The Big Trout. 165 



taste, — bottom-fishing is, I grant, the poor- 

 man's sport, and with it may he be contented, 

 and five long to enjoy it, — I mean the fishing 

 which you require to serve a long and patient 

 apprenticeship to, before you can expect to 

 arrive at any degree of perfection. Many, nay, 

 perhaps most, do not get beyond mediocrity ; 

 that is my case. Although I have tried my best 

 to arrive at the higher grade, I am free to 

 confess I never got within a long throw of 

 the pinnacle, that is to say, fishing with the 

 artificial fly, as I have mostly devoted myself 

 to spinning. It is said that no man really 

 enjoys it thoroughly unless he can kill fish 

 with flies of his own manufacture ; I have no 

 doubt it adds immensely to the pleasure. 



A friend of mine, who was a first-rate hand, 

 with whom I was out one day, a very bright 

 sunshiny one, with the water as clear as crystal, 

 when not a fish would look at our flies, said to 

 me, " Did you see that gentle rise near the 

 opposite bank ? " 



"Yes," I said, "I did; but I don't think 

 it's a fish." 



" It is," he said, " and I'll catch him. Have 

 you a kid glove in your pocket ? " 



