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diff --git a/43874.txt b/43874.txt deleted file mode 100644 index de4c713..0000000 --- a/43874.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4536 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chats on Angling, by H. V. Hart-Davis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Chats on Angling - -Author: H. V. Hart-Davis - -Illustrator: H. V. Hart-Davis - -Release Date: October 3, 2013 [EBook #43874] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATS ON ANGLING *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Emmy and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - -DEDICATED - -TO - -THE LADY KATHERINE HARDY. - -[Illustration: A WOODLAND STREAM.] - - - - -CHATS ON ANGLING. - - BY - - CAPTAIN H. V. HART-DAVIS, - Author of "Stalking Sketches." - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR. - - LONDON: - HORACE COX, - WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, E.C. - - 1906. - - - LONDON: - - PRINTED BY HORACE COX, WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, E.C. - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - A WOODLAND STREAM _Frontispiece._ - WAITING FOR A RISE _Facing page_ 5 - BRINGING HIM DOWN TO THE NET " 25 - THE SEDGE HOUR " 35 - A DRY FLY DAY ON LOCH ARD " 47 - LUNCHEON " 61 - NEARING THE END " 72 - GET THE GAFF READY " 79 - HE MEANS GOING DOWN " 88 - THE FALL'S POOL " 101 - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - INTRODUCTORY _page_ 1 - - CHAPTER I. - IN PRAISE OF THE DRY FLY " 3 - - CHAPTER II. - DRY FLY TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT " 7 - - CHAPTER III. - DRY FLY MAXIMS " 13 - - CHAPTER IV. - EDUCATION OF THE SOUTH COUNTRY TROUT " 23 - - CHAPTER V. - THE MAY FLY " 27 - - CHAPTER VI. - THE EVENING RISE " 33 - - CHAPTER VII. - "JACK" " 37 - - CHAPTER VIII. - WEED CUTTING " 40 - - CHAPTER IX. - THE ANGLER AND AMBIDEXTERITY " 43 - - CHAPTER X. - LOCH FISHING " 46 - - CHAPTER XI. - DAPPING FOR TROUT " 53 - - CHAPTER XII. - GRAYLING FISHING " 57 - - CHAPTER XIII. - NOTES ON RAINBOW TROUT " 61 - - CHAPTER XIV. - SALMON FISHING " 66 - - CHAPTER XV. - A TRIP TO IRELAND " 79 - - CHAPTER XVI. - SALMON AND FLIES " 86 - - CHAPTER XVII. - SALMON OF THE AWE " 91 - - CHAPTER XVIII. - DISAPPOINTING DAYS " 97 - - CHAPTER XIX. - SEA TROUT FISHING AND ITS CHANCES " 106 - - L'ENVOI " 113 - - - - -CHATS ON ANGLING - - - - -INTRODUCTORY. - - -TO those who love angling, with all its associations and surroundings, -no apology may be needed for inflicting on them in book form certain -short articles which have mainly appeared in the columns of the -_Field_. They are "Chats" rather than didactic deliverances, and are -offered in the belief that much will be forgiven to a brother angler, -since all that pertains to the beloved pastime has some interest, and -the experiences of the poorest writer that ever recorded his views and -fancies may haply strike some responsive note. - -But to the outside world, to those who care nought for all we hold -so dear, to those who would rank all fishermen as fools, and would -classify them as Dr. Johnson was said to have done--to such these notes -cannot appeal; they will regard them, not unnaturally perhaps, as yet -one more addition, of a desultory kind, to an already overladen subject. - -No form of sport has so enduring a charm to its votaries as angling. -Its praises have been sung for centuries, from Dame Julia Berners -to the present day. Once an angler, always an angler; years roll by -only to increase the fervour of our devotion. It is a quiet, simple, -unassuming kind of madness, without any of the excitement or the -glamour of the race meeting or of the hunting field, and the love and -the madness are incomprehensible and inexplicable to those who neither -share them nor know them. - -The quiet stroll by the stream or river bank, the constant communing -with nature, the watching of bird and insect life, appeal with -irresistible force and power to the angler. As the short winter days -draw out, and spring begins to assert her revivifying powers, the -longing, intense as ever, comes over us, and we yearn for the river -side. And the lessons that we learn from our love for it are not -without value; patience and self-control come naturally to those who -have the real angling instinct. - -How widely spread this natural instinct is we may gather from observing -the long lines of fishermen, each with his few feet of bank pegged -out, engaged in some competition, and watching with intense interest -for long hours the quiet float in front of him. Give him but a better -chance of following up his instinct, and doubtless he would take with -increased zeal to those higher branches of the sport that appeal more -directly to most of us--the keenness is there, the opportunity alone is -wanting. - -Seeing that fishing and its charms have been so amply extolled and set -forth by such able and various pens, from Father Walton, the merchant, -prince of all writers on this subject, down to later days in continuous -line, through such names as Kingsley (man of letters), or Sir Edward -Grey (man of affairs)--writers whose works will live, and who can -inspire in us the enthusiasm of sympathetic feeling--why, it may be -asked, is it that we are not content, and that so many of us cannot -refrain from publishing our impressions? There can be no answer to this -query except it be as in my own case, the confession of a desire to -record some of the experiences, gained through many years, in the hope -that some crumb of information may be gleaned therefrom, and that the -pleasure taken in recording them may find a responsive echo in some -breast. - -I would wish at once to disarm possible criticism by candidly admitting -that this little work has no literary, or indeed any other pretensions. -It is merely what it purports to be--a series of articles strung -together, with the object that I have already described. - -I would desire also to thank the proprietors of the _Field_ for their -permission to reprint such articles as have already appeared in that -paper. My thanks are also due to my old friend Mr. W. Senior and to Mr. -Sheringham for having been kind enough to glance through my MSS. and -give me the benefit of their most valued criticism. - - WARDLEY HALL, _August, 1905_. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -IN PRAISE OF THE DRY FLY. - - -THE methods of the "Dry Fly" Fisherman, as compared with those of -his brother of the "Wet Fly," are absolutely distinct, and demand -totally different characteristics. It is idle to compare them, or to -praise one to the disparagement of the other. The sooner this kind -of carping criticism is entirely abandoned the better. The dry fly -purist may argue until he is black in the face; he will never convert -the wet fly devotee. Nor, on the other hand, is there the slightest -chance of the South Country chalk stream Angler being induced to -give up his favourite form of sport. Quite apart from the fact that -different waters require different treatment, the two methods appeal to -absolutely different temperaments. Take for example the wet fly man. -He wends his way, probably down stream, fishing all the fishable water -before him, carefully searching with his flies all the quick water and -stickles; placing his flies deftly near the eddy by that half-sunken -rock, round which the swirl comes, forming a convenient resting-place -for a goodly trout; or with careful underhand cast searches under the -overhanging branches of yonder tree; always alert and on the move, -leaving untried no likely holt, keeping as far as possible out of -sight, and showing himself to be a master of his art. But he has always -a roving commission. He may, of course, elect to fish up stream, and -many an expert in that line may be met with; but, even then, his art -differs radically from that of the angler with the floating fly. - -[Illustration: WAITING FOR A RISE.] - -From the latter are required in a special degree a quick and accurate -eye, great delicacy and accuracy in the actual cast, and above all, a -quiet, watchful disposition; he cannot whip the water on the chance of -catching an unseen trout. His _role_ is to scan the water, to watch -the duns and ascertain their identity, to spot at once the dimple of -a rising fish, and to differentiate between such a rise and the swirl -made by a tailing fish. He will note the flow of the stream, and -whether he will have to counteract the fateful drag. Having made up -his mind, arranged his plan of action, and selected his fly, he will -crawl up as near as may be desirable below his fish, taking care not to -alarm in his approach any other that may lie between him and it; then, -after one or two preliminary casts to regulate his distance, he will -despatch his fly, to alight, as lightly as may be, some three or four -inches above his fish. His field glasses will have told him, even if -his natural eyesight could not, the quality of the fish he is trying -for, and for good or evil his cast is made. - -Perhaps he has under-estimated the distance, and if it be a bank -fish he is attacking his fly may float down some twelve inches from -the bank under which the fish is lying. In that case he will not -withdraw it until it is well past the trout, but he may have noted -that half-defined, but encouraging, movement which the trout made as -the fly sailed past. His next cast is a better one, and, guided by the -stream under the bank, the fly, jauntily cocking, an olive quill of -the right size and shade, will pass over the trout's nose. A natural -dun comes along abreast of his; will his poor imitation be taken in -preference to the Simon pure? By the powers, it is! A confident upward -tilt of the trout, a pink mouth opens, and the 000 hook is sucked in; -one turn of the wrist, and he is hooked. Despite a mad dash up stream -the bonnie two-pounder--in the lusty vigour of high condition--is soon -controlled and steadied by the even strain of the ten-foot cane-built -rod. Down stream now he rushes; he will soon exhaust himself at that -game. Keep quietly below him, and keep the rod-point up. That was a -narrow squeak! He nearly gained that weed-bank! Had he effected his -purpose, nothing but hand-lining would have had the slightest chance -of extricating him, but the rod strain being applied at the right -moment and in the right direction, the gallant fish is turned back. -That effort, happily counteracted, has beaten him; he soon begins to -flop upon the surface and show evident signs of surrendering. The -landing net is quietly disengaged and half submerged in the stream -below him--for if he sees it he will be nerved to fresh efforts--and -his head being kept up, he is guided without fuss into its embrace. And -after he is given his instant and humane quietus with one tap, rightly -placed, of the "Priest," the pipe is lit, tackle is adjusted, and there -is leisure to admire the beautiful proportions of a newly caught trout, -the glorious colouring of his spots and golden belly. Something has -been accomplished, something done. A fair stalk has been rewarded, and -it is no chance success. - -Those happy days when there is a good rise of fly, when the fish are -in their stations, heads up, and lying near the top of the water, and -the wind is not too contrary, should indeed be gratefully remembered. A -short length of water will suffice for the dry fly man--a few hundred -yards. For him there need be no restless rushing from place to place. -Quiet watching and waiting, constant observation of what is going on in -the river beneath him, these are his requirements. - -But on the days when the rise is scant and short, and the trout seem -to be all glued to the bottom, or when a strong down stream wind -nearly baffles the angler, then his patience will be somewhat sorely -tested; even under these discouraging conditions there are places in -the river unswept by wind, most rivers having a serpentine course; on -one of these our angler will take up his position, and his patience and -perseverance will be rewarded. And if the trout be, as I have said, -glued to the bed of the river, and there is no rise of fly to tempt -them to the surface, he will wait patiently. It will not be always so; -a change of temperature will come or some subtle atmospheric change -about which we know so little, but which effects a wonderful change -in the trout. They begin, as it were, at such changes to wake up from -their lethargy, to come nearer to the surface and to re-assume their -favourite positions--at the tail of yonder weed bank--or in the oily -glide under the bank side. The first few flies of the hatch may be -allowed to pass by them, apparently unheeded or unnoticed, but before -long they settle down to feeding in a serious manner. Now is your -opportunity, make the most of it; and if you keep well down and make -no bungling cast, your creel will soon be somewhat weightier than it -promised to be a short hour ago. Our friend the chalk stream trout will -brook no bungling; he is easily put down and scared, and the delicate -accuracy needed in securing him forms the most potent of the many -charms of this most beautiful of sports. - -Should, as may often prove to be the case, the unpropitious conditions -continue without improvement, our angler is not without resource. His -surroundings are so entirely congenial; he lies on the fresh green -meadow-grass, the hedgerows ablaze with blossom, the copses in their -newly-donned green mantles, blue with the shimmering sheen of countless -blue-bells, are full of rejoicing and of promise. The birds, instinct -with their love-making and nesting operations, are full of life; all -nature seems to be vigorous with new-born hope. The true angler can -rejoice with them all, sharing their pleasure and delight, drinking -in pure draughts of ozone, and adding, perchance, to his store of -knowledge of insect and animal life. His field glasses, as he lies -prone and sheltered, bring him within touch and range of many sights -that otherwise would have passed unnoticed. That water vole coasting -along the bank side, pausing incontinently to sit up and look around, -those rabbits playing near the burrow mouth, the moorhens cruising -round the flags and sedges, all afford interest and instruction. In the -very grass on which he lies he will find ample scope for observation -and amusement in his enforced leisure should he care to watch the -teeming multitudes of insects that throng it, his ears meanwhile being -solaced and refreshed by countless woodland songsters. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -DRY FLY TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT. - - -MODERN glued-up cane rods have practically done away with hickory, blue -gum, or other wooden rods--at any rate, as far as dry fly angling is -concerned. Their action when well made is so true and quick, they pick -up the line from the water in the way their forerunners never could; -they are not liable to snap or break, and if tended carefully are very -long-lived. Most of us have old favourite greenheart or other rods, -companions in many a pleasant hour. We would not part with them, but on -the other hand would leave them lying in their cases, taking out our -cane rods in preference. The big grip on the butt, whether of cork, -leather, or wood, prevents to a great extent the cramp to the fingers -that would be certain to come from using our former small-butted rods -in dry fly work. - -Built-up cane rods vary, of course, greatly in quality and durability. -Cheap ones may be bought, and they will certainly turn out a dear -purchase. It is best to buy one from the very best makers only, and -eschew as worthless all cheap imitations. Having decided to purchase -a built-up rod, we have to consider its length, etc. It is, I think, -generally agreed that a length of from 9 ft. 6 in. to 10 ft. 6 in. -is ample--the latter, in my opinion, for choice. Messrs. Hardy, of -Alnwick and London, have devoted so much labour and attention to -built-up rods as to deserve a somewhat pre-eminent position amongst -the many successful firms that make them. This firm produces many -forms of rods suitable for dry fly work. Their "Perfection" rod is a -very sweet weapon for the purpose, quick in its action, true as steel, -has great power of recovery, and is light in the hand; but for choice -I would pin my faith to one of their 10 ft. 6 in. "Pope" rods in two -pieces. Such a one has been my constant companion for some seasons, -and, though other makers may be able to turn out as good a rod, I feel -convinced that none could turn out a better. The old attachments of -the ferrules of former days have also gone by the board, and a bayonet -joint has superseded them, to our great advantage. The upper ring on -the point should be of the Bickerdyke pattern, the other rod rings of -the ordinary snake pattern and made of German silver. The reel fittings -should be of the "Universal" type, a conical socket taking one end of -the reel base, the other end being secured by a loose ring. Personally, -I do not care for a spear; I find them awkward at times, their only -advantage being that your rod may be spiked when putting on a fly or -when hand-lining a "weeded" fish. If one is desired, it should be -carried inside the handle of the butt, the button screwing over it and -holding it in its place. - -I would not advocate a steel-centred rod, at any rate for a -single-handed trout rod. The absolute union of metal and cane can never -be secured, nor can the action of the two be precisely identical. -Besides, how are you advantaged? The hexagonal form of the built-up rod -is ideal for strength, and a rod without a steel centre can be made -with perfect action, able to do all that may be required of it. - -Reels also have undergone great improvements of late years. They are -lighter, more easily cleaned, the check action is better regulated; a -double check spring that allows the line to be reeled up quickly and -easily, and at the same time offers a stronger resistance to an outward -pull, is now almost universally employed. Aluminium, thin-brazed steel, -have replaced brass and even ebonite. The air is admitted to the coils -of line, and reeling up is rendered more rapid and effective. The -"Moscrop" reel is excellent in many ways, and fulfils many of the chief -requirements of modern reels, it has, moreover, a screw drag, which can -be used to regulate the retarding action of the check. Messrs. Hardy -produce an altogether admirable reel, which they have patented and call -the "Perfect." Such a reel for an ordinary cane-built rod of the length -we have chosen should be three inches in diameter, and will carry -forty yards of tapered line, with some backing, if thought necessary or -desirable. - -Avoid for choice patent aluminium American reels. I have one by me -whilst writing. The check action is outside, and can be taken off -at pleasure and the line allowed to run freely without hindrance. -The perforated face of the drum which carries the handle is -counter-balanced, so that it may be used as a Nottingham reel. But the -main advantage claimed is that the rim, within which the drum revolves -freely, is springy, and by pressing the thumb upon it the drum is at -once arrested and its revolution stopped. Of course, by this means -your line can be absolutely stopped at any moment should a fish make -a determined rush into any obstacle, but at the expense of your fly -and cast. I am told that experts with this reel cast with a free line, -arresting the fly at the precise moment required by the thumb pressure, -and thereby assisting themselves in judging the length of the cast, and -that the check is never clicked into action until the fish is hooked. -I have often tried it, and found that the inadvertent pressure of the -thumb or wrist upon the rim has cost me several good fish. In fixing -your reel, I would counsel its being so placed that the handle is on -the left side of the rod. In playing the fish it will be necessary, -therefore, to reverse your rod; the line will then run near the rod and -avoid the friction against the rings, and the strain will be taken off -your rod, or, rather, applied in a contrary direction to that which it -so constantly receives when casting. - -The line should be tapered, and should be of oil-dressed silk, such -as is now supplied by all good tackle makers. The taper should be -five or six yards in length, and when in use, in order to obviate the -constant shortening process it receives from attaching it to your -cast, I invariably whip a length of stoutish grilse gut to its end, -to which I attach my cast. This upper length can always be renewed at -pleasure. This plan I find better than a loop. The weight of the line -is a most important point; it should be as heavy in its centre part -beyond the taper as will bring out the best casting powers of your rod. -The balance of the line to the rod is all important; a little trouble -in selecting a suitable line will be amply repaid. Do not forget, after -using it, to draw off many coils of line to dry before finally putting -your reel away, and, as it is important that your line should float -well, do not forget to take some deer's fat with you with which to -anoint it. - -We next come to the cast. Two and a half yards of tapered gut are all -that is necessary, tapered from stout to the finest undrawn procurable. -I would discard drawn gut altogether, possibly because I am too clumsy -to use it to my satisfaction. It is generally, however, easy to procure -real undrawn gut of sufficient fineness from such firms as Ramsbottom, -and a hank of such gut, in fifteen or sixteen-inch strands, should -always be acquired when found. If kept out of the light, wrapped -preferably in chamois leather, it will keep a long time. Take with -you some dozen or so of such strands and a spare made-up cast in your -damping box, and you will have all you will require in a day's fishing. - -Your landing-net should be ample in circumference. The net itself deep -and commodious; the ring should be solid, of bent wood, with a knuckle -joint of gunmetal to attach it to the handle. The net should be of -dressed cord, so that the fly will not become fixed in the knots. It -is a great mistake to have too short a handle; you may have to reach -far over sedges to get at your fish to land him. If you sling your -landing-net on your left side, as is usually done, a long handle is -very inconvenient in kneeling; therefore, use a telescope handle for -choice. Wading trousers or stockings and brogues will complete your -equipment, though, of course, some kind of basket or bag will be needed -to enable you to carry your luncheon, your tackle, and your fish. All -tackle makers will supply you with an ample assortment for choice in -this matter. Possibly a waterproof bag with partitions and an outside -net to place the fish in is the most convenient. Small linen bags in -which to place the fish or linen cloths in which to wrap them are not -out of place. One further article I should advise you to take with -you, and that is a good pair of field glasses. They will multiply the -pleasure of your stalk tenfold. With them you can search the water -before you can spot effectively the most desirable fish, and ascertain -more exactly what flies the fish are taking; whilst, if nothing is -doing and the fish are lying like stones on the river bed or huddled -away in the recesses of the weeds, you can amuse yourself with watching -bird life and while away the time to your infinite pleasure. - -Having fully equipped ourselves so far, we have now to consider our -flies. I take it that no one who fishes with the floating fly nowadays -clings to the use of flies mounted upon gut. Eyed flies have no doubt -replaced them for all time. The very drying of your fly is too severe -upon the heads of gut-mounted flies. Eyed hooks have, however, had -to fight their way to the front, so prejudiced are we all, and I can -picture to myself now a prominent legislator, a great angler and the -author of one of the best sporting books published of late, standing by -me on Test side, on a meadow near Longparish, his cap literally covered -with artificial flies attached to strands of gut--a most extraordinary -sight. The fish were most unkind, taking greedily some kind of small -black insect, or fisherman's curse. We had offered them every kind of -midge fly or black gnat we could think of, with scant success. Our -friend, in gazing for the twentieth time at his fly-bedecked cap, saw a -group of black ants, on gut, amongst others. The first one put on not -only procured a rise, but hooked the fish; one run, and he was gone, -the fly remaining in his mouth. So with the next. In vain we soaked the -gut; each fly met with the same result--it was at once taken and the -fish was at once lost. The gut was absolutely rotten, and that pattern -of ant was apparently the only medicine. Our friend fairly danced -upon the bank in rage and disappointment. And it was all he could -do to restrain himself from dancing on his rod and from using very -unparliamentary language. I believe that even he is a convert to eyed -flies now. - -Whether the flies should have turned up or turned down eyes is a matter -of controversy. Personally, I prefer the latter. In any case, the eye -should not be too small, or much mental anguish will result. It is -needless to say that they should be well tempered and with sound barbs. -They should be tested in a piece of soft wood. - -Have a reserve box of flies, made in compartments, so that you can -replenish from time to time the little box you carry with you. This -pocket box may be quite small. I like one three inches square and -one inch deep, with rounded corners, and with bars of cork across it -inside. It will carry all you need. My pliers I always attach to one -of the buttons of my coat, as otherwise I am always misplacing them. -Nothing beats Major Turle's Knot as an attachment of the gut collar to -the fly. - -If you should be fishing the evening rise at a time when it is -difficult to thread the eye of a fly, even with the expenditure of -many matches, do not forget before you go out to mount some sedges or -large red quills upon fairly stout gut points and put them in your cap. -They will come in most usefully, and save a strain upon your temper. - -The use of deodorised mineral oil for anointing your flies has been -greatly decried of late. I can only say that it is a great assistance, -especially on a pouring wet day, and I should be sorry to be without -it. I do not like, however, the inconvenient bottle generally carried -for this purpose. I use a common metal matchbox, in which I have -placed a piece of spungeo-piline, on which I have poured a few drops -of the oil. The hackles of the fly can be pressed against this, and -so anointed with the greatest ease. Fish do not appear to mind the -appearance of the oil that, of course, appears to float round your fly; -and, as they do not mind and it enables you better to keep your fly -floating and cocked under adverse conditions, why not use it? - -As to the flies to be used, as I have said in another chapter, the -fewer the better. