AUGUST. 



THE WHITE TROUT. 



By G. H. Turing. 



The White Trout is, without doubt, to use the expressive language 

 of the prize-ring, the gamest fighter for its weight of all the 

 migratory fish in England, or the stationary inhabitants of our lakes 

 and rivers either. Its fighting weight runs from one and a half to 

 five or six pounds. The way to test his fighting powers is as 

 follows : — The fly-fisher must tempt him with a carefully chosen 

 and not too gaudily coloured fly, and must make his cast with 

 equal care in a likely run. If the fish be at home and hungry, 

 a rise will most probably follow, and then there is scarcely 

 need for the usual strike before the hook is securely fixed 

 and the game begins. With a rush and a leap the Trout is out 

 of the water, and the wielder of the rod, especially if he is fishing 

 with a fairly light rod and tackle, will have to do all he knows 

 to keep the Trout at the further end of his line. He drops his rod 

 point as the silver body splashes into the water, and he must 

 be ready to feel him gingerly and guide him carefully in his 

 maddest rushes. It is not so easy. Suddenly there comes a tug 

 and a bolt. This is the point at which to be ready. The 

 proverbial fool who, according to Dr. Johnson, presides at the 



