38 TROUT FISHING 



that his hope faints if there seems to be 

 " thunder in the air," the other conditions 

 of the weather are comparatively unim- 

 portant. What matters it if there be a 

 little rain ? A shower now and then is 

 refreshing to man and fish ; besides, there 

 will be fair intervals, in which one's 

 clothes will dry. Perhaps the sunshine 

 is oppressive ; but that need not cause 

 despair, for clouds are likely to come. 



The wind is much more serious. All 

 anglers agree on that score. Especially 

 if it be in a lake that the trout are to be 

 sought, a breeze is considered necessary. 

 If there is no wind, the boat will not 

 drift, and the trout will not rise at 

 artificial flies. If there is too much wind, 

 the drift will be so quick that many a fish 

 which would rise had it a chance will 

 be passed over while another is being 

 played into the landing net. To most 

 anglers this exasperating state of affairs is 

 very familiar. At the close of a good 

 day on a lake during a high wind, who 

 has not felt that it would have been much 