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -SOME DRY FLY MAXIMS. - - -IT would ill become a humble follower of the art to enter into a -minute description of the various methods of casting, seeing that the -subject has been so fully thrashed out by Mr. Halford, in his "Dry Fly -Fishing"; mere repetition would be both wearisome and valueless. If -anyone needs instruction on the subject, let him turn to that volume, -and read, mark, and learn. It seems to me, however, that a correct -style can best be obtained by accompanying and watching a really -competent fisherman. No amount of book reading will secure this, and -as in all kindred sports, practice, and intelligent practice, is -absolutely necessary if the tyro would aspire to any excellence. The -art of fishing the floating fly is not one that will admit of any -mediocrity. It requires and demands such accuracy, such co-ordination -of delicacy and strength, that mediocrity is impossible. - -A few points may, however, be discussed with advantage. First, and -foremost, do not be ambitious as to the length of line you can cast, -or the amount of water you can cover. Be content, rather, to fish -with just that length of line that you can control with ease and -accuracy. In the actual act of casting never sway the body; keep the -trunk rigidly still, never let your hand, in the backward cast, go -beyond a vertical point above your shoulder; keeping the elbow near -the side, get all the work you can out of the rod; it will do all that -is required of it so long as you do not over-cast with it. Watch the -expert angler; how easily he works his twenty yards of line; there is -an entire absence of all effort; it looks as easy as shelling peas. -The beginner or duffer will invariably put too much effort into his -cast; he will not allow time for the line to extend itself behind him; -he will bring his hand so far back that the fly will be hung up in -the grasses or bushes behind him, and the force of his forward cast -will make the line cut the water like a knife, and the fly will be -delivered in the midst of a series of curls of gut, presenting anything -but an attractive appearance to the fish. The movement of the hand in -an accomplished fisherman is singularly slight; I doubt if it ever -traverses much more than twelve inches from the vertical position. - -Rest content with the ordinary overhead cast until you are an absolute -master of it. When this desirable result is accomplished, there are one -or two casts well deserving of care and attention. One in particular -you should seek to accomplish--viz., the cast into the teeth of an -adverse wind. Recollect that, under those circumstances, you can -usually approach much nearer to fish than when the wind is up stream or -non-existent; therefore you can use a shorter line. The cast is called -the "downward" cast, and is really very simple. The backward part is -the same as in ordinary casting, but in the forward delivery the hand -traverses a much greater angle, and at the finish the rod point is near -to the water. At the moment of delivery the elbow is brought up level -with the shoulder, the thumb is depressed, the knuckles being kept -uppermost. The resultant effect is that the line cuts straight into -the wind, and is little affected by it. In a foul wind flies cock and -float more easily than in a down stream wind; so this, at any rate, -is in your favour. Yet one more style of casting should be practised. -I have found it invaluable when awkward trees have been overhanging -my own bank. It is what is called by salmon anglers the "Spey Cast." -Inasmuch as it avoids the necessity of bringing your line behind you, -its value is self-evident. This is the method of the cast: Having got -out as much line as you think you will need, get it out up stream of -you, bring the fly quickly towards you out of the water, allow the fly -just to kiss the water when it is just level with you, the curve of the -line being down stream of you, then, with a similar kind of action to -that advocated for the downward cast, your line will be sent forward -in a series of coils to the desired spot. It is always worth trying -and may secure you a good fish, one perhaps that others have passed by -as unapproachable, and which may thereby have acquired a confidence -that may be misplaced. This form of casting is much easier in salmon -fishing, as you are then fishing down stream, and the water extends -and straightens your line for you. It is, however, quite easy of -accomplishment, with a moderately short line, in up stream fishing. - -Mr. Halford, in "Dry Fly Angling," p. 62, describes a cast which -he terms the "Switch Cast," and it is one which, though difficult -of acquisition, will accomplish the same object. He says, "It is -accomplished by drawing the line towards you on the water, and throwing -the fly with a kind of roll outwards on the water--in fact, a sort of -downward cast; the possibility of making the cast depending upon the -fly being in the water at the moment the rod point is brought down," -&c. Personally, I should prefer the Spey cast, and inasmuch as most -salmon fishermen know something of that peculiar cast, I would urge its -occasional use in dry fly work, more especially having regard to the -fact that fish in such positions have acquired a confidence through -never having been angled for, and therefore there is greater chance -of a somewhat bungling presentment of the dry fly being overlooked. -To describe the Spey cast accurately so as to convey the desired -instruction in such a way that all who run may read, is not by any -means easy; but, as I have before said, it is probably familiar to many -anglers from salmon fishing experiences. - -One more thing deserves to be borne in mind: always imagine that the -plane of the water is some foot or so higher than it really is--that -is to say, cast as if the fish, and the water in which it lies, were a -foot higher than in reality. The result will be that your collar will -fall as lightly as gossamer. One of the most proficient manipulators of -the rod and line I have ever seen can pitch a fly, cocked and floating, -almost anywhere within reasonable limits, but his line invariably cuts -the water from point to fly, straight and accurate enough may be, but -like whip-cord. Consequently, he is not the successful angler that his -qualifications entitle him to be. An ordinary fisherman casting a less -straight, but lighter, line will frequently beat him in catching fish. -Our friend would beat most opponents in a casting tournament, but I -would back many that I know against him in filling a creel. - -Keep down out of sight, walk and crawl warily, and above all things -avoid walking near the bank edge and unnecessarily scaring fish that -others following you might otherwise have secured. - -When trout are "bulging" (that is to say, as every angler knows, when -they are taking the "nymphae" just below the surface), it is almost -hopeless to endeavour to secure them with a dry, floating fly. The fish -are intent on another kind of game, and are best left severely alone. - -Unfortunately, even experienced anglers are apt to be deceived by such -a fish; the rise is often apparently that of a trout at a surface fly; -a little careful observation will, however, convince you that such is -not the case, for no floating flies are passing near him at the time of -his rise. Don't waste another moment upon him, but try to find another -in a more reasonable frame of mind. If all the fish on your stretch of -water seem to be similarly occupied, and you are not willing to wait -until they have decided to make a change of diet, then a gold ribbed -hare's ear may, if fished wet, entice an odd fish, as it somewhat -resembles a nympha. - -It is, however, very chance work, as is that of endeavouring to secure -a "tailing" fish with a down stream fly sunk below the surface, and -jerked about in front of where his nose should be. No keen angler would -call this serious fishing--it is a mere travesty of the real sport; but -it may serve to pass the time, and perchance to wile a trout into your -basket. The angler's patience will, however, be far more severely tried -when fish are "smutting." What prophet is there who can tell us what we -should do then? Those abominable "curses," so well named, appear to be -able to baffle entirely the skill of the ablest of our entomologists, -and the ability of our most capable of fly dressers. No lure has yet -been discovered that can have any reasonable hope of imitating them. -To watch a big trout slowly and majestically sail here and there on -a still, hot day, barely dimpling the surface as he sucks down one -after another of these little insignificant "curses," is quite enough -to satisfy you as to the remoteness of your chance of deceiving him. -Nothing that human hands could tie could simulate them. Place in the -track of one of these fish the smallest gnat in your box, attached to -the finest of undrawn gut, delivered with the lightest and truest cast -of which the human hand is capable and, as you watch the fish fade -slowly down into the depths in disgust at the evident deception, you -will realise the hopelessness of your endeavour. - -It is an old accusation against fishermen that they are apt to overload -themselves with multitudinous flies, of which perhaps they never try -half; and in this accusation there is a good deal of truth. I recollect -one occasion in particular, when five men sallied forth to fish, and -on their return all more or less bewailed the shyness of the trout, -and each declared that, though he had tried many changes of fly, he -had only found one to succeed. Oddly enough, each man had pitched on a -different fly: they were the Driffield dun, the pale olive, the hare's -ear and yellow, the ginger quill, and the red quill. In each case the -size was similar, viz., 000; but the fact is, that most men have a -favourite fly to which they pin their faith, and to which they give ten -chances for one to the others. There are occasions, of course, where -one fly and only one will succeed. - -I well remember one day, on the Tichbourne water on the Itchen, when -that fine stretch of water was simply alive with olives, coming in -droves and batches over the fish, and when it seemed hopeless for -one's poor imitation to succeed, even when put correctly cocked in -front of a batch, or behind a drove, or by itself. The trout were -rising slowly and methodically, letting many flies pass scatheless, -but now and then picking out one without moving an inch from their -position. I tried vainly to discover the method of their madness, and -at last realised that they were selecting from amongst the myriads -of toothsome _ephemeridae_ floating over their heads a redder-looking -fly. I could not wade, I could not manage to get one with my landing -net, so I put on at hazard a small red quill, with no response; then -a Hawker's yellow got a rise or two, and even deluded a brace of fish -into my creel, and then the glorious rise was over. Next morning, when -whirling back to town, I found myself in a carriage with four or five -anglers who had been fishing the next beat, and the murder was out. -One fortunate man had ascertained that they were taking the ginger -quills, which were very sparsely scattered amongst the olives, and that -information resulted in his taking nine brace of beautiful fish. - -But as a rule, it is far more a question of the correct delivery of the -fly than anything else, provided the size be right. For myself, I never -leave a rising fish that I have not scared, unless I am convinced there -is some objectionable and unavoidable drag; sooner or later you will -get him, possibly with the same fly that has been over his head a dozen -or so of times. We are all too ready to resort to a change of fly, and -to leave a non-responsive fish in disgust, in the hope of finding an -easier quarry. My advice is to stick to your fish unless, or until, he -is scared. Possibly the most annoying fish is the one that drops slowly -down, with his nose in close proximity to the fly, evidently uncertain -as to whether or no it is the Simon Pure, until he gets perilously near -to you. Even his scruples may be overcome if he gets back into position -without being alarmed. One of the most successful anglers I ever knew -on the upper Test, who owned a well-known stretch of water, was wont to -sally forth with two rods put up, one of which he carried, while the -other was carried by his keeper. On one was mounted a hare's ear, on -the other a blue dun; and that these flies answered their purpose his -records could testify. - -A difficulty that presents itself to the chalk stream angler is the -tendency of fish when hooked and when scared by seeing the angler -to bury themselves in the heavy masses of weed. This has now been -discounted by the modern method of hand lining--_i.e._, spiking the rod -and taking a good deal of slack line off the reel, and then holding -the line in the hand and using a gentle pressure on the fish in the -direction contrary to that in which he went. He usually responds very -readily, and the rod may then be resumed. Indeed, it is astonishing how -fish can be led and coaxed under this influence--the fact being that, -the upward play of the rod always tending to lift the fish out of his -own element and so drown him, he naturally plays hard to avoid this; -take the upward strain off him and he becomes another creature. - -Yet another difficulty encountered by the dry fly fisherman is caused -by fish coming short. What angler is there who has not experienced -this annoyance, and how often, as Mr. Halford in his work on Dry Fly -Fishing has noticed, does the angler find that after the first rush is -over and the hook comes away there is a small scale firmly fixed on -the barb, showing that the fish has been foul-hooked? My observations -on this class of rise would lead me to believe that the fish moved to -the fly in the ordinary manner, but that something arose to excite his -mistrust, and that he closed his mouth while the impetus of his rise -broke the water, making the angler think that it was a real rise, so -that he struck, and on his striking the hook took a light hold on the -outside--a hold seldom effective, though most fishermen have landed -fish hooked in such a way. I have generally found in such cases that -a smaller hook has produced a more confident rise, and my experience -would not lead me to endorse Mr. Halford's view that the use of a 000 -hook handicaps the angler very heavily. It may do so with the heavy -Houghton water fish, but I have not found it a severe handicap with the -smaller trout--1 lb. to 2-1/2 lb.--of the upper Test and similar waters. - -A very keen and expert dry fly fisherman, the late Mr. Harry Maxwell, -one of the best of friends and anglers, once showed me a method of -taking fish lying with their tails against a wire fencing that crossed -the Test at right-angles, the wire moreover being barbed. I was fishing -in Hurstbourne Park, and he was accompanying me, as he often did, -with his field-glass. Below the "cascade" a four or five-stranded -barbed wire fence went straight across the water. Just above it, in -mid-stream, in the stickle, a plump, transparent-looking Test fish of -about 1-1/2 lb. had taken up his position, and was boldly taking every -dun within reach. My friend told me to catch him, and I said at once I -did not know how to do it without getting hung up. He then explained -his dodge, which may be carried out as follows:--Having waded in below -the fish, take some loose coils of line off the reel in the left hand, -then cast well above, and let the dry well-cocked fly float down to -him. If he accepts it and comes down under the fence slack off the -loose coils, get up to the fence as quickly as possible, pass the rod -under and over, and then you are free to play the trout below you. If, -on the other hand, he refuses the fly, do not attempt to recover the -line in the usual manner or you will inevitably be hung up. Simply -lower your rod point to the water, and then the quiet drag of the -stream will bring your cast and fly slowly up and over the fence, even -although the fly had floated a foot or two down-stream and under the -wire. The action is so slow and even that there is no chance of being -entangled in the wires, and as a fish in such a position thinks he -is in possession of a vantage-point, and is seldom fished for, he is -generally a bold feeder. Having explained the method, my friend made me -try the cast myself, and the first fly floating near enough to tempt -the fish was taken boldly; the whole manoeuvre succeeded, and I was -able to land my trout below me. Since then I have frequently made use -of my experience, and with invariable success. If any anglers who are -not aware of this method care to try the experiment they will see how -sweetly the line travels over the fence without the slightest risk of -entanglement. - -There is but little doubt that the fly that is kept going catches most -fish. On a seemingly hopeless day an odd fish here and there can be -picked up if really sought for; and on these days the rise, if any, is -so inconstant and so short-lived that it may easily be missed. On such -a day, on the wide shallows of the Longparish water of the Test, three -of us were struggling with the adverse conditions of a lowish river, a -bright sun, and a great lack of duns. We had agreed to meet at luncheon -at about 1 p.m. in the hut on the river's bank. I had found a seat upon -the upturned stump of a tree in mid-stream. There were fish all round -me in the shallows, but all on the bottom, apparently asleep. I knew -that if I left my place and waded ashore I should move them all. I was -enjoying my pipe, and so sat on. The whistles and calls from the hut -passed unheeded, for I had noticed that my friends the trout showed -more signs of animation. An olive or two came down, and gradually the -fish seemed to rise from the bottom and take up their positions. More -calls from the shore. I shouted back to them not to wait, and at length -they gave me up as a bad job. - -Soon a fish on my left front took an obvious olive, a pale one, and I -had a pale olive on my cast. Still I waited, and soon the first few -olives were followed by quite a little procession. I then cast over my -fish, and at the first offer he took it. I got him down below me, and -soon netted him out, wading up again most carefully and slowly to my -seat; and from that position, in about twenty minutes, got seven fish -in succession, all taken with the same fly and from the same spot. -They were none of them very big, it is true, but they were all over a -pound in weight. By this time my friends had finished their luncheon, -and came out of the hut just as I was netting my seventh fish. Hastily -getting their rods, they were just in time to get a fish apiece from -the bankside, and the rise was over. Moreover, it was the only rise -vouchsafed to us that morning or afternoon. So that the moral is that -you can never tell when the psychological moment may arrive, and may -easily miss it when it does come if you are lying on your back reading -a novel, or with your eyes anywhere but on the water. One must lunch, -no doubt, but it can generally be best enjoyed in the outer air, where -you can watch the water and the fish whilst enjoying your luncheon and -your rest. And on such inauspicious days do not relax your precautions -in approaching the water, or from nonchalance or weariness allow -yourself to cast carelessly. Your field glasses will often reveal to -you a more likely fish--at the tail of the weed, maybe, or under the -thorn bush on the opposite bank--and it may be worth while to float a -fly over him and give him a trial. If he accepts the offer he is worth -to you several got out under more favourable conditions. - -When fish are really smutting, and the water is almost boiling with -rises, the angler's patience is most sorely tried. Nothing seems to -tempt them; the smallest gnats ever tied are far too big. Who will -tell us what to do in such a case? In truth, I know not. All I can say -is that they are in a peculiarly aggravating humour. How vexatious, -too, are the tailing fish, boring their heads into the weeds and -breaking the water with their broad tails--and their tails always look -particularly broad at such times. I have at times caught them with a -big alder, fished wet, and jerked past them when they have finished -for the moment their diving operations, and their heads are up. It is -chance work, and, if not productive of much use of the landing-net, -will serve to pass the time and amuse you; for if you don't succeed in -hooking many you will certainly get an occasional one to run at your -fly, his back fin breaking the water and making as big a wave as if -he were twice the size. In the quick water by the hatch holes on such -a day you may find a rising fish, though when hooked he will probably -prove unsizeable. - -Never despair or give it up, unless you are one of the fortunate -individuals who live by their water side, and who can therefore pick -and choose. Where all days are yours it would be folly to persevere on -really bad ones; but most of us are not so favourably situated, and we -have to make the most of the odd chances we get. Therefore my counsel -is to examine and watch the water, and be ever on the alert. - -Where Sunday fishing is not permitted, the day of rest always seems -to be the best angling day of the week, and you are tempted to be -annoyed and objurgate Dame Fortune. Even then, if you are a wise man, -you can turn such a day to your advantage by stalking up the water as -carefully as if you were fishing, and by making mental notes that will -very materially assist you on the following day. And if Sunday fishing -is allowed, do not give umbrage to many of the parishioners going to -church by making a parade of your waders and fishing rod. Either get -to your water before church time or else wait till the church bells -are over before you walk along the village street. Busy City men get -scant leisure for sport, and may fairly be excused for utilising their -week-end holiday to the full. Much latitude may be allowed to them in -this respect, provided they are careful not to outrage the religious -feelings of others. A walk along the river bank, enjoying and drinking -in to the full the beauties of Nature and of God's creation, may be as -productive of good to yourself as an indifferent sermon. It depends -upon your temperament and the power that the beauties of Nature have -over your mind. They can preach as eloquent a sermon as was ever -delivered from the pulpit, and may produce in you a frame of mind that -may be of real and lasting benefit to you. No man should be judged -hastily by narrow-minded bigots, or be termed a Sabbath-breaker for so -acting. