10 THE SONG OF THE REEL. 



second, and third droppers respectively. The Early Brown is the 

 first fly to appear on the streams in the North of England, and as a 

 " stretcher" kills well throughout April, since the seasons nowadays 

 appear to be a month behind their proper times. Other indispens- 

 able flies at this period of the year are the Waterhen Bloa the 

 Blue Dun of the Yorkshire patterns Spring Black, Snipe Bloa, 

 Dark Snipe and Purple, and several of the Partridge hackles. 



I entered the river at the foot of the stream to be fished first. 

 The water, lapping and swirling around my wader-clad legs, acted 

 as a harmless stimulant, and dispelled all forebodings and fears of 

 failure. The adverse wind proved very irritating ; but wading 

 enabled me to cast up and across the stream, and my four orthodox 

 spider or hackled flies searched the thin water at the edge of the 

 fast currents. I proceeded up the river, trying all the likely water, 

 and by-and-bye the bending rod denoted the first trout of the 

 morning. Trickily dancing around, it resisted the gentle pressure 

 I applied, but at length came downstream, and I luckily netted it 

 whilst it was darting past me. 



Threatening clouds gathered in the north-west and the wind 

 blew in gusts, the great trees swaying to the power of ^Eolus. And 

 anon, the air was filled with snowflakes, twirled in every direction. 

 Thicker and thicker they fell, to vanish when they alighted on the 

 earth, saving here and there on the bleak uplands, where they 

 settled as if pleased to find a spot willing to give sanctuary to a 

 belated touch of winter. But the sun came out again, and the rod 

 bent to the rush of another trout. 



Thus, throughout the day, periods of sunshine and calm, wind 

 and snow, alternated with remarkable persistence, and at length 

 eight gamesome trout were safely in the creel. Two grayling also 

 came to hand from the " flats " but were returned, for they were 

 out of season, and the " Lady of the Streams " is treasured in the 

 Yore. 



These fish of the boulder-strewn streams are lusty and cunning. 

 It is one thing to hook them and another to land them, Down 



