TROUT FISHING. 271 



aaution, keeping as far from it as possible : first, fish the side nearest 

 to you, and then cast your line so as to drop just under the bank on 

 the opposite side pf the stream, drawing it, by gentle snatches, 

 towards you, always continuing careful to show yourself as little as 

 possible. 



" Some persons recommend fishing up stream, and throwing the fly 

 before them ; others walk down the river, and cast the fly before them. 

 For my own part — after much experience — whenever I can do so 

 with convenience, I cast my fly a little above me, and across the 

 stream, drawing it gently towards me. If the wind should be against 

 you, you will be constrained to stand close to the water's edge, and 

 make your cast close to the bank on which you stand, either up or 

 down the stream, as the wind may serve. Avoid, if possible, fishing 

 with the sun behind you, as the moving shadow of yourself and rod 

 will alarm the fish. The finer the tackle: — particularly the bottom 

 tackle — and the lighter the fly falls on the .water, the greater will be 

 your sport ; indeed-, some anglers use only a single hair for their 

 bottom tackle ; but when the water you fish is weedy, or much wooded, 

 a single hair is very diflicult to manage ; but in ponds, or streams, free 

 from impediments, it may be used by a skilful hand with great advan- 

 tage. The winds most favorable to the angler are south, southeast, 

 southwest, and northwest ; but in March and April this latter wind 

 is generally too cold. A fresh breeze is favorable, especially for lake- 

 fishing, mill-dams, or the still deeps of rivers ; as the ripple on the 

 water, caused by the breeze, has the same effect as a rapid stream, in 

 preventing the sharp-sighted Trout from discovering the deception of 

 the artificial fly. 



" In lake-fishing you can hardly have too much wind, if you can 

 manage your boat comfortably, and keep your fly on the water. 

 There are very few lakes, with which I am acquainted, where good 

 sport can be had from the shore ; to ensure success, a boat is indis- 

 pensable ; and if you can procure a boatman well acquainted with the 

 water, and the management of his boat, the battle is half won. After 

 sunset the fish seek the shallow water, and a lake may then be fished 

 from the shore. I have found, from long experience in lake-fishing, 

 that it is better to cast your line towards the shore, rather than from 

 the shore, or up or down the lake The boat should be maintained, 