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -EDUCATION OF THE SOUTH-COUNTRY TROUT. - - -SURELY angling with the dry fly can be claimed as the highest branch -of the gentle craft? It cannot be doubted that those who have once -experienced the fascination of "spotting" and stalking a well-fed -and highly-educated south-country trout are bitten for life, and -are, especially at first, rendered somewhat unappreciative of the -sister art. The best fisherman is he who can best adapt himself to -his environment and is ready to adopt the method most likely to be -successful on the water he happens to be fishing. But undoubtedly -dry-fishing labours under one serious disadvantage that does not affect -the wet-fly fisherman, namely, the much dreaded drag, so sadly familiar -to those who fish the rise with the floating fly. Who is there, -however, who has not experienced legitimate pride and pleasure when, by -change of position or by deft casting, its baleful effects have been -overcome and discounted? - -It is not given to everyone to command the sleight of hand of a master -and to be able at will to pitch a fly, cocked and floating exactly -right, whilst a bag of the line has been simultaneously sent up stream, -so that for a short few moments whilst passing over the fateful spot -the fly may float truly with the stream, out of the influence of the -more rapid water between the fish and the fisherman. In streams where -wading is allowed the fisherman has undoubtedly an advantage, as he -can get more directly behind the fish, and so avoid the heavy current. -But wading is not always feasible in waters such as those of the lower -Test, where the depth of the stream precludes it. Even then, skill and -local knowledge will often overcome the difficulty, and a fish in such -a position usually falls a ready victim to the fly that floats truly, -as he has been lulled into a sense of false security by his previous -experience that dangerous flies leave a trailing mark behind them. But -what a revelation it is of the education that trout have received, and -how capable they are of absorbing and profiting by it! It seems almost -as if the constant catching and destruction of the freest rising fish -must be having effect in leaving those only to propagate their species -which are either past masters in cunning or which are more coarsely -organised fish, that devote their time and energies to bottom feeding -and avoid surface feeding, except, possibly, at night; the universally -acknowledged fact that fish are far more difficult to catch than they -formerly were may thus be explained. Certainly, nowadays, an angler -would be somewhat out of it who tried to emulate the far-famed Colonel -Hawker, of Long Parish, and to catch the wily trout in that beautiful -stretch of the Test while fishing off a horse's back. Nor could any -modern angler hope or expect to approach the baskets that were formerly -creeled. So is it everywhere. On the beautiful Driffield Beck, in -Yorkshire, a paradise for the dry-fly angler, the club limit of ten -brace of sizeable fish in one day used to be constantly attained, and -that, too, with the wet fly up or even down stream. Now, with split -cane rods, the finest gut, and the deftest of floating duns, five or -six brace is about the best basket obtainable by experienced and most -skilful anglers. - -[Illustration: BRINGING HIM DOWN TO THE NET.] - -The natural question that perplexes and worries chalk-stream anglers is -whether this "advanced" education of brook and river trout is to go on -increasing. If we can only hope to catch half the amount of fish our -progenitors did, what are the prospects of the next generation? Shall -we have to fall back on black bass or rainbow trout to secure a race -of free-rising fish? Or does the fault lie in over-cutting of weeds -and bad river farming? I am inclined to think it does. Riverside mills -are in an almost hopeless position commercially. The miller requires a -heavier head of water than formerly, and with a decaying industry it is -hard to refuse him, the result being that to maintain his head of water -the weeds are ruthlessly and unscientifically cut over vast stretches -of water, shallows are bared, and the holts or refuges of trout are -done away with, and as a natural consequence trout become less -confiding and far more easily alarmed. Modern agricultural drainage -has, moreover, increased the difficulty by carrying off the water -too rapidly. It behoves votaries of the gentle art to consider most -carefully whether anything can be done to remedy the seriousness of the -future outlook, and to disseminate the results of their inquiry; and if -the Fly Fishers' Club, or some well-known leaders of repute, would take -the matter up and tackle it seriously they would earn the blessings of -the angling world. - -It is considered to be undoubtedly a disadvantage in a club water to -include one or two pre-eminently brilliant anglers, as it seems to -breed a fear of their always being able to catch the easy fish, so -that the more difficult ones only are left for the ordinary angler to -attack. Not long ago I was invited to fish a certain well-known beat on -the Itchen, but my host, in inviting me, said, "I don't know if it is -much use, for So-and-So fishes our water, and has caught all the easy -fish." This may be true in a sense, but favourite positions are always -re-taken by other fish if the former occupant is killed. Just as a -house in Grosvenor Square, or some well-known centre of fashion, will -always secure a tenant, so a position where the trend of the current -brings the flies quietly and steadily over a fish will never remain -unoccupied. It is not so much the fish that is easy as his position, -and therefore the ordinary duffer need never despond. One thing is -certain--that the brilliant angler will never scare fish unnecessarily, -and I would rather fish behind such an one than a so-called angler who, -having successfully put his fish down by bad angling, proceeds to stand -upright and possibly walk along the bankside close to the water's edge, -scaring many a fish on his way up, utterly regardless of his brother -anglers. Indeed, in this respect I think the etiquette of angling is -hardly sufficiently considered in these modern days. Who is there that -has not met, on club waters, the ardent and unsuccessful angler who -wanders up and down, covering vast stretches of water, and effectually -scaring many otherwise takeable fish, in the vain hope that he may -find some purblind trout idiotic enough to take his proffered fly? I -consider that unwritten etiquette demands that the utmost care should -be taken by fishermen to do all in their power to prevent spoiling the -sport of those who may be following. I can well recollect a day when -the wind was foul, and there was one stretch of water sheltered on -the windward side by a thick belt of trees, and in this stretch were -located many heavy fish. Working up to that water, I found an ardent -ignoramus doing "sentry-go" up and down the stream, walking on the very -edge of the water. I presume he thought that if he only persevered he -would eventually find the "fool of the family," but the result--the -inevitable result--was that the fish were scared throughout that whole -length for the rest of that day, as that stretch was bare and sadly -lacking in shelter. - -In considering the merits and demerits of dry-fly fishing, one -cannot be altogether blind to the fact that down-stream fishing must -inevitably prick and therefore educate many more fish than the floating -fly. This being so, it is still more inexplicable that in former days, -in chalk-stream waters, our forerunners were able to account for far -heavier baskets of trout than we are, despite the heavy restocking -our streams now receive, to their great advantage; and we necessarily -come back to the old point, what can we do to secure an adequacy of -free-rising fish? Is our system of fishing the rise wrong? Or does the -mischief lie more in our river, water, and weed management? And can we -so improve these as to obtain the desired results? Angling is now so -much sought after, chalk-stream and other similar waters command such -high rents, that surely it is worth the while of those interested in -the sport to initiate and carry through some exhaustive inquiry into -the subject. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE MAY FLY. - - -THE May fly is up! Every year, about the first week in June, telegrams -to this effect are hurriedly despatched to those favoured few who own -or rent water where this member of the _ephemeridae_ disports himself. -It used to be called the May fly Carnival. There are, however, grave -disadvantages in connection with our friend that greatly discount the -apparent advantages. Fish gorged with this luscious food are wont to -try a course of semi-starvation after their over-indulgence, and for a -long time will not look at smaller and more wholesome diet. Then, to -my thinking, a May fly is a horrible thing to cast with. It is not at -all like casting with the more delicate duns or quill gnats. There is a -clumsy feeling about it; it is exceedingly difficult to dry, and if you -catch a fish a change of fly is at once necessary, the old chawed-up -imitation being rendered useless. It is also not easy to get exactly -the right pattern to suit, though for choice the small dark-winged May -fly has given me the best results. It is, unless you live near your -water, very difficult to hit off the precise day--you are always too -early or too late; you are told "You should have been there yesterday; -there was a grand rise of fly, and the fish were simply mad after them, -and no one was on the water"--and so on. Cheery news, no doubt, when -you find the fish all lying near the bottom. When they really are on, -there is excitement enough; mad splashes all round you, frequently made -by the smaller fish. Your proffered imitation may produce a rise or -two, but somehow or other the fish don't take hold as you think they -ought. You are inclined to lose your calmness of mental balance, to -cast without sufficient care and with a half-dried fly. In desperation -you put on a fair-sized red quill, fish more carefully, and probably -get better results. - -The main charm, however, lies in the fact that the advent of _Ephemera -Danica_ does bring up the big fish of the water in a way that no other -fly food does or can. Hence its popularity, and in waters where the -May fly is hatched in quantity, and there are heavy, big fish that as -a rule find cannibalism pay better than duns, then the May fly has a -real value. In other waters, however, were these big monsters taken out -in order to secure a larger numerical stock of comparatively small but -sizeable fish, I would have none of it; I would prefer to extend my -angling season rather than take a large bulk of it condensed into one -week of questionable pleasure. - -Certainly, the May fly season comes at about the best time of the year -to enjoy angling. A fine week about the commencement of June is most -enjoyable on any river. All nature is at its best--leafy June, when -sauntering by the riverside, even with scanty sport, is in itself a -pleasure not to be despised. - -Mr. Sidney Buxton, in his admirable "Fishing and Shooting," graphically -describes a day in the Carnival time, when he grassed thirty fish -from two pounds down, and of another when he creeled forty; but, good -sportsman as he is, I rather fancy he would have enjoyed even more a -day with half to a third of the basket when each fish had been stalked -and picked out with a small fly. Not for a moment would I suggest or -imply that equal care is not needed in casting with the May fly if -you wish to fill your creel; but, all said and done, a bungling cast -will often secure a good fish with that lure which would inevitably -have put him down and scared him had he been feeding upon the ordinary -flies. It is very noticeable nowadays how capricious the rise is. -Indiscriminate weed cutting has almost entirely eradicated the May fly -from some waters, and quite entirely on others--a boon to some minds, -my own included, but a boon that bears sour fruit in other ways, for -irregular and injudicious weed-cutting hits other fly food hard. It is -curious, also, that in places where more judicious weed farming has -been resorted to of late the May fly has begun to return, patchily and -scantily enough, but nevertheless in increasing quantities every year. -I would fain leave them to hatch out upon the Kennet and the Colne and -similar waters, and leave our bonnie streams alone, but here there is -no choice; if they come, they come, and we must make the best of them. - -A big rise of May fly is indeed a wonderful sight, the drakes flopping -into your face, covering everything, seeming almost like a plague of -locusts. Fat, luscious insects, enjoying to the full their brief spell -of winged life, after having spent months in the larval state. See that -one floating down-stream, airing and drying his wings, floating on his -nymphal envelope. He is floating dangerously near that trout that has -already annexed a goodly number of his fellows. Will he be taken too? -No; he flutters off, clumsily enough, making for the shore, only to be -swallowed by a hungry chaffinch. So his brief period of air life is -over. And what a feast he and his congeners provide for the swallows, -the finches, and other birds. Towards sunset, males and females of the -green drake tribe float and flutter about in the air, make love and -pair, then the female deposits her eggs on the water, and at last both -fall on the river with outspread wings, forming what we call the spent -gnat. - -The trout take heavy toll of the nymphae rising upwards before they -reach the water surface, and will not then look at a floating -imitation; and when the act of reproduction is completed they feed -greedily upon the empty shucks and the spent gnats. Altogether, our -friend the May fly seems to spend a hazardous and somewhat inglorious -life. Could he but see himself in his larval state, I feel sure he -would lose his self-respect. He is then no beauty, and to grovel and -lie low in the mud at the bed of the river for, as some say, two years, -cannot form a very exciting kind of life; whilst if he escapes in -the imago state, countless enemies lie in wait for him, and his very -love-making costs him his life. - -The return of the May fly to a certain well-known chalk stream in -Yorkshire seems to be an accomplished fact, though one not altogether -to the satisfaction of the members of the club that fish its waters. -This stream, known as the Driffield Beck, ranks high amongst kindred -waters, the dry fly reigns supreme, the stream is as swift and even, -the water as crystal clear, and the trout as fully educated as those -of their brothers of the Itchen or Test. In former times the May fly -hatched in countless numbers on this stream, and the Carnival used in -those days to be reserved strictly for the members of the club; but -whether it were attributable to over-cutting of the weeds, or to some -other cause, the May fly died away entirely from the stream, and for -many a season not a fly was hatched. We members of the club--a very -old one, by the way--rather congratulated ourselves on this change, -as, instead of gorged fish who would not look at a dun for weeks after -the May fly period, we were treated to an even rise at the small fly -throughout all the angling months. But two seasons before we had -noticed, to our surprise, the advent of a few May flies. I recollect -impaling one upon a hook and drifting it down cunningly over a good 2-1/2 -lb. fish who had taken up his position under a thorn bush on my side -of the river, and the scared bolt he made when it got to him and he -had had a good look at it was a thing to remember. And, in fact, the -few May flies which that year floated over fish in position made them -all bolt as if they had been shot. Then in the next season there was a -more considerable hatching of the fly, and in one spot in particular -a few fish were taken with the green drake. The third year we arrived -at the right time for the hatch, then a very local one on our stream; -but in that particular part of the river there was a rise of May fly -to satisfy the most gluttonous of those who love that form of angling. -But the curious thing was the way in which the fish treated the fly. -Every now and again the 1/2 lb. and 3/4 lb. fish would take them boldly, -and here and there a fish of that size would settle down to a regular -feed, taking all within reach; but the heavier fish seemed to be -thoroughly disinclined to take them. The bolder young ones now and -again paid the penalty of their temerity, being consigned to the basket -if fully 11 inches in length, or returned to the water if, as was too -frequently the case, they were not sizeable. I do not pretend to any -great experience of May fly fishing, though I have been a devoted -dry-fly angler for many years; but I do not remember to have seen fish -act so capriciously in my previous experiences. The birds, however--the -warblers, chaffinches, &c.--were quite equal to the occasion, and took -heavy toll of the _ephemeridae_. I particularly noticed what I never -remember to have seen before, _i.e._, a cock blackbird darting out of -the bushes at intervals to secure a fluttering _Ephemera Danica_, and -returning to his shelter to pick the luscious morsel to pieces at his -leisure. - -My luck was not considerable; the rise of dun was insignificant, the -wind was simply abhorrent, and my baskets, naturally, were not as -heavy as I could have wished. The water was in perfect order, the fish -abundant, but sport indifferent. One day I went up one of the upper -feeding streams, where I had often, poor performer though I may be, -secured a really good basket of good fish. After rising and pricking -more than a dozen fish, all of which rose short, and turning over and -getting a short run out of a three-pounder which had permanently taken -up his position above a bridge by a garden-side under some sedges in -a difficult position--rendered more difficult by the violence of the -wind--I had to content myself with a poor brace of 1-1/4 pounders, going -home feeling regretfully that I had done that day a good deal in the -way of educating fish! - -The last day of my visit (June 10) I had somewhat of a more interesting -experience. The wind was still high, though warmer, and, though no rain -fell, there was a feeling that rain was not far off. The report that -the May fly was up and in quantity had brought out a number of anglers, -and when I got to the water-side, armed with a box of May flies given -me by a prince among anglers, I found all the 'vantage spots (in the -small extent of the water where the fly hatched in any quantity) duly -occupied by an ardent angler ready for the fray. So I quietly gave that -game up and retired to a small island between two branches of the river -near the keeper's cottage. I had but a couple of hundred yards to fish, -while the ground where I was standing was sedge covered elbow-high with -charmingly and conveniently placed bushes here and there behind me, -ready to hitch up any fly that, in the backward cast, should be driven -by the wind into their embrace. The only chance was to keep up a kind -of steeple cast, as the stream was a fair width across. The charm of -the position, however, was that on the other side was a high bank with -a plantation on it, which shed a welcome shade over the bank fish on -that side. It was very difficult to locate a rise, but the stream was -even and there was no drag. Nor was it an easy matter to land a fish, -as the fringe of sedges was wide and thick, and the water deep; my -landing-net was also over-short--a bad fault--and caused me to lose -three good fish, one well over 2 lb. I spent nearly all the day on this -place, and managed to hook every fish I saw rise, and that was not a -great number, the rise of dun being so small and the wind blowing them -off the river almost as soon as they started on their swim down-stream. -However, I managed to land five fish, all on a 000 gold-ribbed hare's -ear, the best one 1 lb. 9 oz. and the smallest a little over a pound; -but as they were all in the pink of condition, and each fish was a -problem to get, I enjoyed the day far more than a more prolific one, -when the duns might be sailing steadily, the fish all in position, and -where catching them would be far more of a certainty, and where even a -duffer could not have failed to score. - -Perhaps I may have been somewhat unfortunate in my May fly experiences, -and most anglers would be disinclined to agree with my faint -appreciation of this insect and of the sport he assists to produce. -Most of my friends speak of this form of angling in a totally different -strain, therefore, presumably, I must be wrong in my view. To me, -however, the May fly (as a means to an end) is of great value in -tempting up the bigger cannibal fish, but as an adjunct to sport, I am -inclined to consider him overrated. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE EVENING RISE. - - -HAVING recorded my heterodox views about May fly fishing, I fear I -shall run counter to the opinions of many if I venture to state my -ideas relative to the evening rise. For my part I find it, in the main, -vanity and vexation of spirit. - -Doubtless, in the hot days of July and August, when rivers appear, -under sultry conditions, to be almost tenantless, when after, say, 3 -p.m., you may watch for all you are worth without seeing a dimple or -a rise, it is some consolation to go home for a little rest and an -early meal, intending to avail yourself of the evening chances with -a possible brace or so of fish to save, maybe, coming in clean. Eyes -tired with the glare of the water are grateful for the rest, and with -the proverbial hope rising freely in the angler's bosom, you mentally -reckon up the big captures you are going to make in the short time -afforded by the evening rise. - -Refreshed in mind and body, you regain your favourite spot at 7 or 7.30 -p.m., and the evening seems to promise well. It does not look as if -those cruel mists would begin to rise at sundown; there is little or -no wind; the hatch of fly throughout the day has been insignificant; -surely there must be a good rise this evening, everything seems to -foreshadow it. You take up your station and watch the water carefully, -especially the one or two spots near the opposite bank that you know -full well ought to be occupied by good fish. A few spinners hatch out -and dance merrily about; the gnats hover purposely up and down; an -odd dun sails down ignored, as far as the fish are concerned, and at -length, freeing himself from the water, gains the bank side. Surely -that was a rising fish by the bank of rushes yonder? But the shadow of -the rushes thrown by the lowered sun prevents you from locating him -exactly. It was a floppy rise, probably caused by some small fish. -Something must be done, for the time is short; so, letting out your -line to the required length, you despatch your olive to sail down the -bank of rushes. No response. Another trial provokes a rise, and you are -fast in the fish; but, as anticipated, he proves to be a half-pounder, -and, handling him gently, after having removed the fly, which was -provokingly well fixed in his tongue, you carefully hold him in the -water until he has regained his wind and recovered from his exhaustion. -Whilst so engaged you hear a heavy splash to your right. Hastily -glancing up, you cannot locate that rise either, but it is something -that they are beginning. No sedges have appeared, so you retain your -olive. A good quiet mid-stream boil above you attracts your attention. -That fellow means business, anyhow. Your olive, however, though deftly -offered, sails over his position unnoticed and despised. You change -to a bigger fly, a 00 red quill; the light is still good. He refuses -that equally, and whilst you are doubting whether to change or no, up -he comes again. What is he taking? Some small fly, no doubt, but none -that you can see. Try him with a hare's ear. You change, and whilst -you are tying on the fly you hear a succession of floppy rises below -you. You somewhat undecidedly give the trout one more chance, but -half-heartedly, as you want to get down to those other fish--result, a -bad cast, effectually putting down our friend. - -[Illustration: THE SEDGE HOUR.] - -The light is beginning to go, so you re-change to your bigger red -quill and try your luck with those below you. Fly after fly, carefully -placed, cocked and floating, produces but little result, one pounder -succumbing. You see he is not a big one, and give him scant grace, -meaning to get him into the net as soon as possible, and so bring him -in half done. The net somewhat too hurriedly shown him produces an -effort on his part, and he has weeded you. You spike your rod and try -hand-lining; he does not seem to yield, and you are impatient, and -resume your rod. Something must go; you have no time to lose. Suddenly -with a wriggle he extricates himself from the weed, to your infinite -astonishment, and he is then soon brought to book. But many precious -minutes have been wasted; the fly has got itself fixed in one of the -knots in your landing net. Never mind, break it off; you must get to -sterner business. So you take some few more minutes in threading the -eye of a small, dark sedge fly, as the fish by now must be at work -upon the larger flies. Flop! flop! on the opposite side, under the -shadow of the reeds. See that your fly is dry and cocks well; keep out -of sight--an absolute essential in evening fishing--and go for that -uppermost fish. That was a good rise; was it at your fly? It is hard -to see by the waning light. Evidently not. Try him again. This time he -rises well, and you are fast in him; but you struck too heavily; he was -a good fish, and you have left your fly in him, bad luck to it! - -This time you have to make use of a match to enable you to thread the -eye, but after some fumbling struggles you at last succeed. One more -try. Pity you had not put on a somewhat stouter cast, but it is too -late now. You must be a bit more gentle with them; a slight turn of the -wrist is all you want. There is a good rise, just beyond mid-stream, -and a good cast just four inches above the rise. You can see your fly, -and also the neb of a good trout as he breaks the water to suck him in. -Now gently does it! He is hooked, and goes careering up stream to the -tune of the song of the reel. Steady him now; don't let him get into -the rushes. The light is fast going, and you are inclined to hurry him. -Better be cautious; his tail looked broad as he turned over that time; -he is fat and in lusty condition, and has no intention of surrendering -his life without a good struggle. Don't show him the net; that last run -must have settled him; he flops on the surface; he is gently led into -the mouth of the net, and is yours. Not so big as you fancied, by any -means; might be 1-1/2 lb.; you put him down as well over 2 lb. He is well -hooked, and after taking the fly from his mouth you grip him well and -give his head a good hard tap against the handle of your landing net; -in so doing he slips from your grasp and nearly flops into the river. -Hurriedly you put yourself between him and the water and get hold of -him, making sure of him this time, and he goes into your bag. Is there -still light for one more? Hardly, and it is no pleasure when you cannot -see your fly. - -You take up your rod again, and pass your hand down the line and cast. -Where is that fly? Caught up somewhere in your struggles with the -trout. It is engagingly fixed in your coat, about the small of your -back. So you lay your rod down again, take off your coat, and extricate -your fly with your knife at the cost of some of the cloth of your coat. -Pack up your things and trudge home somewhat annoyed with yourself -and thinking of the opportunities you had lost, and determining next -evening to have some points of gut attached to suitable flies in your -cap, ready for the fray--no more threading eyes under such adverse -conditions for you. - -Next evening you repair to the place where you know the big trout -lie and are sure to rise well. Fully equipped in every detail, and -determined not to be induced to hurry, but to take things quietly and -composedly, you reach your station. What is that in the meadow over -there? A mist, by Jove! And soon the aforesaid mist begins to rise on -the water, most effectually stopping all hope of sport; so reluctantly -you leave the water side, a sadder and a wiser man, reflecting that the -evening rise is by no means the certainty you had fondly hoped. - -Of course it is not always so. I recollect one evening on the Test, -when, after a hot day with scarce a semblance of a feeding fish, except -tailers, there was a grand evening rise, and on a big red quill I got -seven fish, almost from the same spot, in little over a quarter of an -hour; but these days are too infrequent to alter my stated opinion -that the evening rise is an overrated pleasure, and generally produces -vexation of spirit. - -If you do fish in the evening hours, recollect that you must be just -as cautious in approaching fish as if it were broad daylight; that any -sign of drag will as effectually put a fish down as in the earlier -hours. Your fly must float and cock as jauntily as in the morning, but -you lose the chief charm of fishing the floating fly, namely, that -you cannot spot your fish in the water and watch their movements; you -have to cast at a rise, or where you imagine a rise to have been. -Use a small fly at first and then a little later change to a big red -quill, or, if the sedge flies are out, to a small dark sedge. You can -afford to have a point of stronger gut, for you will have often to -play a fish pretty hard, and they don't appear to be so gut shy as the -evening closes in. But as soon as you can no longer see your sedge fly -on the water, reel up. Fishing in the dark is no true sport, and it is -uncommonly near to poaching. