MAHSER FISHING 63 



in the sun is about 165 degrees Fahrenheit and 

 the water becomes warm, is usually a better 

 time than the early morning, at any rate in 

 rivers where the pools in the early morning are 

 in shade and the water coming down from the high 

 hills is cold. Another very favourite time of 

 mine was sundown. It is a good plan to arrange 

 your day's fishing so that you may be at a good 

 pool about sunset. In the hot weather when the 

 Giri was low and very clear, I have caught good 

 fish after dark ; but this, so far as my experience 

 goes, is exceptional ; and when the sun goes down 

 and the after-glow is off the water, it is time to 

 knock off. 



In rivers which have been much fished a little 

 colour in the water is desirable, and even if the 

 colour is produced by snow-water it is much better 

 than no colour at all. As is the case with salmon 

 fishing, the best time in such rivers is after a 

 spate, when the water has begun to clear, but is 

 still sufficiently discoloured to prevent the fish 

 from seeing the tackle. Where the fish are 

 unsophisticated perfectly clear water may be 

 an advantage, as Mr. Thomas says in The Rod in 

 India, because the bait can be seen to a greater 

 distance; but in a river like the Giri you can 

 only hope to catch big fish when the water is 

 clear, either in the strong water of the rapids, 

 or by fishing late in the evening. When the 

 water is discoloured the mahser are unable to 

 see the bait unless it passes close to them ; but, 

 if they do see the bait, they take it well under 

 such conditions. The junctions of small streams 

 with the main river fish well at such a time. The 



