FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 269 
surface of still and somewhat shallow water a fine oily film, due 
partly to the sporules of water weeds, but mainly, I believe, to 
the floating ova and larve of minute insects, which is only 
visible in particular lights, and yet very effectively dulls the 
quick sight of the trout. When you see a patch of inshore 
water dimmed by such a film, keep low within an easy cast and 
wait till you see not a distinct break or rise but a slight dimpling 
of the water caused by the suck of a fish. Drop a single fly a 
little above him, and his capture is almost a certainty. The 
value of this resource lies in its being most available in appa- 
rently hopeless days, when there is a strong sun and no breeze 
stirring. 
Yet again, fish may often be taken, though at some risk to 
your tackle, when they are lying in small open spaces among 
weeds. Keep low—for on bright days this is a sine gud non— 
and if your fish be but a few inches below the surface the re- 
fraction will prevent his seeing you or your rod, and a long cast 
up stream or across will take him off his guard. But in sucha 
case there must be no playing him ; ere he has recovered the 
first shock of finding himself hooked he must be hurried down 
stream along the surface till you have him in open water, and 
can square accounts with him at your leisure. In this rough- 
and-ready process the hold, of course, may give way, and pos- 
sibly the tackle. The latter disaster is, however, less frequent 
than at first sight would seem probable. The fish is taken by 
surprise, and has no time for organising an effectual resistance, 
while his forced march down stream quite upsets his ordinary 
habits. It is when you are fishing a loch on a breezeless day 
and are tempted to throw over a fish whose ‘neb’ you have 
seen quietly thrust up in a small opening among water lilies 
that the ‘ deadly breach’ is most ‘imminent,’ and ‘ hair-breadth 
‘scapes’ only attainable by the happiest Combination of caution 
and audacity. There is no current to help you, and one turn 
round a tough stalk will lose you both fish and fly. Yet I can 
remember on a sultry July afternoon, when there was no other 
possibility of getting a rise, killing in Loch Kinder hy this 