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -"JACK." - - -THE upper waters of the Bourne and Test flow through Hurstbourne, Lord -Portsmouth's beautiful park, and were tenanted until a few years ago by -portly trout of aldermanic weight and size. It was found, however, that -they proved too costly to be retained, as the toll they took of the -smaller fish was prodigious, and out of proportion to their value. They -were accordingly captured by degrees, and replaced by a more numerous -colony of smaller fish. It used to be a grand sight to watch the big -fellows lying in the quick water near the big stone bridge, or chasing -the pounders with angry rushes. - -When I knew the water, some ten or twelve years ago, there were still a -few of these goodly-proportioned fish remaining. They were well-known, -and each one had his nickname. Thus one was known as "Jack"; he -almost invariably lay in a narrow outlet to a culvert that led the -surplus water from the pool above under the roadway into the pool -below the bridge. For the greater portion of its length the water ran -underground, emerging from the culvert some two or three yards from the -river. The ground on either side at the end of the culvert was fully -three feet above the water, the banks being nearly vertical, while -the stream at the culvert's mouth was only about a foot wide. In this -narrow gully or channel lay Jack, his nose being only a few inches from -the masonry. Any unwary footfall speedily dislodged him from his little -bay into the main stream, but by crawling up warily he could be seen -and admired. - -Many had tried to secure him by fair fishing, but though once or twice -hooked he had so far got off scot free. Nor was his post an easy one to -attack; the water was, of course, gin-clear, very narrow, and also very -shallow. The slightest sign of gut--and he was off. - -On a lovely summer morning--to be accurate, the 26th of June, 1893--my -dear old friend Harry Maxwell and I had fished up from the bee-hive, -past the cascade, and were nearing the bridge with rather more than -average success, and had decided to eat our luncheon on the bankside, -under the friendly shade of the bridge. It was, however, barely -half-past twelve--too early, we agreed, for lunch--so Maxwell went up a -little to fish the shallow above, and I elected to have a try for Jack, -as I had reconnoitred and found him to be occupying his accustomed -corner. As the river was rather low, and as bright as only a chalk -stream can be, I decided to break through my general rule and put on -two lengths of the finest drawn gut, feeling that in this instance any -natural gut, however fine, would be out of the question. - -I was careful to draw the gut through a bunch of weed, to diminish the -glare; the Whitchurch dun was on the water, and its counterfeit had -already secured us some fair fish, but for some reason or other I was -impelled to select a small 000 pale watery dun, called the Driffield -dun, for my lure. After carefully testing my line and cast I waded out -into the heavy stream, opposite to and commanding the outlet of Jack's -bay. - -Knowing that there was little hope of dropping my fly at the desired -spot without giving my friend a glimpse of the gut, after a preliminary -cast or two, to make sure of my distance, I sent off my fly on its -errand, intending to pitch it on the grass just above the culvert. The -first cast, fortunately, went right, and by a gentle tap or two on the -butt of my rod I dislodged the fly from the grass, and it fluttered -down airily in front of Master Jack, the fine gut never having touched -the water. No sooner had it done so than Jack had it. Fortunately -I did not strike too hard, as one is so liable to do under such -circumstances; just the requisite turn of the wrist and the small hook -went home. - -Before I had time to realise fully what had happened the fish had -bolted from his holt into the main stream, a bag of unavoidable line -behind him as he charged straight towards me. On regaining touch with -him I found that the hook had still firm hold, and that Jack was -boring up for the bridge in the heavy water. Naturally, I had no idea -of allowing him to thread his way up through the arch, as I could ill -follow him there, so I had to keep up as steady and strong a strain as -I dared. He soon had enough of that fun, and down he came at express -speed past me, leaving me to get in my line by hand as best I could. -By good luck, I was able to get the slack reeled up whilst Jack was -careering about in the broader water below me. Hardly had I done so -when, at the end of his run, he gave a grand leap, after the fashion of -a sea trout; a dip of rod-point to his majesty saved a catastrophe, and -I now began to try to reach terra firma. My friend, however, was not -at all disposed to give me much time for such an operation, and just -as I was trying to regain the bank--a sufficiently ticklish operation -with a wild fish held only by the finest of drawn gut--he made a most -determined rush for the big bed of flags below the bridge. Once let him -attain that stronghold and I was fairly done; so I had once more to -test my gut, and resolutely to determine that he should obey my will. -Better be broke at once than lose him in that weed bed. Once more he -gave way, and I was able to regain the bank. At that moment Maxwell -turned up for luncheon, and the fish, now absolutely beaten, was -successfully netted out. I found that in his mad rushes and gyrations -he had managed to get two full turns of the gut round his gills. This -no doubt accounted for his coming to bank so speedily. He weighed just -over 3-1/4 lb.--no great monster after all, you may ejaculate, but he was -about the most perfect specimen of a trout I have ever seen, and was -in the pink of condition. He now graces my study in a glass case, the -only specimen of a fish that I have ever set up. But there was some -justification for this temporary mental aberration, and I often now -look at him and recall his sporting end, and the difficult conditions -under which I managed to capture him. He carries back my mind to the -fond recollections of my old friend, now no more, one of the best and -most unselfish of anglers, whose untimely loss has left a blank among -his many friends that cannot be filled. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -WEED CUTTING. - - -ALL dry fly anglers owe a deep grudge to modern sub-soil drainage, -which hurries, helter skelter, all the rain that falls into the -river, thus doing away with the former gentle soakage into the soil, -which served to feed our springs and keep up an even flow and an even -head of water. Now we have but alternations of flood and emptiness; -the millers, moreover, suffering from these alterations, and sadly -lacking water in most seasons, cry out loudly against any obstacle -in the river-bed; consequently the river weeds are ruthlessly and -unscientifically cut away. The weeds, the natural nurseries of -fish food, being thus reduced in quantity, the supply of food is -seriously compromised, holts for the fish are destroyed, bare areas -of river bed--on which moving one fish means possibly the moving of -scores--afford neither refuge nor shelter, and become practically -impossible to fish. All fish need shelter in the hot weather from the -summer sun, all need refuges to which to resort if scared; take these -away and the result must be deplorable. - -Those amongst us who have had the privilege of fishing in waters -where the cutting of the weeds has been scientifically and wisely -performed will have realised the difference this point alone can make -to a fishery. All the details of weed and water-farming have been so -exhaustively treated by Mr. Halford in his various works on "Dry fly -fishing," that they need not be described here. No better mentor could -be chosen. But some of the chief points that ought to be had in mind -may be touched upon. The chief desiderata, where there is an ample -supply of weed, are, to put the matter very shortly, to cut in the -deeper parts of the river lanes along both banks some ten feet wide, -and in the shallower parts to cut bars or lanes across the water at -right angles to the banks. At the same time lanes should, also, be cut -parallel to the banks, to encourage the bank fish. Where weed is not -in abundance recourse must be had to artificial shelters, or hides, -under which the fish can obtain the shelter that they require. Stakes -driven into the river bed soon attract a clinging mass of floating -weed, the only drawback to their being used is that hooked fish may be -lost through their bolting for and round them. Piles driven into the -shallows afford a welcome rest to fish, and it will be found that a -trout will nearly always take up his position behind them. Similarly, -big stones placed in the shallows will have a beneficial effect. - -The constant and irregular cutting of weeds has, moreover, a very -trying effect both upon the sport and the temper of an angler. Huge -masses of weed floating down, just at the moment when the hatch of fly, -so patiently waited for, is in full swing, and the fish in the mood -to take them, will sorely tax our powers of self-control. How often -has such a state of things extracted from us a "swear word"! These -very weeds may, nevertheless, be made to serve a useful purpose. There -is a fine fish lying a yard or so from the opposite bank; the stream -between us is heavy and quick; over the fish is an oily glide of water, -the pace of the stream being checked by friction with the river bank. -On this the duns float steadily, led by the stream into its embrace. -Our friend the trout knows this full well, and therefore persistently -takes up his station at that spot. We have often tried for him, but the -pace of the stream between us, stand where we will, has always beaten -us: no sooner has our well-cocked fly sailed into the head of the -glide than it is hurried across it, leaving a most unnatural trail, or -wake, behind it such as no living insect ever made. This trail of the -serpent, or "drag" as it is called, is one of the greatest difficulties -that we have to cope with in angling with the floating fly. It is, -like the poor, always with us. But the very weeds we have been so -persistently abusing may be brought into our service to overcome it. -Watch a mass of floating weed that is about to be carried over the -position of your fish, throw your fly so that the gut lies on the -advancing weed; the fly, with some inches of free gut, should rest upon -the water in front of the weed; the rest of your cast, being supported -by the weed, will be freed from the drag of the stream, and the fly -will float proudly over the fish. Unsuspecting he rises, sucks the fly -down in absolute confidence, and at last he is yours. Backwaters may -be overcome in a similar manner, and to this slight extent the curse -of the floating masses of weed may be converted into a real boon. This -slight advantage cannot be considered as counterbalancing the drawback -of indiscriminate weed cutting, it is merely an attempt to turn to our -use an otherwise unmitigated evil. - -Proprietors of valuable fishing rights are strangely unappreciative of -the advantages of scientific weed cutting and weed growing; they seem -to be inclined to let matters take their course, and in consequence -suffer considerably, and until they realise what this carelessness -means to them things will be allowed to go on in the old groove. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE ANGLER AND AMBIDEXTERITY. - - -IT has always been an enigma to me why, having been endowed by -Providence with two hands, we should knowingly and deliberately -minimise the boon. All ranks and conditions of men, be their -occupations what they may, are affected. The nerves, sinews, and powers -of our left hands are equally as efficient and valuable as those of our -right hands; or, more strictly speaking, would be so if we only gave -them half a chance. Who has not experienced the difficulty of folding -a tie, tying a knot, or even buttoning a collar or a boot, &c., when -the right hand has been temporarily incapacitated? And who, except -the ambidextrous man, would be bold enough to shave himself entirely -with the left hand? Injure a man's right hand, and you render him -practically useless. Of all the arts, music alone trains both hands -equally; in some trades, such as cotton weaving, spinning, &c., the -left hands do their proper share of the work. - -Consider for a moment the amount of wastage there is in manual work -alone through this premeditated reduction of effective power! We -seem to be content, apparently, to halve our powers, and this for no -useful purpose whatever. The very children, who naturally would be -ambidextrous, are chidden and checked by their parents if, following a -natural instinct, they take up a pencil or a spoon in their left hands; -and so on through their school days, and even after, each and every -attempt to make a proper use of their left hand is sternly reproved, -until at last the poor unused and untaught left hands and arms become -of very secondary importance. Is there any phase of life in which -ambidexterity would not be a factor of the greatest value? Would it not -be a priceless boon equally to the soldier, the surgeon, the engineer, -the craftsman, the clerk, or the artisan? And does not the same apply -in the domain of sport? In shooting, would you not be at an advantage -if you could shoot equally from either shoulder? The fisherman--how -would it favour him? I unhesitatingly answer that it would aid him in -every branch of his sport. - -What angler amongst us could tie a Turle knot, or even thread an eyed -fly, left-handed? We should fumble and fume, and probably give it up -in despair. To the dry-fly fisherman the advantage that would accrue -through equality of arms and hands would simply mean a duplication of -effective power. Think of the countless occasions when an overhanging -tree or obtrusive bush has rendered a right-hand cast difficult, if -not impossible. In one position in particular a left-hand cast is of -extreme value. It enables you to command the water under your own bank -without having recourse to an awkward and always precarious back-handed -cast. - -You are carefully stalking your way up stream, the wind perhaps blowing -towards your own bank, the left bank of the river. About twenty yards -above you there is an overhanging tussock of grass with fringing blades -hanging over the stream. Near this tussock, or a little above it, you -note the dimple of a feeding trout; he is in a position where all the -duns are brought quietly sailing past his vantage post. A well-cocked -fly must inevitably secure him. You watch the duns one by one taken by -him; he is feeding steadily, and seems to be a good fish. To reach him -you have to cast with the right hand over the left shoulder. It is ten -to one that, if the length of cast is correct, the fly will be guided, -partly by the wind and partly by your arm, into the fringing grasses. -If it can be snatched off without scaring your trout, well and good; -but sooner or later, unless a particularly happy cast overcomes the -difficulty, you are bound to be hung up in the aforesaid tussock so -firmly as to necessitate a careful crawl to try and disengage your fly. -If you can free the fly without scaring the trout, well, you are so -far a lucky man. You either then recommence your struggle with adverse -circumstances, or more probably give him up as a bad job. Use your -left hand and arm, if you can, and the cast becomes a perfectly simple -one. Every dry-fly angler, moreover, knows full well how soon constant -casting and drying the fly tires and cramps the wrist and arm. What a -relief, then, to rest your right hand and give your left a chance. - -Nature has a wonderful recuperative power, and will reassert herself -provided you allow her to do so. The reacquisition of normal left-hand -dexterity is by no means difficult; a little assiduous practice, -despite the first feeling of awkwardness, will soon encourage you -to persevere. Practise on the lawn at a saucer, and in varying -conditions of wind, before the season commences; you will not only gain -additional interest in your casting, but will have acquired an asset of -considerable value. - -Not long ago, commenting upon what it was pleased to call the "latest -craze," viz., ambidexterity, an evening paper made merry over the -subject, and declared that there were enough awkward single-handed -men in the world without seeking to add an army of still more awkward -double-handed men. Such chaff may provoke a passing smile, but no chaff -will ever detract one iota from the value of double-handedness, and I -most strongly urge all anglers, old or young, to devote some little -time and attention to the acquirement of this most useful, though so -long neglected, bi-manual dexterity. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -LOCH FISHING. - - -LOCH fishing for trout is carried on for the most part amidst glorious -and romantic scenery. There is a sense of repose in the drifting boat -and the rhythmical cast. As a means of recreation and enjoyment it has -a distinct place in the affections of many of its votaries, and that -they are numbered by thousands the records of Loch Leven will amply -testify. To the overworked man, to those who are debarred from active -pedestrian exercise, this method of angling has a peculiar charm. To -the thronging multitudes of big Scottish cities (such as Glasgow, for -instance) the frequent competitions upon Loch Lomond or Loch Ard offer -a change of scene and environment that is simply invaluable, whilst -the ozone imbibed in such surroundings acts as an antidote to the -smoke-laden air to which their lungs are ordinarily subjected. - -[Illustration: A DRY FLY DAY ON LOCH ARD.] - -But when all is said and done, to the ardent angler it forms but a -monotonous kind of enjoyment. There is something so mechanical in the -constant casting of your collar of three or four flies on the chance -that some fish may take one of them. The row across the loch, the drift -over the same ground, repeated constantly are apt to pall. Doubtless -skill will assert itself in the long run, and every Scottish or Irish -loch has its record breakers, men who can be relied upon to hold their -own against all comers; but the novice and the bungler will often -succeed where more experienced anglers fail. Perhaps the stream angler -is too apt to work his flies to the top of the water, whilst the -novice, perforce, lets them sink; and, as a rule, the deeper you sink -your flies, within reason, and the less you play them, the better. -There is yet one more drawback to loch fishing, and that is, that you -are entirely at the mercy of the wind--or, rather, of the want of wind. -A still, glassy surface, and your boat fisherman is done. May that not -be because he is wedded to his three or four flies fished wet? Let him -try a dry fly under such circumstances; not necessarily on the ordinary -banks he is wont to fish so sedulously, but rather in the bays and -creeks and shallowing water amongst the rushes. - -On one occasion, about four years ago, I was in Perthshire, on the -side of Loch Ard--that sweet loch, more beautiful in some respects -than far-famed Loch Katrine. It was in early May. A big competition -from busy Glasgow had put fourteen boats upon the loch, and some -eight-and-twenty men were ready with double-handed and single-handed -rods to measure their skill against each other. It was a lovely day, -not a ripple upon the water. Ben Lomond's tops were reflected in the -glassy mirror, so that it was hard to tell which was the original and -which the mirrored counterfeit. For some hours these boats had, with -precise and repeated regularity, drifted across the best ground without -the semblance of a rise, only to be rowed round again to follow in the -same procession. There is no doubt that their occupants were sternly -in earnest, and would leave no chance untried. A faint catspaw of a -ripple might secure a rise, or perchance a fish, but catspaws were -few and far between. Hour after hour the rods were plied with stolid -monotony, responseless and unnoticed. And, as the day wore on to noon, -the conditions remained unvaried, and the catspaws even ceased to add a -temporary and evanescent interest. - -About that time--noon--I, having nothing in particular to do, took one -of the gillies with me in a boat across the loch. He was astonished to -see me take a rod, and no doubt put me down as a mad-brained Sassenach. -Nevertheless I took my little cane-built Pope rod and a box of Test -flies I happened to have with me, and we pulled up the loch and into -one of the bays at the far end. There I bade him rest on his oars, as -we were slowly drifting along the scanty rushes that grew out of the -bed of the loch. I soon saw a fish or two move--at what I could not -make out--so, taking an oar and gently using it as a paddle, I moved -along until I could locate an exact rise, and I noticed a small fly -near where the rise had been. Using the blade of my oar as a ladle I -annexed the insect, and found it to be a small green beetle. In my box -I found a small Coch-y-bondhu, which had a red tag and a peacock herl -body. My scissors soon removed the red tag, and then I fancied it might -do as a coarse representation of the Simon Pure. Having tied it on, I -cast it dry at the ring of the next rise. It was instantly taken, and -a plump 3/4 lb. Loch Leven trout was soon in the net. And so it went on; -a cast here or there at the rises amidst the rushes, and in a short -hour and a quarter seven good trout had paid the penalty. We then rowed -home for luncheon, and, on inquiry, I found afterwards that the united -efforts of some twenty-eight men, all as keen as mustard, had produced -three fish. - -Does not this tell a tale of lost opportunities, and of the folly of -being wedded to one style of angling? Had there been a good fresh -breeze my dry fly would have been nowhere in competition with my -eight-and-twenty friends. The best fisherman is the best all-round -fisherman, able and willing to adapt himself to the circumstances in -which he may be placed. But how little of this dry-fly work is tried -upon our numerous lochs?