MORE WADERS 89 



we walk below the pool, well away, and quickly- 

 wash our hands. When they are dry, we search the 

 sedges and capture two fat may-flies ; a gentle nip 

 with the thumb and fore-finger and they are dead. 

 Then, very gently, we fix one on the hook, the head 

 coming just over the shank ; the other we fix the 

 reverse way, the head only just covering the point 

 of the hook. Then we are ready. Walking away 

 from the water in a kind of half-circle, we drop on 

 our hands and knees, and crawl to a little above the 

 throat of that pool. Then we rest a bit and take 

 our hat off, see that all is free, and with a gentle 

 side-cast drop the two flies about six feet from where 

 the fish lies. Down they float a little under water, 

 as half-drowned flies do at times. It was too much 

 for him to resist. There was a bit of a boil up, just a 

 little, and we have him ; that is, he is hooked, but 

 - not landed ; a different thing altogether. We rise 

 to our feet instantly, the top of our light rod being 

 curved more than we care to see ; but there is no 

 help for it ; the fact is he has deceived us, by his 

 gentle rising, as to his weight, or rather size. Every 

 moment we expect our line to go, or that there will 

 be a smash of the very light top joint ; but no. Then 

 up he shoots, a short thick stocky fish with rich 

 brown back well spotted, and a belly the colour of 

 gold. Once more he shoots up ; then he bores for 

 the bottom, all the pressure being put on that is 

 compatible with safety. But it is no use, down he 

 goes. Then, snick ! there is the rod perfectly 

 straight, and the line hanging limp by the side of it ; 



