NOTES FROM A DIARY 143 



fly floats like a cork, and is capable of 

 supporting a wet-cast for a reasonable 

 length of time without any fear of drag. 

 Indeed, I have seen a big trout put down 

 by a fine greased floating cast, and then 

 taken half an hour later on the same May- 

 fly, which at the second opportunity was 

 presented on coarse, but submerged^ gut. 



July 2Uh. — Woke to a howling gale ; 

 fishing useless, hi the evening we?it down 

 to flat wate?' above mill; took some quite 

 good fish . . . Alde7\ 



There are many such spots in Brittany, 

 imprisoned waters above the mills, long 

 deep reaches which under normal condi- 

 tions are of little use to the fly-fisher. 

 Still, they hold good trout, and when 

 ruffled by a strong breeze are quite worthy 

 of an hour's experiment. On this special 

 evening an Alder was fished dry and 

 against the wind, and each fish was taken 

 by a deliberate drag. How hard we have 

 all tried to avoid that fatal drag of chalk- 

 stream days ! Yet here, and on this 

 particular evening, fish were only taken 

 when the fly was encouraged in its evil 

 propensity. Earlier, and from the further 