--not a breath of wind, no good to fish! Yet -ripples here and there are breaking the surface, showing that the fish -are feeding. - -Many pleasant half-hours have I had on the same loch, after dinner, -under the rising moon, at the season when the main object of life is -the grouse shooting. On a mid-August evening, after a hot day, the -loch looks deliciously cool. Let us try our luck after dinner. We -take our rods, and put up for choice a small gold-ribbed hare's ear. -Let us get into that bay, in our boat, with our backs to the shelving -shore and the moon before us. There is a good rise. Paddle gently, but -quickly, near it; judge your distance accurately, keeping your eye on -the very centre of the now expanded rings. You pitch it accurately, and -it floats like a cork. Don't hurry to take it off--loch fish cruise -about--he may see it. I thought so; a good rise and well hooked, and -the pound Loch Leven fish merrily runs out your line. Now you've turned -him. Don't let him get under the boat. He has run past you into the -shadows, as that splash fully indicated. You can't see your line, nor -where he is. Never mind, keep his head up, and, above all things, -keep him away from the boat until he is done. He fights well, but the -contest is a very one-sided one; he cannot beat you as his brother of -the river often can, and in due course he is netted. - -Now dry your fly well; or, better still, put on that other hare's ear -you have already mounted upon a point of gut. We have rather disturbed -this water; let us move a bit further up the bank. The rises are -sadly infrequent, perhaps, but a brace of good fish taken under such -circumstances is worth catching, especially as the loch is generally -considered to be an early one, and the fishing to end in June for all -practical purposes. If only you will try it, this floating fly work -will add a very great interest to your enjoyment of your lovely loch. - -Perhaps I may be treating this subject somewhat too cavalierly, and -unduly emphasising my own views and predilections. Certainly I am free -to admit that I have enjoyed many pleasant days on our Scottish lochs. -One particular day stands out pre-eminently in my recollections. I was -staying at a shooting lodge near Pitlochry, and the famous Loch Broom -was within the precincts of our moor. To reach it we had a longish walk -and stiff climb, as it lies on the far side of a high, saddle-backed -line of hills. There were three boats on the loch, and one of them -belonged to my host. - -I was told that it was heavily stocked with good fish, but that a -strong breeze was necessary if good results were to be obtained. In -due course a gillie and I sallied forth one morning, somewhat late -in the season, armed with rods, tackle, and flies, to see what Loch -Broom would do for us. There certainly promised to be an ample supply -of wind to start with, and, as the day wore on, it had no tendency -whatever to go down, but rather to increase unduly; and when we reached -the loch side after our six or seven mile walk, we found miniature -foam-crested billows on its surface; in fact, rather more than we had -bargained for. The boat had been merely grounded in the rushes at the -loch side, and required baling out and adjusting. Intending to lose no -time, I speedily put up my rod and my cast of three flies and placed -it in the stern of the boat in order to soak the cast, then devoting -my attention to the assistance of the gillie, who was getting the -boat in readiness. Whilst I was doing so my reel began to screech, and -I found I had hooked a good trout, my cast of flies having apparently -been dancing over the wind-swept waves. It was certainly a good augury -of what was to come. After a good deal of trouble we got our boat -launched, and, though leaking a bit, it was in a floatable state. The -wind was too high to admit of a slow drift across the little loch, but -it did not much matter. - -At every cast there were rises, not at one of the flies, but often at -all three--no skill was required. The fish were rampant, and would be -hooked. In fact, the main part of the fun lay in seeing how often one -could land two fish hooked simultaneously. We only made three drifts in -all, for it is easy to be surfeited with such sport. After our third -drift was finished and the boat was hauled up again into its place we -had leisure to count the slain; they were certainly very numerous. I -somewhat reluctantly transcribe the entry in my fishing diary lest the -tale may be set down as a "fisherman's story." They amounted in all to -ninety-two, and weighed between 40 and 50 lb. It certainly was a record -day for even that prolific loch. There is yet one more entry in the -same fishing log to the effect that the 15 odd pounds weight of trout -that I personally carried home that afternoon formed a considerable -addition to the labour of the walk over the hills and against the gale, -and that I frequently wished them at Jericho. - -But you might go to Loch Broom on a still day and you would be almost -inclined to declare that it was untenanted, so fickle in their -behaviour are these selfsame trout. - -There is a little loch--Loch Dhu--in Forfarshire, high up in the hollow -of the hills, tenanted by many little black trout, who refuse to be -beguiled by the artificial fly. I tried it once or twice whilst grouse -shooting at Rottal, but with the poorest results. One day, very early -in the morning, I was going up the hill with my rifle and glass in the -hope of getting a stalk at a red deer before our grouse drive began. -On my way up I passed within half to three-quarters of a mile of Loch -Dhu, and happened to notice a strange turmoil on its usually unruffled -surface. Bringing my glass to bear upon it, I discovered the cause. A -swarm of bees was crossing the loch, a few inches above the surface, -and apparently every one of the little black tenants of the water was -engaged in gymnastic attempts to secure some of the bees by leaping -bodily out of the water. The constant rising of the fish followed the -swarm accurately across the loch, and only ceased when it reached terra -firma. Then all again was silence and solitude. I certainly never tried -afterwards to catch them with a solitary bee as a lure, and I fear -that it would have required a whole swarm of artificial bees to arouse -sufficiently the predatory instincts of these particular fish. - -There exists in Perthshire, on Ben Venue side, snugly ensconced in a -beautiful hollow below the lower tops, a lochan, or small loch, by -name Loch Tinkler--why so called this deponent knoweth not. Round -its heather-covered sides I have shot many a grouse, and enjoyed the -great pleasure of watching favourite setters and pointers--those -delightful companions of the now somewhat old-fashioned form of grouse -shooting--point and back, with unfailing accuracy. Hither I have not -infrequently resorted with my rod for an hour or so of fishing along -its shores. The loch is very irregular in shape, and has frequent -heather-clad promontories jutting out into its waters, which permit -the angler to cover the fish more effectually, and seldom have I gone -unrewarded. Of no great size or weight, a half-pounder being perhaps -above the average, the Loch Leven trout that tenant it attain wonderful -condition and brilliancy of colouring. They play well, and I should be -more than ungrateful were I not to record the pleasant hours I have -spent there. But, after all, a small loch such as this is, commanded as -it is for all practical purposes from the shore, hardly falls under the -category of loch fishing, a branch of angling which presupposes the use -of a boat. - -Owing, no doubt, to my peculiar temperament, I fear that I am not -worthy of loch fishing proper. The thraldom of being confined for long -periods in a boat, the unvarying monotony of the cast, are apt to pall -upon me; and sooner or later, or, to be strictly accurate, sooner -rather than later, I long to be ashore again, even though it be only to -fish up a small Highland burn. - -And perhaps I am not quite alone in this respect, for I note that my -friend who has given us those pleasant "Autumns in Argyleshire" asserts -(p. 182) that he would prefer "indifferent sport in a river or burn to -fishing the finest loch in the Highlands." So that if I err I do so in -the very best of company. - -And this same burn fishing has always had a charm for me. It is passing -pleasant to wander with a small 9 ft. rod up the rocky bed, casting -your fly into that miniature salmon pool or into that quaint stickle, -whose larger stones shelter the little denizens of the stream, which, -for their size, fight like little demons, sportive, hungry, diminutive -specimens of the race that produces their bulky Test and Itchen -brethren. One makes one's way over the rocky bed, under the birches -and the rowan trees, watching the grouse, the black game, or maybe the -roe deer silently creeping up, at peace with all the world, just as -intent upon the capture of the little fellows as if they were salmon. -The creel soon fills if the day be at all suitable. Their rocky home -affords little enough of insect food, as their miniature forms testify; -but look at them closely; how perfect their form, how beautiful their -colouring. - -A sandwich and a pipe give you all you require in the way of lunch; the -whole day is your own, to do as you like with. Freed from all care, you -are intent only on enjoying to the full the beauties of Nature that -so lavishly surround you. Such quiet, gentle sport cannot but have -a purifying and ennobling influence if you interpret aright all the -beauty of creation. And it may be that interpretation is not needed; it -is enough to _feel_ that one has a place in so fair a world. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -DAPPING FOR TROUT. - - -THIS form of angling has been brought to a fine art in Ireland, and -on many Irish loughs, in the May fly season, the heaviest trout are -brought to book by means of the natural insect and the blow line. The -columns of the _Field_ newspaper testify every year to the efficacy of -dapping, and, without doubt, many a heavy fish that otherwise would -only live to prey upon its smaller brethren is thus accounted for. - -We do not all of us have leisure or opportunity to test these Irish -waters, or this particular form of sport with the blow line; but many -of us come across deep, heavy runs of water, overhung with continuous -branches, where the heavy trout lie, unapproachable and unvanquished, -to become gross and even pike-like in the carnivorous and cannibalistic -form of life. - -Such fish are well worth catching, if you can get them, and far better -out of the stream than in it. Wise in their own generation, they take -up their holt in places where casting is impossible with an ordinary -fly, and where, could you by any possibility get one out, your fly -would remain almost immovable in the sluggish deeps and overhung holes. -The problem is then presented to you as to how their capture can best -be effected. This is your opportunity for trying dapping; and although, -to my unorthodox mind, such fishing is parlously near akin to poaching, -yet the accomplishment of their capture is so eminently desirable that -the end fully justifies the means. - -'Twas in the lower reaches of such a stream, not many miles from -Bassenthwaite Water, that a certain number of leviathan cannibals had -taken up their station. The stream was so tortuous and overhung that no -boat could be manoeuvred through it, and a carefully constructed raft, -with anchor astern, had been tried and come to signal grief, pitching -its unfortunate occupant unceremoniously into an unsolicited cold bath, -from which he emerged with some difficulty. We then decided that it was -impracticable for fishing purposes of the ordinary kind. - -Walking home along this bush-covered length we could see the fish -clearly in its waters, calculate their weight, and wonder how their -natural fortifications could be sapped and overcome. We nicknamed all -the fish, so constant and regular were they in their places. One, an -ugly, ill-shapen fish, with a heavy head, was called "Bradlaugh"; -another veteran, solemn and heavy, was dubbed "Gladstone"; a third, -more dashing and combative, we christened "Randolph Churchill." There -were about seven that we knew and named, and to the heaviest and -thickest of all we gave the name of "Lord Salisbury." - -It was a constant source of interest to us, in going up and down the -stream, to note what our named friends were doing and how they were -faring. Notes were compared when we came in after fishing, and they -gradually became an integral portion of our life and party. One evening -I noticed "Randolph Churchill" greatly on the move, darting hither and -thither in quest of some article of food. Peering through the bushes, I -made out that he was taking something that was falling from the trees -and bushes above, but what that something was I could not precisely -make out. A poor bumble bee that had fallen into the stream was buzzing -about, trying to free himself from his watery toils, and floating -slowly over "Churchill"; the latter came up to look at the buzzer, and -then bolted as if he had been shot. Evidently that disturbed even his -equanimity. I had contemplated dapping with a palmer or Marlow buzz; -and I sat down to cogitate. I called to mind the incident, referred to -on page 50, of the bold rises of the trout in Loch Dhu at the swarm -of bees crossing its surface. Whilst trying to reconcile their action -with that of "Churchill" I was reclining on the grass, and happened to -espy a green grasshopper. That might do, thought I, and rising, with -the captured insect in my fingers, I again approached the water side. -The bumble bee had most effectually scared "Randolph," so I walked down -to where "Gladstone" had taken up his abode. Nipping the grasshopper -with my fingers so as to kill it, I managed to flick it over the bushes -towards my friend. It happened to light on the water at the proper -place, and I had the pleasure of watching "Gladstone" sail slowly and -majestically up to the floating insect, open a huge pink mouth, and -swallow it. That was quite good enough for me, and after dinner I -retailed to my friend my evening's experiences. - -We were soon busily engaged in hunting up bare hooks and stiff rods. -Fortunately for us there were some long cane-bottom fishing rods in the -lodge, which evidently had been used in former times for bait fishing; -the joints were indifferent, the whippings rotten, but the rods were, -in the main, sound. - -A little waxed thread and varnish soon put them into workable trim, and -before going to bed we pledged a parting glass that some of our friends -should gain a new experience on the morrow. And so it fell out. We knew -that playing fish in such overgrown haunts was out of the question, -and that if we had the luck to hook them it would be a question of -pull devil, pull baker. Towards evening we met at our trysting-place. -Green grasshoppers were numerous, so there was no lack of bait. As I -anticipated, "Randolph Churchill's" inquisitiveness and audacity caused -him to become our first victim. The bushes were far too thick to let -us drop our bait near him in the ordinary manner. Our only chance was -to roll the line round our rods, poke it through the bushes, unroll it -carefully, dangle it before his nose, and then, if we had the luck to -hook him, to give him no law, but to trust to our tackle and to hold on -like grim death. - -The next victim that evening was "Bradlaugh," a bold riser, who fought -well, and who thoroughly justified his cognomen when on the bank. -"Disraeli" was for some time our master; he knew a trick or two, and -was by no means easily beguiled, though often pricked and once lightly -hooked. Even his caution was at length overcome, and hardly an evening -passed but that one or more of these, relatively speaking, monsters of -some 2-1/2 to 5 lb. in weight was landed. - -"Lord Salisbury," however, proved to be a very difficult nut to crack, -and beyond our powers of persuasion. He would solemnly inspect our -lure, sniff round it, as it were, and then sink slowly down to his -accustomed place. He seemed to know all about it, so, intent on other -sport with the gun, we at last let him severely alone, telling the -river keeper to get him out if he could. - -One evening, as we were at dinner, there came a pressing message from -the keeper to be allowed to see us; so, on ordering him in, a smiling -rubicund visage appeared at the door, that of our friend the keeper, -bearing in his hands a dish, on which reposed the vast proportions -of "Lord Sallusberry," as he termed him, a tardy victim to the wiles -of patience, combined with the reiterated attractions of a green -grasshopper. - -Possibly this kind of dapping may be deemed to be a poor kind of sport, -and, speaking from a strictly orthodox point of view, the accusation -cannot be denied. But, after all, it has its merits. It enables you, -in waters where there are no May flies, to seduce the heavy fish into -unwonted activity, and into taking surface flies. Thus you remove what -are little short of pests in a trout stream, and you gain an interest -in overcoming the difficulties of an otherwise impossible situation. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -GRAYLING FISHING. - - -GRAYLING have one advantage over trout in that they extend your fishing -season by at least three months. Whereas trout may be called spring -and summer fish, grayling are autumn and winter fish. While trout -love positions under overhanging banks, or in the side runs by the -bank side, grayling, on the other hand, generally occupy positions in -mid-stream, lying near, or on, the bottom. In rivers that contain both -fish, a bank rise may be generally put down to a trout. I would have -substituted the word "confidently" for "generally," had not a very -competent critic placed a marginal note to my MS., stating that "he -would it were so." - -I can well recall a day on lower Testwater when, in October, on a -wild, squally day, with gusty rain, I was endeavouring to beguile some -imprudent grayling into taking my fly. The river keeper accompanied -me, and together we descried a nice dimpling rise against the far -bank, above a plank bridge. I at once put it down as a trout, and was -for leaving it alone; but my keeper friend would not have it so, and -on persuasion I proffered the fish the fly that happened to be on my -line. As luck would have it the fly pitched fairly accurately, and, -nicely cocked, sailed down the bank side just where the rise had been. -A confident rise produced an equally confident turn of the wrist; our -friend was well hooked, and a merry five minutes we had before he -could be beguiled into the landing net. He proved to be a fine trout, -over 3 lb. in weight and in magnificent condition, but the month was -against us, and we had to replace him with all due care in his native -element before resuming our search for the grayling, who were not at -all inclined to favour us, on that occasion at any rate. - -This particular fish certainly endorsed my view, for I felt confident -in my first opinion, viz., that it was the rise of a trout, and not -that of a grayling. The keeper, however, was equally confident until he -was proved wrong, and, as his experiences were a hundredfold greater -than mine, I would certainly not attempt to advance my own as against -his. It is so terribly easy to generalise from inadequate experience. - -One thing I certainly have learned with regard to grayling fishing -with a hackle fly, fished wet and up stream, and that is, how easily -one may miss them through want of rapidity in the strike. I remember a -friend of mine dancing with laughter on the river bank as he watched me -miss rise after rise under such circumstances. I seemed to be always a -little after the fair. It was blind kind of work, casting at the rises, -the fish having to come up from the bottom to the fly, and somehow -or other they seemed always to take the wrong psychological moment -for their rise as far as I was concerned. Occasionally, of course, I -hooked what I fancied to be a silly idiot of a fish, and it was not -until my friend had a turn at them and then declared they were rising -disgracefully short that I was able to turn the laugh against him. When -I was angling it was always the fault of the angler that the fish were -not hooked; when his turn came it was entirely the fault of the fish. -At the same time it is undeniable that to secure grayling, especially -heavy ones, by this manner of angling requires great alertness, and, as -it were, sympathy of touch in hooking them. - -I cannot pretend to any considerable experiences in grayling fishing, -but I do not agree with Mr. G. A. B. Dewar, who, in his "Book of -the Dry Fly," p. 54 (Lawrence & Bullen, 1897), states confidently -that angling for the grayling with the dry fly is "poor fun." On the -contrary, I have found him a bold riser, and a really free fighter -in his own style. He will take a dry fly in hot, bright weather, -though his real value comes in on frosty days, after the trout have -earned their well-deserved rest from the plague of artificial flies. A -grayling, moreover, is in his element in deep pools and quiet hollows, -where one would hardly expect to see the dimple of a rising trout. At -the same time the fish loves rapid streams and shallows, retiring for -rest to the deeper pools. - -To be absolutely candid, I would always prefer to fish for trout -rather than to fish for grayling. This may possibly be through lack -of experience and opportunity; but no one can gainsay the fact that -grayling are in condition when trout are not, that they are a worthy -quarry and gamesome, despite (Brother) Cotton's condemnation of them as -"dead-hearted" fish. To be able to defer putting away one's favourite -rods until October, November, and even December have passed away is -no mean advantage, and I, for one, would be indeed sorry to decry the -grayling in any way whatever. - -Grayling do not, as a rule, rise as freely as trout will do during -heavy rain, nor does muggy weather suit them; the best time for -grayling fishing in late autumn or early winter is from about twelve -to two, on a bright day, after a sharp and crisp frost. As they lie so -low in the water and have to come to the surface to take a fly, they -frequently miss their object, whether real or artificial; and after -they have taken the fly, or missed it, as the case may be, they dive -downwards to the bottom again, often breaking the water with their -forked tails in so doing. They are, therefore, more easy of approach -than trout, as there is a larger intervening amount of water to screen -you. As they take surface food, and yet lie so deep, their quaint -lozenge-shaped eyes have an upward turn. They are peculiarly gut shy, -and any undue coarseness in this respect or glistening glare in your -cast will effectually choke them off from their intended rise. They may -be taken by almost any of the ordinary surface flies, by a red tag, or -by means of many of the pale watery hackle flies fished wet. The depth -of the water in which they love to lie renders them less susceptible to -continued flogging than trout. Remember, if you hook a good grayling, -that the corners of his mouth are very tender compared with those of a -trout, and that, salmon-like, he takes a header downwards after taking -your fly, thus tending to hook himself; therefore the quickest and -gentlest of wrist turns is sufficient to cement the attachment between -you. And although grayling fishermen will not admit that the mouth of a -grayling is more tender, generally speaking, than that of a trout, it -is extraordinary how often the fly happens to attach itself to those -particularly tender spots. In playing him, this fact should not be -forgotten, nor the fact that the appearance of the landing net seems to -produce in him the wildest and most frantic efforts for freedom. - -Grayling receive universal condemnation for poaching trout and salmon -ova, and it is only right to own that they are grave delinquents in -this respect. The unfortunate ova have, however, a multitude of enemies -in the shape of various water birds, ducks, swans, &c., and the toll -taken by the grayling in proportion cannot be so very heavy after -all, or they would not be permitted to continue to populate our south -country streams, where the trout is the chief object of worship. At any -rate, they have no other cannibal proclivities, which is more than can -be said for the noble trout himself, who is a marked sinner in both -respects. - -Grayling will not thrive in all streams; they love alternate shallows -and deeps, and are particularly partial to quiet backwaters. They -are very migratory, and will frequently shift their quarters. The -character of the river appears to be all-important in their case, and -many streams suitable for trout will not hold grayling. But where the -surrounding circumstances are suitable, and the temperature of the -water is neither too cold nor too hot, it seems a pity that they should -not be given a trial. They spawn in April, and recover their condition -more rapidly than trout. I do not know whether the origin of these -fish in British waters has ever been ascertained. They may have been -brought to these islands by the monks in former time, who so carefully -husbanded all resources in the shape of fish food; but I have never -seen or read any authentic statement to this effect, and would prefer -to consider them as indigenous. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: LUNCHEON.] