THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT 155 



species of the insect on which it is feeding. To keep 

 changing flies, and cast each over the feeding trout, 

 soon degenerates into hammering, which is an in- 

 fallible means of educating a trout and making it 

 shy. It may be that the fish is taking almost indis- 

 criminately, but at long intervals, specimens of the 

 different insects. In this case the pattern is not im- 

 portant, although, no doubt, those who are still wedded 

 to a multiplicity of very similar patterns will wish to 

 try every likely one in succession. 



One of the modern golfing experts brought out a 

 little handbook consisting almost entirely of advice 

 as to the various mistakes made by the beginner or 

 moderate amateur. It took the form of a great number 

 of pithy maxims each commencing with the word 

 "don't." To parody this here: Don't cast to a fish 

 taking a number of smuts just at the moment when 

 it has gone down to swallow the mouthful it has 

 collected in the gullet. Don't cast to a trout feeding 

 on any fly just as you see its head turned downwards 

 and its dorsal fin or tail coming up towards the surface. 

 Don't select on a dull day the moment to cast when 

 the sun suddenly blazes out and lights up everything 

 on the surface with a strong glare. Don't select the 

 moment when the wind suddenly drops on a blustering 

 day to place your fly on the water. Don't wait for 

 the very strongest puff of adverse wind to cast to 

 your fish. Above all, don't lose your head and keep 

 on hammering and forgetting to dry the fly. 



Of positive advice I would say : With a number of 



