FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 329 



an east or north-east wind very rarely produces the same satis- 

 factory results. This may in part be due to the smaller show 

 of the fly when the wind is * snell and keen ; ' yet this explana- 

 tion hardly meets the case, as trout often take very well when 

 flies are scarce. We may, however, assume it is a general 

 though unexplained rule that a moist air is better than a dry 

 one. 



In waters with which we are familiar something may be 

 learned from the colour of the surface. I was fishing long ago 

 with my brother in Loch Fruchie, and taking fish, such as they 

 were, very fast. Suddenly the old boatman said, ' Ye may pit 

 doon yer gaud noo.' My brother to humour him at once laid 

 down his rod. I being, rather what Mrs. Tabitha Bramble calls 

 an * imp-fiddle ' in such matters, merely asked why ? ' She's 

 the wrang colour' was his brief answer ; and certainly, though 

 the breeze continued, the aspect of the loch had become dull 

 and sullen. I fished on, however, and in the course of the 

 next hour caught one small fish, when the veteran very pointedly 

 said to my brother — ignoring me as unteachable — ' Noo, Mr. 

 John, ye may tak yer gaud again.' And sure enough, the hue 

 of the lake had grown brighter and livelier, and the fish came 

 on the feed again. 



I have borne this lesson in mind ever afterwards, and have 

 certainly found that when the wavelets on a rippled pool show 

 a blue or blue-black tint, there is sport to be had, but when 

 they wear a dull leaden colour the fish sulk. Why they do so 

 is another matter, as to which this deponent sayeth not. Again, 

 after a rough stormy night, trout seldom rise well before eleven 

 o'clock ; this, however, is probably owing to their having been 

 on the feed all night. 



The worst of all days, undoubtedly, is one when a thunder- 

 storm is threatening but delays to burst. The clouds are piled 

 in heavy masses, and every break in their array shows a lurid 

 hght gleaming through, of an indescribable tint between amber 

 and lilac ; the air is hushed and still but for an occasional hot 

 gust, which seems to come from nowhere in particular. You 