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -NOTES ON RAINBOW TROUT. - - -RAINBOWS are a comparatively recent importation into our native -waters, and appeared just at the time when they were most needed. It -is but a few years since our British waters, neglected, except in a -few instances, began to receive the attention they deserved, in view -of their intrinsic value. Steps were then taken to diminish, if not -entirely to remove, the terribly universal pollution of our streams -and rivers. From that time trout fishing prospects in river and stream -began to look up and improve; but our ponds and reservoirs, if stocked -with fish at all, contained only the coarse fish of former times. By -a happy coincidence the rainbow trout, which we owe to our cousins of -the United States, began to be talked about and known. Speedily our -fish-culturists took them up and established them in their hatcheries, -with the best results. A more sporting or gamer fish does not exist. He -rises most freely to the fly--up to a certain weight--and, when hooked, -plays as gamely as any sea trout. He grows with astonishing rapidity. -In our local waters, two-year-old fish, 8 in. long in February, have -grown to 3/4 lb. fish and even to pounders in September. There is -therefore no excuse for leaving our ponds untenanted by these gamesome -fish. Moreover, their edible qualities are quite first-rate; they are -shapely, beautiful in colouring, and thrive in any kind of water. One -point, however, should be carefully guarded against. Rainbows are great -travellers; they will push up, especially before spawning, and it is -therefore necessary to confine them by a grid at the head and foot of -your water. - -The spawning time for these fish in their natural habitat is rather -late in the spring; but, as might be expected from analogy, rainbows -bred and reared in this country appear to be adapting themselves to -their environment, and to be gradually assimilating their time for -spawning to that of our local trout. The bulk of rainbows spawn in -British waters about February and March, many retain their old times -of May and June, whilst a proportion have adapted themselves to their -surroundings and spawn as early as brook trout. I think that the date -is more or less influenced by the amount of fish food obtainable. Thus, -for instance, with hand-fed fish the old later dates are maintained; -but it is still doubtful, as far as my experience goes, as to whether -the ova of the fish that are dependent entirely upon natural food -is ever vivified. My fish undoubtedly have spawned on the prepared -beds, but, so far, I have not been able to establish any evidence -of matured fry. The edges of the water this summer were filled with -multitudinous small fry no doubt, but on careful inspection they proved -to be entirely the fry of sticklebacks, perch, &c. I have found hen -fish gravid with ova as early as November and as late as April. In -time, no doubt, their spawning season will coincide with that of our -brown trout. And herein lies a field for investigation and careful -watching. It is held in many quarters that rainbows do not breed in -Great Britain. My experience hardly tallies with this belief. On our -waters in Lancashire, where we had no gravel beds suitable for the -deposit of ova, I found late last year several hen fish, of from 1-1/2 lb. -to 2 lb. in weight, dead in the water; they were full of ripe ova, and -had undoubtedly died through being egg-bound. I then made some spawning -redds suitable for the deposit and fertilisation of the ova, and it -has been highly interesting to see the fish elbowing each other to -secure a spot for themselves. Since then I have caught many spent fish, -both cock and hen, showing that the ova, at any rate, have been duly -deposited; but so far I have not been able to identify the fry. A large -quantity of fry of sorts I have secured this season, but they proved to -be the fry of stickleback. The "Trinity" two-year-old fish I restocked -with seem to be growing admirably. This form of rainbow trout have -the reputation of being, if possible, freer risers, quicker growers, -and harder fighters than the ordinary kind; so far they seem to act up -to their reputation. The few I have caught fought like little demons, -and it was almost difficult to be able to restore them to the water -and free the hook before they had been practically exhausted by their -frantic efforts for freedom. - -The proper amount of fish with which to stock a given area of water -depends several circumstances. First and foremost, of course, it -depends upon the amount of fish food in it. Many pools and ponds are -full of fresh-water shrimps, snails, and the like, all of which are -of very great value in developing and fattening your fish. But as you -do not want to depend upon bottom feeding for their whole stock of -food, admirable adjunct though it may be, it is well to place round -the margins of your waters all plants that encourage the increase -of fly food. Beds of the ordinary watercress are not only valuable -in this respect, but afford welcome shelter. Water lilies, if kept -within bounds, are equally valuable, and it must never be forgotten -that, especially in shallow water, shelter from the summer sun is an -absolute necessity if you wish your stock to improve. Other aquatic -and semi-aquatic plants should also be utilised freely, such as marsh -marigolds, starworts, bulrushes, &c. Nor should it be forgotten -to plant alders and fringing willows here and there. All trout, -particularly rainbows, take an alder fly readily. - -A certain area of water will not support more than a certain weight -of fish life. You can therefore either have that weight made up by a -large quantity of small fish or by a correspondingly smaller number of -larger fish. It is not prudent, therefore, to overstock. This question -has necessarily very considerable bearing upon your calculations. Nor -is it possible to fix arbitrarily any precise number of fish as being -capable of being supported by a given area of water; an examination of -the water itself would be needed to determine this with any degree of -accuracy. - -Having, however, once determined upon the proper stock required--and, -in my opinion, it pays better to stock with two-year-old fish than -with yearlings--then an accurate account should be kept of the fish -taken out of the water each season, and a corresponding number should -be turned in each November for restocking, a few being added for -contingencies. - -As I have already stated, when rainbows grow into really big fish--say -over 2-1/2 lb.--they appear, in our British waters, to develop lazy, -bottom-feeding proclivities. It will be necessary, therefore, or at -any rate advisable, to take these fish out by using a bright salmon -fly, fished deep, or a minnow, fished as deep as the water will admit. -When the fish are first placed in their fresh home it is customary -to feed them with artificial food until they get accustomed to their -surroundings. For this purpose liver is often used, and it is quite an -amusing sight to see them "boil" when such food is distributed. It is -very doubtful whether it is wise to feed with such fat-producing foods. -Some authorities hold that fatty foods of any kind produce disease of -the liver and fatty degeneration, and condemn absolutely all red meat. -If this be so--and it appears to be not only probable, but proved by -expert experience--it is better to let the fish take care of themselves -and eschew all kinds of artificial food stuffs. - -When stocking, every care should be taken to see that when the fish -arrive they are placed as soon as possible where the water is most -lively and broken, so that they may, at the earliest practicable -moment, obtain the air they so much need after their journey. The water -in the cans should never be allowed to stagnate. One more precaution -is indispensable, viz., to see, by means of a thermometer, that the -temperature of the water in the stream or pond is the same as that in -the cans. If there should be any difference--and there will almost -certainly be--it can easily be adjusted by letting some water out of -the cans and substituting that of the stream. By doing this gradually -the fish will become acclimatised to the change. The cans on the cart, -meanwhile, should be agitated, and therefore aerated, by keeping the -cart on the move. Neglect of this will cause serious risk of loss. -Once safely deposited in their new home, the fish will speedily spread -over your whole water, even if all were put in at one spot. Perhaps -it is unnecessary to add that fish should never be handled when being -put into the water. A small flat net will pick up any that may have -fallen on the ground during the change of water. It is surprising -how thoughtless many people are about handling and treating fish. -Thus, for instance, if an undersized fish is caught it is, in common -parlance, "thrown back," and is often in reality so treated. Too much -care cannot be taken in replacing fish. If put back gently and held for -a few seconds in a proper position, back up, they will soon recover -from their exhaustion and glide away unharmed; whereas, if "thrown -in," or dropped in in a careless manner, they will turn belly up, and -probably never recover. - -When all precautions are taken, and your waters have been intelligently -treated, and suitable spawning redds are provided, you will never -regret having stocked with rainbows, for the sport you will obtain from -them will more than amply repay you for the trouble you may have taken. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -SALMON FISHING. - - -FORMERLY, and indeed not so very long ago, no one in the Highlands of -Scotland was considered free of the hill, or indeed of any account, -unless and until he had slain a stag, a salmon, and an eagle. Nowadays, -matters are somewhat different. The two former, inhabiting as they do -the forests and rivers, are in great request, and have a considerable -money value, and, in consequence, have passed into the hands of those -who have the deepest purses, saving and except where some few Highland -lairds and noblemen retain their ancient rights in their own hands, and -dispense their hospitality amongst their friends as of yore. As for -the golden eagle, few would attempt, or even wish, to shoot so noble a -bird. The ordinary forest fine of L500 is a sufficient deterrent, if, -indeed, any is necessary. Every effort is now being made, and should be -made, to keep the (now, alas! scarce) king of the birds amongst us. - -But if, as we have said, the large majority of the forests and -salmon rivers are rented by those who are able and willing to pay -almost any price for the dignity of being lessees of such tempting -and highly-prized sporting grounds, the general appetite and desire -have developed and grown enormously. Ever-increasing facilities for -travelling have brought with them an ever-growing army of men, all -eager to get good salmon fishing, and searching high and low to secure -it. Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Canada, British Columbia, and a host of -other portions of the globe have been brought into requisition in -order to satisfy some portion of this craving. Small wonder, then, that -rents for rivers, spring or autumn, continue to increase, and that -the Government of the day is being constantly and consistently urged -to increase the close time for net fishing, in order that the upper -riparian owners may have some chance of replenishing their pools. - -A man who has once hooked and played a clean-run salmon, and has -experienced the thrill of excitement that continues from the rise until -the salmon is safely landed, is not at all likely to forget it, or to -miss any chance of renewing his acquaintance with _Salmo salar_. - -The contest is such a fair one, there are so many chances in favour -of the fish, that no element of sport is wanting. He is so strong -in the water, so perfectly built for speed, that unless you handle -him both carefully and skilfully you may easily lose him, even if -you have brought him exhausted to the gaff. In that perilous moment, -when flopping and surging near the top of the water, how many a fish -effects his escape! And who is there amongst us but has experienced the -sickening feeling of the straightened rod, and the fly released from -the worn hold in the fish's mouth? It is just the uncertainty of the -sport, added to the strength and vigour of a hooked fish, that form the -great allurement to salmon anglers. - -Whilst in trout fishing--more especially with the dry fly--great -accuracy and delicacy of cast are required, the actual fishing for -salmon with the fly makes no such demands upon the angler. Provided -that he can throw a tolerably straight line of reasonable length, -so as to cover the places in the pools where the salmon are wont to -rise, many faults that would entail failure with the dry fly will pass -unnoticed, owing to the fly having been cast into swiftly running -water, which brawling water straightens out in the kindest manner the -kinks formed in the line by the incompetency of the wielder of the rod. - -To this extent, therefore, a novice may have the good fortune to beat -the more experienced hand. Once hooked, however, the novice is out -of it, unless he has at hand an experienced mentor, and the odds are -largely in favour of the fish. It is then that the accomplished angler -asserts himself. I have heard of men who consider that the excitement -of salmon fishing begins and ends with the hooking of the fish, who -are willing to hand over to their attendant, or gillie, the duty which -they consider to be monotonous and fatiguing--of playing the fish. - -For my part, I look at the matter from an entirely different point of -view. The combat between the fisherman and the fish is essentially a -gallant one. In the water, a clean-run fish of, say, 18 lb. really -plays the angler for some space of time, and you recognise that -although your experience and intelligence may enable you, within a -reasonable time, to be the victor, yet that you have attached to you a -quarry well worthy of your skill, and one, moreover, who may yet call -forth all your activity and resource, and who cannot be accounted as -caught until he is absolutely on the grass beside you. - -I, on the contrary, always consider that playing a salmon is the most -exciting and interesting part of the sport. In playing a fish, whether -it be a heavy trout on a light, single-handed rod, or a clean-run -active salmon on a proportionately suitable rod, a sense of touch is -needed that bears some resemblance to that necessary for the proper -handling of the reins in riding a keen young thoroughbred horse. You -require a keen appreciation of when to allow a certain latitude and -when to exercise all the pressure that the occasion demands. - -A heavy-handed man will soon render a sensitive-mouthed young horse -half demented, whilst at the same time quiet, strong hands exert just -that influence that is needed to control his vagaries. Some men are -born with the requisite sensitiveness of touch, others will be clumsy -and heavy-handed to the end of their days. Some will give undue licence -to a fish, will allow him to play for an inordinate length of time, -triplicating thereby the risk of losing him. - -It is not possible to lay down on paper any regulations for playing -fish beyond what may be termed the "A B C" of the game. You should -never allow your rod point to be dragged down below an angle of 45 deg. -with the vertical, or a smash of your casting line will be risked. On -the other hand, if the rod be kept too vertical an unfair tax is placed -upon the strength of your middle joint. Another cardinal point, as -every angler knows, is that you should never allow more line off your -reel than you can avoid; that is to say, if your fish means running -either up or down stream, and you feel instinctively that it would be -neither prudent nor practicable to hold him too hard, then you must try -to keep on terms with him by means of your own movements on the bank -side; for it is to be presumed that, although you may have hooked your -fish when wading in mid-stream, you have taken the earliest opportunity -of wading ashore. - -Keep nearly level with him, or down stream of him if you can, and get -the weight of the water acting against him as well as the weight of -the line. Never try to force a fish up a heavy stream unless such a -course is absolutely necessary, for the weight of the water, added -to that of the fish, may unduly strain your tackle. That you may be -compelled to try to prevent his going down stream at times goes without -saying, for it may be absolutely necessary to do so; but to endeavour -to force a fresh and strong fish up stream against his will is to court -disaster. Should you have decided that your fish, if it is to be killed -at all, must be kept in the pool in which he then is at all hazards, -by judiciously giving him his head, by means of taking off the strain, -may frequently induce him to abandon his attempt to force his way -down stream, and, under the impression that he has already gained his -freedom, he may often, of his own free will, head up stream once again. -It is a risky, but often the only, course to adopt, if you cannot or -will not follow a fish down. - -Mr. Sidney Buxton, in that most charming of books, "Fishing and -Shooting" (John Murray, 1902), sums up the whole matter admirably when -he describes catching and playing salmon as "living moments." - -I have seen stalwart soldiers, and I have one V.C. particularly -before my eyes at the moment of writing, covered with perspiration -and quivering in every limb after a long and successful duel with -a clean-run fish. In this respect salmon fishing is ahead of trout -fishing, for the contest is a more even one; though in my opinion the -two, being distinct and incomparable, ought never to be put into the -scales and weighed the one against the other. - -Watch an old hand at the game, and observe how easily he controls the -most determined and vigorous rushes of his worthy antagonist; take out -your watch and see how long it will be before the 18 or 20 pounder is -brought alongside for the gaff; and then watch the poor performer, -hesitating and uncertain as to when pressure should be applied or -licence given; see how long it takes him to land the 8 lb. or 10 lb. -fish; count the number of times that he has to thank a beneficent -providence that he has not lost him; and if, after so doing, you still -incline to your statement that there is nothing in landing a fish, that -the whole pleasurable excitement is concentrated in hooking him, then -I can only reply that I don't agree. The contest between the hooked -salmon and the fisherman is no uneven one--witness the number of hooked -fish that escape--and it is one that is still capable of giving a -thrill of real excitement to those who really love angling. - -A salmon hooked from a boat in a large loch is, of course, a different -matter; here the odds are so largely in favour of the rod holder as to -unduly diminish the chances of escape to the fish. Such salmon fishing -is outside the scope of our present argument, and falls into a totally -different category. With river-bank fishing, and it is with that that -we are dealing, it would be a bold fisherman indeed that would count a -fish hooked as a fish landed, and a half-hearted angler that would be -content to hand over to the gillie the cream of the contest between the -fish and the man. - -_Apropos_ of this nervous excitement, in October, 1900, I formed one -of a shooting party on Don side. The river Don ran within half a mile -from the house, forming as perfect a series of natural pools as the -heart of man could desire. My mouth watered when I saw it, and I longed -to wet a line in it. I found, however, that my host not only loathed -fishing, but was absolutely devoted to bridge. We had but short days -out shooting, everyone rushing back to the lodge to get a rubber or -two before dinner. Professing ignorance of bridge, I begged my host -to let me try the river, as, having been lately fishing on the Dee, I -had my rods and waders with me. With a pitying smile he told me that I -could, of course, amuse myself as I thought best. With no loss of time -I made my way down to the river side, and found it in grand ply. I was -fully aware that the particular part of the Don that we were on was not -popularly supposed to contain many fish at that time of the year, but -it was well worth a trial, and I knew that a ship laden with lime had -lately been sunk at the mouth of the Dee, and I fancied and hoped that -some of the autumn fish might be finding their way into and up the Don. -The pools were so perfect in shape that no gillie was needed to point -me out the best rising-places; they spoke for themselves and told their -own tale. - -My first evening produced two clean-run fish of 16-1/2 lb. and 8 lb., and -my host, when he saw them later, began to think that, after all, there -might be something in angling. The second evening the river was up and -unfishable, but by the third evening it had fined down into order, -and I got a beauty of 20 lb. and a small salmon of 7-1/2 lb. The glowing -accounts I gave of the play of these fish at length excited my host, -and, even at the cost of his rubber of bridge, the next evening saw -him by my side, carefully fishing a leg of mutton pool near the house, -where I had seen and risen a fish the night before. I had to hold the -rod with him and show him how to cast, but I knew pretty well where -my fish lay, and that he was within easy reach. We worked down to the -spot, and, sure enough, up he came with a grand head and tail rise, -hooking himself handsomely. Leaving the rod in my friend's hands, I -told him that he had to do the rest. The first rush nearly pulled the -rod down to the water level, my friend hanging on like grim death. -Fortunately, the gut was sound and stood the strain. Nearly dying with -laughter at his frantic appeals for help and advice, I shouted to him -to keep his rod point up, thoroughly enjoying the fact that he was -having a taste of what he had characterised as a "poor and tame kind of -sport." - -As I particularly wanted him to catch that fish I went to his -assistance. Trembling with excitement and bathed in perspiration, he -was, shortly afterwards, delightedly examining his first salmon, a -clean-run hen fish of 16 lb. I never shall forget his shake of the hand -and his exclamation, "By Jupiter! you have taught me something, this -is worth living for!" Needless to say, he is now mad keen on salmon -angling, and a very capable performer to boot. - -Many of us, however, not quite so young as we were, are paying the -penalty of imprudent wading in the times when we scorned to put on -wading trousers. The rheumatic twinges, that hesitation about deep -wading in rivers with bad bottoms, all these are largely bred of our -former contempt for getting wet, and our ill-founded confidence in our -powers of resisting the effects of such very minor matters as wet legs -and feet. We therefore find our choice of fishing water still more -limited: we seek fishings where many of the pools can be commanded from -the bank side, or where, if wading be unavoidable, the bottom is sound -and shelving, and where there are no round slippery stones to trip us -up. Enough for most of us, if we are lucky enough to get into touch -with a good fish, is it that we may have a longish travel over very -rough ground, up and down, before we can call him ours. - -[Illustration: NEARING THE END.] - -One particularly bad-bottomed pool I remember very well in the -Aberdeenshire Dee, not very far below Aboyne. It was a long pool, the -head of water very heavy, the wading throughout simply vile. At the -bottom of the pool was a big rock, nearly in mid-stream, and by that -stone there generally lay a good fish. To reach him you had to wade -as deep as your waders would permit, your elbows almost in the water, -leaning your body against the swirl of the stream, and taking cautious -steps forward, inch by inch, to avoid being tripped up by the slippery -big round stones. Then the best cast you were able to produce with your -18 ft. Castleconnel would just about reach him. I never could resist -trying for him, though I knew he would go down stream if hooked, and it -seemed impossible to follow him down, so I always half wished that he -might not come. Wading back against that heavy stream, with a twenty or -thirty pounder making tracks round the corner into the next pool, would -have been no easy job; and, if you had succeeded in reaching terra -firma, there were some big overhanging trees at the corner, beneath -which the current had cut a deep hole. Mercifully for me, though I -often tried for him, he never did take hold, though I rose him several -times. It was always with a chastened spirit of thankfulness that I -gave him up and went further down to try the easier waters of the Boat -pool. - -There is a local story of a mighty fish, hooked in that self-same spot, -which took its captor down so that he was obliged, perforce, to swim -the deep water under the trees, and was afterwards taken down, as hard -as he could run, through pool after pool, until at length he managed -to steady it in the third pool of the next fishing water. Then, after -a period of sulks, during which both regained their wind, the fish ran -right away up again to his old haunts, where he succeeded in getting -rid of the hook against his favourite rock. All lost fish are big, -and the lapse of time has not in any way diminished his fabled weight. - -Perhaps the one drawback to salmon fishing as an art is that to which -I have already alluded, viz., that the friendly stream corrects of -itself all, or nearly all, errors of slovenly casting, and in that -respect places the duffer more on a par with the really competent. On -the other hand, knowledge and experience, and perhaps more particularly -local experience, will assert itself in the long run, even against the -adventitious success of the novice. - -The mere fact of having really fished a pool, whether success reward -your efforts or no, is of itself