440 Reminiscences of 



are favorable, when it would seem as if all the medium- 

 sized trout in the waters were surface feeding. 



Not in an eager and conspicuous manner with splash- 

 ing breaks and flashing swirls, but in a quiet sucking in 

 from the surface of the varied ephemera which plenti- 

 fully abound, in a manner so quiet as to be observable 

 only to the experienced eye. 



No minnow, however minute, can agitate the surface 

 of the water more delicately than a i^ tb. trout, if he 

 wills it, and he does when so feeding, although the oc- 

 casional more conspicuous break and swirl occurs in 

 the presence of an unusually attractive lure, apparent 

 to the most ordinary sight. 



Equipped, the boat is propelled deftly by its stem 

 paddle over the feeding water. The fisherman is seated 

 in the middle of the boat, casting softly to the right and 

 left with the progress of the boat, for the advantage of 

 a possible surface trout that may be about. A delicate 

 apparent minnow break is observed off to the right, per- 

 haps 50, perhaps 100 or more feet distant, of which, as 

 soon as over, nothing remains to mark the exact spot ex- 

 cept a possible air bubble or two. The boat is propelled 

 toward the side of it, to within 35 or 40 ft., when the cast 

 is given over or near the spot. Perhaps the fluttering 

 fly is taken at the instant of its fall, for the trout may be 

 directly beneath, but generally not, for the fly is al- 

 most always taken below the surface, which position 

 the fly will assume on a long cast and a slow draw. 



The trout is likely to have moved 10 or 1 5 ft., perhaps 

 more, but he is almost sure to be picked up in the neigh- 

 boring area if he has not been alarmed by unskilful 

 movements of the boat or its occupants. 



Often an active trout will be on the go as feeding, and 





