128 GOLDEN DAYS 



On turning the leaves and comparing 

 notes, I discover that the larger bags were 

 taken during the month of JMarch and the 

 first half of April. Indeed, there is one 

 entry as early as February 27th, when six 

 brace of fish are recorded, the best of them 

 weighing two pounds two ounces. Against 

 this entry I find the following comment : 

 " Fish firm and in very fair condition." 

 This early fishing must needs prove a 

 disappointment to the uncompromising 

 adherent of the dry-fly for nine days out 

 of ten ; though the trout occasionally 

 break surface, they will not look at a 

 floating fly, even a wet-fly fished up-stream 

 leaves them for the most part uninterested. 

 Yet if we are content to throw precepts 

 to the boisterous winds and fish down and 

 across the stream (" and I would have 

 you note " there is some skill in this form 

 of fishing, for Izaak Walton practised it), 

 likely you shall meet some " lusty trouts "; 

 in any case, your day will not be a blank 

 one. A useful fly at such a time is a fat 

 palmer (old Izaak knew that too !) cast 

 well down-stream and worked across the 

 current. The trout will follow round and 