an element of enjoyment; the feeling -that you have fished, and fished with a really working fly every inch -of fishable water, is _per se_ a cause of satisfaction and pleasure. -Here you are master of the situation; on you depends your chance of -sport, if any is to be obtained. - -In grouse driving you may draw the worst butt; or, if you have the luck -to draw the best, the birds may unaccountably take an unusual line, -and, though you may have drawn the "King's butt," nearly every bird may -pass over the heads of your comrades to the right and left of you. You -are, as it were, a mere automaton, to shoot whatever may come within -range; you may be the victim of circumstances, and may get very few -chances. - -In hunting, unless you hunt the hounds yourself, you have little chance -of seeing, and none whatever of controlling, the best part of the game, -the working of the hounds. Your main object is to be with them; they -and the huntsman, or master, do the work, you are merely an accessory. - -In fishing, whether it be for trout or salmon, everything from start to -finish rests with yourself; you have to work out your own salvation; -and I venture to assert that it is in consequence of this individual -responsibility that fishing, apart from its other many merits, holds so -high a place in all our affections. - -I doubt whether there are many men who have not become aware, in -playing salmon (and perhaps more often when the fish is nearly played -out), of a second fish following the hooked one in all its movements -and stratagems to free itself from the unwelcome attachment of the rod -and line. It has several times happened to me personally, and on two -occasions that I can call to mind I was within an ace of being able to -gaff the free fish when bringing the exhausted and hooked fish past -me for the gaffing process. I feel confident that, had I not been too -much engaged in seeing that my hooked fish did not get free through -any unintentional slackening of my line at that most critical moment, -I could have done so successfully, so assiduous was the (apparently) -hen fish in attendance upon the fish at the end of my line. Is this a -mere matter of curiosity on his or her part, or may it be attributed -to a feeling of _camaraderie_ or friendship? I think no one can -seriously contend for the latter hypothesis, as instances of affection -between such cold-blooded animals as fish have never to my knowledge -been even suggested. We must therefore, I take it, assume that it -is mere curiosity, a desire to see why the hooked fish is acting so -capriciously; and, if this be so, has it not a tendency to modify -somewhat our views as to the necessity of resting pools after a fish -has disturbed them by his being played? The following fish will, of -course, have been taken out of the place where it would probably rise -at a fly, and, therefore, out of any danger for the time being; but -travelling fish are not infrequently hooked and landed. - -My observations of salmon, such as they have been, have rather tended -to inspire me with the belief that salmon, when resting in a pool, -take little or no notice of what is going on round them. They will -move just so far aside as to let a rampant fish pass them, gliding -back into their former position the moment he has passed. How often, -when fish are really "on the job," have fishermen caught their four, -five, or even more fish out of one pool of very moderate dimensions, -every square yard of which must have been disturbed by the vagaries of -those caught before them? It seems to me that we are all inclined to be -a bit too cautious and careful in this respect. When the water is in -order, then I should be inclined to say, seize the happy moment, often -short-lived enough, and don't waste time in going to other pools as -long as you have any reason to suppose that the fish are "up," and that -there are other occupants of the pool that you are fishing that may be -grassed. - -Somehow or other, if a fish be lightly hooked the information is -conveyed through the line, as through a telephone, to the wielder of -the rod. You obtain a kind of realisation that such is the case, no -matter how well you have endeavoured to drive the barb home. And his -subsequent play shows you how well-founded your feeling was. You are -in constant expectation of seeing your rod point come up--unwelcome -sight--and if you have the luck to get the gaff home, and the hook -drops out of his mouth, you are not one whit astonished, only thankful -that your luck for once was in the ascendant, and that you have not one -more to add to the very considerable number of fish hooked and lost. - -In the same way with a fish that "jiggers," I, rightly or wrongly, -always set him down as being lightly hooked, and invariably offer up a -thanksgiving if he be safely brought to bank. Can anyone tell us why a -fish so acts? It is undoubtedly most disconcerting to the angler, and -must assuredly have a tendency to wear the hold of the hook. But if it -is so effectual, why do not more fish adopt it? Is it not permissible -to think that my hypothesis is right, and that a lightly-hooked fish -is able to appreciate that if he can only enlarge the hold of the -fly he may get free? Or, if this is too much to attribute to fish -intelligence, what other suggestion can be made? Of course, all my -argument is upset if my premise is unsound, that it is lightly-hooked -fish that employ the manoeuvre of "jiggering" to free themselves. - -The question is, of course, difficult of solution; at the same time, I -have invariably found that it is just those fish that I have already -set down in my mind as being lightly hooked that have resorted to that -expedient. - -I have always found it very advantageous to keep a good yard of free -casting line in my left hand, letting this slack go at the end of the -cast. This is exceedingly useful in getting out a long line; indeed, -it has become such a part of my nature that I invariably do the same -in dry-fly fishing for trout. In that case I find it helps me to pitch -my fly more lightly, and to correct my length; it has one drawback in -trout fishing, in that it prevents you from striking from the reel, but -it does not inconvenience me, for I merely turn the wrist in striking -a trout, so that the fact of my fingers gripping the line against -the rod does not matter. It may not be quite orthodox, but I find it -convenient, and always practise it; in fact, it is so much a matter of -second nature with me that I could not give it up, even if I wished -to do so. It is of great advantage, in fishing any pool, to have seen -the river in all its various stages, so as to know as much as possible -of its bed. As everyone knows, the places where fish rise vary as the -river may be high or low; one place where, in high water, you might -reckon on getting a rise if anywhere, would be absolutely unlikely when -the river is low; and so also in the intermediate stages. Until you -have become fully acquainted with the bed of the various pools, you are -not in a position to make the best of them; that is why a gillie with -local knowledge is so necessary. Perhaps you have fished a pool when -it was in perfect order. The next time you try it the river has sunk a -foot; it may still be fishable, but if you get a rise it will be almost -certainly in a different spot from the time before. - -On the Awe, in Argyleshire, a few years ago, after a summer drought -the river had dwindled down to about half its normal volume. A rod had -been fishing very sedulously a favourite pool of mine called Arroch. I -watched him for some time, and at last suggested that I did not think -he was at all likely to get a fish in the tail of the pool, where he -was employing most of his energies. He replied that he had caught many -a fish in that very part. I told him that it was doubtless true when -the river was in proper order, but that it was most unlikely in its -then condition. Somewhat nettled, he asked me to show him where I would -propose to fish; and, having my rod with me, I commenced to fish at the -very top of the pool, in a narrow, deep neck. At about my fourth or -fifth cast with a very short line, I noticed below me the silvery glint -of a fish that my fly had evidently moved. Stepping back a little, I -began, with great deliberation, to fill and light a pipe, and then -began again where I had originally commenced. At my fourth cast I saw -the same glint, and also felt the fish, which had taken the fly when -it was well sunk and was swirling about in the quick and heavy stream. -It was, of course, a great piece of luck, yet it served to point my -moral and adorn my tale. My friend was good enough to say that it was a -revelation to him, that he would no more have thought of fishing that -neck of the pool than of flying. - -It is astonishing how many anglers are similarly constituted. They -are content to fish a pool in just the same way, no matter what the -state of the river may be. They never seem to fish from their heads, -nor to bring any intelligence to bear. In a really big river it is -possible to pick up an odd fish in the most extraordinary places. Once -on the Carlogie water of the Dee, the river was in big flood, full of -snow-brue, and apparently hopeless to fish; but the grilse had begun -to run, and my time on the water was drawing to a close. Something -must be done; it seemed foolish to stop at home and waste a day, so I -walked up to the top of the Long Pool and fished my own bank down with -a short line. My perseverance was rewarded, and I managed to secure -three grilse. The great thing is to keep going, and to try to bring all -your acquired experience to bear. A dry fly will never catch a salmon; -your fly must be kept in the water, and not on the bank. The assiduous -fisherman will beat the lazy one into fits. - -National interest is, undoubtedly, being more constantly directed to -the importance of our salmon fisheries. Thus, this very year, 1905, an -influential deputation, headed by the Duke of Abercorn, was received -at the Offices of the Board of Agriculture, the object being to obtain -Governmental support to a private Bill that had been drafted with the -idea of giving increased powers to the Central Board, and to boards -of Conservators generally. The Bill, mild and tentative though it was -in its provisions, met with but qualified support at headquarters, as -it involved questions of finance, and possible rate aid to boards of -Conservators in carrying out necessary improvements in cases where -the local authorities refused to act. The question is, however, too -vast and too important to be dealt with by piecemeal legislation of -any kind, and, in regard to the vast national asset that is being -squandered and frittered away, demands energetic legislation on a bold -scale. - -The salmon fishery industry is a factor in the prosperity of the -nation, and the whole issue, with all its branches and ramifications, -should be fairly and squarely tackled in a Government Bill, not in the -interests of a class, but in that of the nation. - -It is satisfactory to learn from Lord Onslow that the Government Bill -dealing with obstructions and fish passes, though temporarily withdrawn -last Session, still embodies the views of the present Administration. -We must be thankful for small mercies, but this Bill merely touches one -item of importance, and any Government that has the courage and wisdom -to deal with the question as a whole will certainly have done something -to merit the lasting gratitude of the whole country. - -Since these lines were penned, the Election of January, 1906, has come -and gone, and with it a vast change in the aspect of political matters. -The point, however, that we are advocating is not a party question. It -is a matter affecting the interests of all classes, and it is devoutly -to be hoped that the new Government will take a "liberal" view of this -important matter, and will bring forward a bill, in the interests of -the nation at large, dealing with the whole question of our salmon -harvest in the rivers as well as the sea. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: GET THE GAFF READY.] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -A TRIP TO IRELAND. - - -SOME years ago, when Ireland was greatly disturbed--it was the year -after Lord Leitrim's assassination--a party of three, of which I formed -one, decided to fish the Clady, in Co. Donegal. We went _via_ Belfast -and Letterkenny, bound for Gweedore. We had received many warnings -against our projected trip, and were told that the "Boys" would not -allow us to cross the mountains in our outside cars on our long drive -from Letterkenny. Death's heads and crossbones, however, did not deter -us, though our car drivers were sufficiently impressed and alarmed -to insist that, if they took us, we should undertake to keep them at -Gweedore until we returned. This we had to concede, and off we set. - -The reports of the Clady were most temptingly satisfactory. The -malcontents had burnt the nets at the mouth of the river at Dum-Dum, -as they were the property of our landlord; the fish had, therefore, a -clean run up the river. The talented author of "Three in Norway, by One -of Them," had taken a fabulous number of salmon shortly before--report -said fifty fish in one fortnight--so it was not likely that three -sturdy fishermen would be frightened by paper threats. As a proper -measure of protection we were each of us in possession of a revolver, -more for show, should occasion arise, than because we were likely to -need it for our protection. Our drive, if my memory serves me right, -was over fifty miles in length, and was satisfactorily accomplished -without any startling incident or need for the display of our lethal -weapons. We were not sorry when it was over, and we were able to get -off our cars and see what comforts the hotel could provide. - -The local peasantry, of course, were not inimical to us as individuals, -but were determined to score off our landlord, and to destroy or -diminish his profits from the fishing. We had, therefore, to house and -care for our gillies as well, in order to save them from maltreatment. -Fortunately the river, though on the low side, was in fair order, and -the pools were crammed full of fish--too full, indeed, for sport; and -though we did not exactly equal the totals credited to our predecessor, -still, we could not complain of the results. The fish, bright and -clean, were not heavy--averaging not more than 10 lb. to 11 lb.--but -they fought well. Neither were they by any means perfect in shape, -being long and narrow, altogether less good-looking than their cousins -of the Crolly, who use the same _embouchure_. These latter are perfect -in contour and shape, more like Awe or Avon fish. - -Sport throughout our fortnight's stay was distinctly good, though -not remarkable, but the visit gave rise to some, to me, interesting -experiences. Thus, in one pool, called the Pulpit pool, the usual cast -is from the top of some very high rocks, as the name implies, into the -cauldron below. The fish lie near the rocks on the pulpit side; from -there the fly would never hang or fish properly; do what you would, -it resembled a bunch of dead feathers. On the other hand, there was -a convenient run on that side, down which a fish could be taken into -the pool below; and, as the fish hooked there always would insist on -going down, this point was one of some importance. On the opposite side -of the pool there was a charming shelving beach, or bank, and if you -could find a fly so well tempered as to stand being thrown against the -rocks opposite to you, you were almost certain of a rise, as your fly -then played admirably over the taking part of the pool. The problem was -then how your fish could be played when hooked, for between you and the -before-mentioned run was a line of serrated rocks, and a fish hooked -that meant going down would inevitably cut you. He must, therefore, not -be allowed to go down. Luckily, between you and this line of rocks was -a deepish backwater, and this was our _deus ex machina_, and solved the -difficulty. In this backwater we stationed the gillie, gaff in hand, -and crouched down; no sooner was a fish hooked than, before he could -realise the situation, he was unceremoniously hurried across the pool -into the backwater, and there equally unceremoniously gaffed. After two -or three fish had been so treated our gillie remarked sadly, "Well, -sorr, you may call this fishing, but I call it murther"; and so it -really was. - -As an example of how a difficulty may be overcome it was not without -its value. The moral is that a fish, when first hooked and before -he has realised what is happening, can be readily persuaded to act -according to your will, as he will never consent to do later on. Just -as a heavy trout lying amongst a bank of weeds can, if you can get his -head up, be led holus-bolus over and across the weeds into reasonable -water directly you have hooked him, so, in a similar manner, a salmon -will often allow you a latitude in dealing with him at first that -he won't give you a second time. Frequently the heaviest fish take -some time after being hooked before they are roused to a sense of -their position, and exert themselves to the full to get rid of the -annoying restraint. The strong upward pull of a salmon rod, tending -to pull him out of his natural element, is what a fish girds against, -naturally enough, and I have frequently found it of advantage to take -the strain entirely off a fish that is making too determined an effort -to leave a pool. Give him his head and he will often stop his run and -save you from the risk of being cut or broken. There is necessarily a -considerable element of risk in so doing, but desperate cases often -require desperate remedies. As with trout, so with salmon, hand lining -can frequently be resorted to advantageously, and it is wonderful how -easily salmon can be led by that means out of dangerous places, and -even brought to the gaff; the strain being removed, they do not seem to -resist an insidious and horizontal pull. - -In the pool below the Pulpit I had my first experience in learning how -to deal with a clean-run fish, hooked fairly and firmly in the thick -part of the tail. I had, of course, had to play foul-hooked fish, but I -had never hooked one in that part before. I was casting a longish line, -and rose a fish at the tail of the pool. On my offering him the fly a -second time he made a big splashy rise; I struck, and was in him. Down -he went into the next pool like a mad thing. The travelling, for me, -was bad, and the gillie had to steady me by holding on to the band of -my Norfolk jacket. I held the fish as hard as I dared, but he was bent -on running, out of one pool into and through the next; race as I would -over the wet and slippery rocks, I never could get on terms with him, -and he led me by some forty or fifty yards of line. As he had never -shown so far and was playing so hard, both my gillie and I thought we -were into a real big one. We were now nearing the falls above the sea -pool; I was pretty near pumped out, so some resolute measures had to be -taken. I accordingly, whilst holding on for all I was worth, sent the -gillie ahead to stone him up. No sooner was he turned than he was done, -and the gaff in him, and then only did we find out how he was hooked. -He weighed no more than 14 lb., and had we known where the hook was, -and had we not put him down as a real big fish, he would have never -have been permitted to play such pranks and lead us such a dance. Had -I held him really hard, his down-stream rush would soon have finished -him, as the water running through his gills would have choked him. - -One day we decided to try the Crolly, wishing to sample some of those -beautiful fish, and, as it meant a seven-mile walk over the hills, -we left our salmon rods at home, taking instead only double-handed -trout rods. On arriving, we found the wind very foul, blowing partly -across and partly up the river, so that it was no easy matter to -command the pools at all properly with our small rods. One fish in -particular annoyed us by showing constantly in a part of the water we -could barely reach and could not command, so we instituted a kind of -angling tournament, each of us in turn trying to get over him properly. -Our gillies were watching intently and open-mouthed. One of them, Pat -by name, had a peculiarly ugly mouth, with heavy, protruding lips; -and whilst he was watching thus intently, the unkind wind brought my -friend's fly, a big Jock Scott, right into his mouth, fixed it firmly -into his lower lip, the forward cast sending it well home, and nearly -dragging poor Pat into the river. We none of us felt equal to attacking -the fly in its weird position, so we sent Pat down to the village, -a mile or more away, to get the local doctor to extract it. Down he -went, only to return an hour later with the fly still sticking in its -former position, and having received a severe drubbing with shillelahs -from the locals for having presumed to gillie for us. Pretty well black -and blue all over, his lower lip enormously swollen, he looked indeed -a sorry sight. Something had now to be done, so it then occurred to -one of us to strip the fly, which fortunately was not an eyed one, and -take it out the reverse way. This was done accordingly without delay, a -plug of tobacco was stuffed into the gaping hole, a good jorum of "the -craytur" was speedily administered, and Pat soon forgot all about his -thrashing and his sore lip in his keenness to gaff the fish we managed -to catch. - -Owing to our being so severely boycotted, we had to manage for food -at the hotel as best we could, and the monotonous diet of salmon in -every form or shape, varied with a ham or piece of bacon, disagreed -thoroughly with me, and somewhat marred the perfect enjoyment of my -trip. - -On Sundays we used to drive to the Protestant church in a big brake, -so as to take the servants with us and protect them from possible -violence; and one sermon we heard there amused us mightily. We were -sitting in the big square pew just under the pulpit. The parson -preached us an impassioned sermon on intolerance, and I must candidly -admit that I have seldom listened to a more intolerant one. He -launched forth into a tirade of abuse of most things, of absenteeism -in particular, bewailing the sorrows of his poor, distressful country, -and attributing the large majority of her troubles to a non-resident -gentry. "They come here," said he, "not to do their duty or to help us, -but merely to gratify their miserable sporting instincts" (and here we -began to feel very small); "but," he added, leaning over the side of -the pulpit in our direction, "not, gintlemen, that I allude to angling, -for that is a grand sport. One of the greatest of the apostles, Saint -Peter, was an ardent angler, and I am an angler myself." Mentally -bowing our acknowledgments, we left the church, grateful that so -eloquent a divine should be appreciative of our favourite sport. - -One more anecdote and I have done. We were going back to England on the -morrow, and were settling up generally, when my gillie Pat said to me, -"Your honour, would ye buy me a pig?" "And why should I do that, Pat? -Are you not content with your tip?" "Well, your honour, I don't want -ye to pay altogither for it, but only to buy it for me." After some -further conversation I consented to go up to the shanty on the hill -where his old mother lived. There I found her haggling over the price -of a sow; she averred that L3 was more than the sow was worth, the man -was holding out for L3 10_s._ Eventually I became the purchaser at -L3, and, paying the money, told Pat that as he had been a good gillie -to me he could have the pig for his own. All the blessings of heaven -were showered on my head by Pat and his mother; but no sooner had the -dealer departed than Pat, producing an old stocking, extracted three -sovereigns therefrom and solemnly handed them to me. Asked what all -this comedy meant, Pat at once replied, "Ach, sorr, would ye have me -let the praste know I'd got three sovereigns in my pocket?" - -Were the nets at the mouth of the Clady and the Crolly kept within -reasonable limits, few better rivers for summer angling could be found. -Having seen their capabilities when the nets were perforce removed -altogether, I gained an idea of what the sport might be in our sea-girt -island, with its innumerable rivers, were the angling not throttled by -the vast array of legalised nets that threaten to destroy, or at any -rate reduce very heavily, the sport and profit of riparian owners. - -That much has been done and that more is being done in this respect -cannot be gainsaid. The allowance of longer slaps, the purchase -outright of netting rights in individual cases, are undoubted steps in -the right direction. But until the process is more universally applied -its effect cannot be considerable. Salmon coast along such an extent -of our shores before reaching their destination that bag and coast -nets miles away may take heavy toll of the fish that are seeking your -estuary, even though they would have a free run up your river if once -they could attain it. - -Is it too much to hope that some day a wise Government may take -the matter in hand, not by piecemeal legislation, but with the -determination of so apportioning and circumscribing the respective -rights of all concerned and interested, that the price of salmon as an -article of food may not be increased, and the true rights of both net -fisherman and angler may be secured? - -These two are so much bound up together that over net fishing must -necessarily and improperly reduce the number of spawning fish, and -thus injure the rivers which, by furnishing the spawning grounds, are -the geese that lay the golden eggs. Kill the geese and you get no more -eggs of gold. Treat the rivers unfairly, either by pollution or by -over-netting, and not only will the net fishing industry suffer, but -the general public also, for salmon will rise to famine price. