216 TROUT FISHING 



almost invariably brings an improvement 

 in the sport of fly-fishing ; but it does 

 not seem to make much difference on 

 rivers. Often, on the fall of the flood, as 

 the sparkling water was running half a 

 foot or so above the normal level, I have 

 thought, Now, this is splendid ; but 

 nearly as often I have found it not 

 splendid at all. The water is clear 

 enough to let the flies be seen, and it is 

 flowing with such liveliness that one 

 would think the trout must be lively 

 too ; but often that is not the case. As 

 a rule, the fish hold aloof until the stream 

 has become normal. 



Then a river affords opportunities to 

 study the habits of the trout which are 

 not to be found on a lake. Many of the 

 fish can be seen and watched. Does 

 each of them have a place of his own ? I 

 think he has. Sometimes you may see a 

 trout, usually a large one, roaming about 

 within a radius of a few yards ; but when 

 you see this you see also that there 

 is no other trout near him. All the 



