering your fly puts him down, but the wet 

 fly is another story. You want your fly to sink on alighting, 

 so it has to be sparsely dressed and well soaked, but it is 

 wonderful what a heavy fall a fly may make without 

 scaring your trout, provided the line falls lightly and does 

 not drag. Indeed, the fall of the fly serves to advertise 

 the fish of its presence, and he often takes it immediately, 

 on its lighting, before there is time for much gut to have 

 gone below the surface film. But assume he does not — 

 you withdraw your fly under water at the bottom of the 

 pocket without making any splash or drag as in lifting a 

 dry fly, and you cast again and again to an undisturbed 

 trout, and if he will have none of your GreenwelTs Glory 

 or Tup's Indispensable you may still try him with a floater, 

 or small Sedge, a Pink Wickham, a Red Quill, or whatever 

 you may fancy. But it is surprising how confidingly a 

 trout lying in such a position will come to the wet fly 

 with just enough movement of the surface of the water 

 to give the hint that bids you fasten. 



OF THE WAYS OF BRER FOX. 



" Brer Fox he des' lay low and say nufnnV Very wise 

 of Brer Fox. It is a commonplace among fly fishermen 

 (though better observed in precept than in practice) to 



