88 MINOR TACTICS OF THE CHALK STREAM 



water. It is enough if the drag and the recovery 

 occur far enough below the fish not to disturb 

 him ; but if the fly be the right pattern the drag is 

 a matter of no consequence, as the cross-country 

 cast comes so lightly, so naturally, and with such 

 concealment of its perils from the trout, that as 

 frequently as not he takes the fly at the first offer. 



Of course, the vegetation on the bank may be 

 such as to render it almost impossible to deliver 

 this cast without being hung up, but the angler 

 should not be too ready to assume that this is so. 

 It is wonderful how, with care, a light hand, and a 

 little patience, the line may be recovered, and what 

 risks may be taken with comparative impunity. 

 It is often astonishing to see how anglers who pay 

 largely for their fishing rights, own costly rods, 

 reels, and lines, and make long train journeys for 

 their fishing, will decline to tackle trout in difficult 

 positions, because it involves the possible loss of 

 a cast or a fly — perhaps is. 2jd. all told — with 

 the odds long in favour of the loss being no more 

 than a fly, and perhaps a point. I am ever for the 

 adventure. The certain smash does not alwavs 

 come off. 



But after the meadows are cut, and when the 

 sedges are low, it is often excellent sport to beat 

 slowly up on either bank, left or right, keeping in 

 either case well inland — especially so on the right 

 bank — and flicking a grass moth or a small sedge 

 dry into every little eddy and bay, and on to 