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -SALMON AND FLIES. - - -WHY does a salmon take a salmon fly, and what does it represent to him? -These are conundrums that are not readily answered. Obviously it cannot -be because it represents any particular article of food to which salmon -are accustomed when in the river. If one may presume to dogmatise at -all upon so abstruse a question, it must be because their curiosity and -predatory instincts are aroused by a queer object, moving with a series -of jerks and a somewhat lifelike movement of fibres. Any salmon angler -with the slightest experience will know what is meant by "hanging -a fly" properly, and its taking powers as compared with a bunch of -lifeless feathers floating down stream. So far we are all agreed; but -when we attempt to discuss the details of the fly itself we are prone -to differ amazingly. - -Some years ago, on the occasion before alluded to, when I was fishing -the River Clady, in Donegal, the nets having been removed for that -year, the river was full of fresh-run fish--it was in July. There was -a pool in which the fish lay in serried rows in the stream, which -at that point ran under a steep, high bank. I lay down on the bank -overlooking and a little behind the rows of salmon, and some twenty -feet above them. By shading my eyes I could make out all the fish as -clearly as if I were looking at them in an aquarium. I arranged a code -of signals with my fishing friend, and he went some thirty yards or -so up the river to fish the pool. As soon as his fly began to work -over the first line I signalled that he had got the length; there was, -however, no movement among the fish. I then signalled to cast again -with the same length of line. As the fly worked over the fish for the -second time they all seemed to shun it, dropping down stream a foot or -so, with the exception of one fish, which, separating from the others, -came up some three feet to follow the fly, eventually leaving it and -dropping back into his former position. A third passage of the fly -produced similar results, the same fish moving again. He made a break -in the water, which my friend saw, but he had come short. A fourth cast -secured him. - -I could come to no other conclusion but that the fish had been bored -into taking that fly. His curiosity had been excited at first, and -in ordinary circumstances the fisherman would have known nothing and -passed on. Does not this tend to show that many a fish may be moved -without our knowledge, and that a subsequent fly might secure him? - -It is often thought that the first fly over a pool stands the best -chance, provided, of course, that it is properly offered. Personally, -I would just as soon follow a good angler down a pool as precede him. -Unless a fish breaks the water in his rise, the fisherman can tell -little of what is happening below the water level, except when, by -chance, a glimpse of a silver flash is accorded him. But he may have -moved a fish with his fly, and, knowing nothing, will have moved a yard -down stream, his next cast being a yard below the fish. The next fly, -suitably offered, if it be about the same size, may lure our friend to -his destruction. Could we all know exactly what is going on under the -water out of our sight, many more fish would doubtless be brought to -bank. Of course, on those days when the temperature of both air and -water have attained that precise relative proportion that seems to -cause a simultaneous rise of fish in every pool, the first fly will pay -best, for on such happy occasions that fly, however ill delivered, may -secure the best fish. And what fisherman cannot recall instances of -"duffer's luck," the veriest tyro catching, perhaps, the fish of the -season? I remember once trying to teach a would be angler how to cast, -and in a most unlikely spot--the river being dead low--was endeavouring -to instil into him the rhythm of the cast, and trying to make him get -his line out well behind him. Holding the rod with him, I kept the -same length of line, steadily flogging the water to the tune of "one, -two," when, at about the ninth or tenth cast, a travelling fish seized -our fly, and eventually came to the gaff, a clean-run salmon of 18 lb. - -[Illustration: HE MEANS GOING DOWN.] - -But surely the precise pattern of the fly, within limits, is of small -moment; the size, coupled with the proper working of the fibres, is the -main thing. Every angler has, naturally, his own favourite shibboleth, -mainly, in my opinion, because he has succeeded with it, and therefore -perseveres with it far more steadily than with any other pattern. In -the same way local fetishes are set up, and when once adopted are hard -to shift. On the Beauly, years ago, fishing on that lovely water in the -spring, we were using the orthodox spring fly, a sort of exaggerated -Alexandra, and were mainly catching kelts. When one of us suggested -a Gordon (having lately used it on the Dee) the fishermen laughed us -to scorn, and said we might as well fish with it on the high road. -Nevertheless, the fly was tried, and nearly all the clean fish we got -that week were secured by it. When our time was up our gillies begged -for our worn specimens of the goodly Gordon, and the next lessee caught -all his fish upon flies of that pattern; and, for aught I know, that -fly may now be reckoned as one of the standard flies of the river. - -To revert to the original query. Can it be answered satisfactorily? -Surely it must represent some food taken whilst the salmon are in -their sea home; and yet, if this be the only probable answer, how -comes it that on some rivers, as is the case in Canada, salmon cannot -be persuaded to rise at any fly of the kind? After all, whether the -question is unanswerable or no, the glorious uncertainty of salmon -fishing forms one of its most potent fascinations. If every bungling -cast hooked a salmon, few people would care for the sport. - -All this said, then, what form of fly are we to use? Here we get upon -very debatable ground, and whatever conclusion we arrive at will -probably be strenuously opposed. The patterns of salmon flies are -legion, many differing but slightly from others. Are we to credit -salmon with such extraordinary intelligence as to believe them able to -differentiate between varieties of almost similar flies, and to have -such a correct eye for colour as to refuse a fly because the colour -of the body or hackle is a shade unorthodox? The size of the fly, no -doubt, is a most important factor, both as regards the size and -volume of the river and the time of the year. It would be the height -of absurdity to use in fine run water in the summer a three inch fly -that would be a suitable lure on the brawling Thurso in the spring, and -_vice versa_. The finer the water the smaller the fly--within reason. - -So far, I think, we are all agreed. It is when we attempt to reduce -the vast number of flies now in vogue that differences of opinion will -begin to assert themselves. - -On the whole, perhaps, there will be less divergence of opinion about -that singularly fortunate combination of fur, feather, and tinsel, -termed the Jock Scott. It seems, to an extraordinary degree, to -be effective on most rivers where the artificial fly is used. The -combination of colour is most happy, and the fibres of its mixed wing -give it, in the water, a most life-like appearance. Few anglers would -care to be without Jock Scotts of sizes. Similarly, in bright water -the Silver Doctor is a universal favourite, and justly so. As a direct -contrast the Thunder and Lightning is bad to beat, and I should be -sorry to be without a Blue Doctor. - -Eagles, grey and yellow, hold their sway on the Dee, and the play of -the feathers seems to be alluring in the quick waters of that river. -How would such a fly suit the quiet waters of the Avon? You would -imagine that you might as well fish with a mop-head! The fibres of -Eagles require fast, fleet water to make them work, and to use an -Eagle as your lure in slow-running rivers would appear to be most -inappropriate. The play of the rod point may, however, be substituted -for the play of the water, and a tempting opening and closing of -fibrous and mixed winged flies can be obtained by a judicious -rhythmical raising and lowering of your rod point. Indeed, if you -watch an experienced salmon fisherman from a distance, you can tell at -once the kind of water his fly is working through. If the stream be -sufficiently broken and rapid to work his fly automatically, his rod -point will be still. If the water should be sluggish, you will note the -work of the rod top. It would, therefore, be folly to dogmatise on such -a matter, and I should be sorry to attempt to do so. - -Gordons, Butchers, Wilkinsons, and a host of others have their staunch -advocates. - -It is, however, unnecessary to run through the whole gamut; suffice -it to say that in my opinion, a good selection of, say four or five, -would be as effective as twenty or thirty. The main difficulty is local -prejudice, and the uncertain kind of feeling--that if you had not -discarded local favourites your blank day might have been fruitful. -Once, however, you have shaken yourself free from this feeling, you -will very soon gain full confidence in your theory. The blank day that -you are mourning would probably have been equally blank if you had been -equipped with all that local fancy could suggest. Can it be seriously -suggested that salmon can be credited with sufficient intelligence to -refuse a Silver Doctor or Silver Grey and to accept only a Wilkinson? -Is it not rather that the fly that was accepted was presented in a most -alluring manner, whilst the others which were rejected did not come -within the salmon's ken in such a way as to tempt him? Are we not all -too prone to change our flies on the slightest provocation, and are we -not all inclined to have our own favourite fetish--a fly that succeeds -with us simply because we give it ten chances to one of any other? The -vagaries of salmon are universally admitted; at one time they will -allow all lures to pass them unnoticed, and in the next half hour -may take any fly, of the proper size, suitably offered. The relative -temperatures of air and water have, I feel convinced, much to say with -regard to this. The fly in which an angler believes, and with which, -therefore, he perseveres most, will bring him more fish to bank than -any other. - -It goes without saying that the fly that is most in the water, in the -fishable parts of the pools, of course, will catch most fish. The -patient, persistent angler has that great advantage over his less -energetic brother of the angle. What angler is there, who ties his -own flies, who has not built up a combination of fur, feathers, and -silk by the river side, and, on trying the novelty, perhaps after days -of disappointment, has found it unexpectedly to succeed, and who has -thereupon fondly imagined that he has found a "medicine," only to be -equally disappointed the next time it is tried? Scrope, in his day, -seems to have been satisfied with five patterns. To come to later -times and later writers, Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Gathorne Hardy both -advocate four only. The colour of the bottom of the river, of the sky, -the brightness of the day, or its cloudiness, all these will affect our -choice of fly, whilst the size and volume of the water will affect our -choice of size. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -SALMON OF THE AWE. - - -THE River Awe, in Argyllshire, presents, to my mind, the perfection of -angling water. A fine brawling stream, a constant succession of pools, -some easy to fish, some only fishable by past masters, lovely, deep, -roach-backed salmon trout--all these are bad to beat, and when one adds -the fact that the run of the heavy fish takes place in June and July, -after the Orchy fish have run through, the two months of all others, -perhaps, when salmon fishing is enjoyable, I do not think any further -arguments need be urged to enforce my point. - -Were I a rich man--which I am not--I should feel inclined to do my best -to secure the fishing rights on that merry little river in preference -to many others of high repute. It is now many years since I first -wetted a line on the Awe. My old gillie, Black Peter, or the "Otter," -as he was frequently called, has, I fear, gaffed his last salmon and -drunk his last glass of whisky, and (save the mark!) he was mighty good -at both. I can see him now, in his somewhat tattered kilt, hanging -on to the porch of the Clachan, trying to steady himself, to give me -a right cordial welcome when I arrived. No more will he swim the Awe -when in spate to land a fish for the "Colonel" that had jumped itself -on the rocks on the opposite side of the river, some mile or two above -the bridge--a foolhardy feat in such water; but he was always full of -sport, and not infrequently, alas, equally full of whisky. - -The head of water in this bonnie little river is always maintained -fairly well by its being the affluent of Loch Awe. It is not, -therefore, so liable to the quick rises and falls of most rivers. The -loch is fed by the River Orchy, which flows into its north-eastern -end, whilst the Awe, after passing through the Pass of Brander, forms -its only outlet. All the Orchy fish, therefore, have to run up the Awe -to get to their own waters. These fish run early in the spring, never -dwelling for any length of time in the Awe; and, curiously enough, any -tyro could at once differentiate between the salmon of the two rivers, -though they have a common outlet to the sea. The Orchy fish are long, -lanky, and plain as compared with the short, thick-set beauties of the -Awe. I recollect once in Ireland coming across the same difference in -fish using the same _embouchure_. It was in Donegal, where the Crolly -and the Clady unite at Dum Drum. In this case also one lot of fish are -poor in shape, whilst the others are of totally different calibre. And, -moreover, in that case the fish never seem to lose their way. Seldom is -a Crolly fish found in the Clady, or _vice versa_. How accurate are the -instincts of nature! - -The lower reaches of the river Awe are very varied and very beautiful. -The river has churned its way through the solid rock. The two Otter -Pools, Arroch and the Long Pool, are good examples of the rock-hewn -gorges. In the latter, a fine quiet stretch of water, where local -knowledge of the lie of fish is valuable, switching or spey casting is -necessary if you wish to avoid being constantly hung up in the trees -above. The Red Pool, just above the stepping stones, can only be fished -from a plank staging fixed high above the water, and should you hook a -heavy one at the tail end and he means going down you will be thankful -enough when you have safely negotiated the return journey on the high -plank and reached the shore. Even then you have plenty of excitement in -store before you can hope to see him on the bank. The rocky sides of -the chasm do not form a racing track. But get him once safely down to -the Stepping Stone Pool and he should be yours. - -This same pool, by the way, is not altogether the place for a beginner, -for when the river is in order the aforesaid stepping stones have about -two feet or more of fairly heavy water over them; and as they are -well-worn boulders, somewhat inclined to be rounded on the top, and -are placed at a rather inconvenient distance from one another, they are -apt to make a nervous man think. One friend, I can well remember, when -I asked him to fish the pool, absolutely declined, asking me if I took -him for a "blooming acrobat." Below again we come to the Cruive Pool, -a long cast from another staging, the fish lying on the far side, just -about as far as an 18 ft. rod will get you. But be there in July when -the sun is setting, the redder the better, behind the hills on the far -side, and suddenly the silent oily water becomes broken with countless -rises, also on the far side. Put on then a cast of sea trout flies and -use your salmon rod, otherwise you will never reach them. Do not bother -with a landing net, but run them ashore on the shelving bank below you -and let your gillie take them off the hooks, and get to casting again -as soon as you can. The rise, though a good one, lasts, I assure you, -but a tantalisingly short time, and then the pool is as quiet and oily -as ever, and you would feel inclined to stake your bottom dollar that -there was not a sea trout within miles. - -The Thunder and Lightning and the Blue Doctor are the local lures, and -kill well. One year, when the river was low and the fish as stiff as -pokers, I tied a "medicine" of my own that I fondly hoped would form a -standard fly on that water, for its effect was admirable at that time. -It was an olive fly, body olive silk ribbed with silver, tag a golden -pheasant, dark olive hackles, a light mixed wing with golden pheasant -topping. Having caught several fish that year with this fly, I got -Messrs. Eaton and Deller to dress me a stock, and must candidly admit -that never since then have I caught a single salmon with the "olives." - -There are two pools, however, above the Long Pool that I have not -attempted to describe--the lower one the Yellow Pool, an ideal, leg -of mutton-shaped piece of water, where a beginner could not well go -wrong, and above it the Bridge Pool, so called because the railway line -crosses the neck of it. It was in this pool that I once had a rare bit -of sport. The whole of the water I have attempted to describe was then -hotel water, the fishermen staying at the inn having the right to fish -for a nominal sum--5_s._ a day I think it was. But the river had been -in fair order, and several good fish had been got. It was then rapidly -getting on the small side. The records of the previous week having -been published in the columns of the _Field_, the inevitable result -was a rush of ardent anglers, and the dozen or so of good pools--nice -water for two rods--was perfectly inadequate to accommodate the six -keen fishermen who had arrived to try their luck. It was necessary, -therefore, to "straw" for the pools, and to my lot fell the Bridge and -Yellow Pools. The next morning, on reaching my little beat, I found the -Yellow Pool far too low to be fishable, and there remained only the -Bridge Pool. Fishing it down carefully twice produced no result, so I -lit a pipe and clambered up on to the railway bridge to scan the water -below me. - -I was able, after a careful search with shaded eyes, to locate three -fish, all low down on the far side, lying behind a big stone below the -water and upon a slab. I could see at once that to reach them I should -have to do my utmost in the casting way, and should have, moreover, -to bring my line up through the centre arch of the bridge above me to -get out the length I wanted; but it seemed to me that if I could get -my fly to travel and work well over the oily water formed by the stone -it ought to be irresistible to any well-conducted fish. So, putting on -a small Thunder, I regained the water side. The second cast brought -up the smallest of the three fish, who made no bones about it, but -hooked himself handsomely, and was shortly after disposed of in the -tail of the pool; he weighed a bare 9 lb. The other two I knew were -better fish; one I had seen should be over 20 lb., the other, a very -pale-coloured fish, I could not see distinctly enough to form any idea -as to his weight. Back I went to my spying point, only just missing -being caught on the narrow bridge by a passing train, to see, to my -delight, that the other two fish were there, apparently undisturbed. -After a few casts the fly went exactly as I could have wished, and -there was the answering boil. "By Jove! that is the big one I think; -anyway, he is hooked, and well hooked, too." After a long, splashy -fight in the pool I got on terms with him, and he began to flounder, -and then I could see I had the light-coloured fish on. The big one was -still there, I hoped. The pale fish soon came to the gaff, and, getting -it nicely home with the left hand, I hauled him on to the bank, a good -fish, and in good condition, turning the scale at barely 17 lb. - -By this time the pool had had a good doing, and I judged it advisable -to give it a rest. The Yellow Pool, which I had fished down more -for occupation than for anything else, yielding me no response--and, -indeed, it was all I expected--I ate my luncheon, lit my pipe, and -proceeded once more to my vantage spot. There, sure enough, was the -big fish, undisturbed and immutable. Unable to restrain my impatience, -I sent a fly (the same one that had accounted for the two other fish) -on its errand of quest. But there was no movement, no reply, nor was -there to two other changes of fly I put over him. Having nowhere else -to fish, and being disinclined to try the Yellow Pool again, as I felt -sure it would be hopeless, I sat me down to cogitate and look over -my fly box. The day had become sultry and heavy, and clouds had been -rolling up, and suddenly there broke a regular deluge of rain, turning -the pool into a seething mass of big drops. Instinctively I ran for -shelter under the bridge, but before I reached it changed my mind and -determined to try once more for the big one in the heavy rainstorm. - -Hastily putting on a Thunder and Lightning two sizes larger, I sent him -out, braving the ducking I was undergoing. The first fly that reached -the spot was answered by a fine head and tail rise, and I was fast in -the big one. For a short time he played sulkily, either through not -grasping the situation or through trying to induce me to believe him to -be a small one. But I was not to be deluded, and, as he kept edging up -into the big water coming down the centre arch of the railway bridge, I -let him have a bit of the butt of my 18 ft. Castleconnell. But, with a -savage shake of his head and strong whisk of his broad tail, he was now -thoroughly aroused, and, despite all I could do, up he went, carefully -threading the central arch and working up for all he was worth into -the heavy water round the corner. My running line was thus against the -buttress, but, despite the imminent danger of being cut, there was -nothing to do but give him "beans." Fortunately for me my lucky star -was in the ascendant. A convenient patch of moss between the courses -of the bricks saved my line from the grinding process; the strain of -my supple rod, combined with the weight of the water, did the trick. I -felt him yield, reeled up as hard as I could, but, as he turned tail -and came down (fortunately for me through the same arch), I soon had -to give up reeling in in order to haul in the line by hand to keep -touch with him in his downward rush. Steadying the line when he got -ahead of me, I felt he was still on. Ten minutes of the fight against -rod, water, and luck had been enough for him, and, rolling on his -side, he swung round into the slack below me. I had had no chance till -then of taking my gaff off my back; luckily it came off my shoulders -quite freely, and the steel went home. As I hauled him out with some -difficulty, the hook, which had worn a big hole, came out of his jaw; -so my luck continued to the last. I could not make him scale 30 lb.; he -was a good 29-1/2 lb., and, inasmuch as I had never landed a fish of 30 -lb. or upwards, that part was somewhat aggravating. But, as I toiled -home that evening over the three miles of sleepers and rails to the inn -with the three fish weighing just about half-a-hundredweight, I several -times wished he had not been quite so heavy. - -The upper waters of the Awe, above Awe Bridge, formerly retained by the -Marquis of Breadalbane in his own hands, and therefore not open to the -general public, can nowadays be fished from Dalmally Hotel. Through -that nobleman's enterprise one of the two big cruives has been done -away with, and there is to be an additional slap nightly, between 6 -p.m. and 6 a.m. The results cannot but be both beneficial and prudent. -The characteristics of these upper waters are totally distinct from -those of the lower ones, being unusually broken and rapid, the pools -small, and not easily distinguishable. - -The pent up waters of Loch Awe, finding through the dark Pass of -Brander their only outlet to the sea, take full advantage of their -opportunity, and rush and boil over the boulder-bestrewn bed of the -river in a way that renders it imperative that your gut should be of -the best, your tackle sound, and your determination great that you will -not consent to be a mere follower of a hooked fish, but intend to give -him "beans" when necessary. - -The Black and Seal Pools and Verie are fairly typical of the upper Awe -waters; most of them are fished from planks rigged out on staging, -and wading is not generally practicable. A hooked fish can never be -reckoned on as caught, nor can you ever be certain of him until the -gaff has gone home and your fish lies on the bank beside you. This -remark, of course, applies in a greater or lesser degree to all salmon -fishing; but here the perils from heavy water, combined with the -rugged, rock-strewn bed, afford unusual chances of escape, and at the -same time add much to the sporting charms of a successful capture. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -DISAPPOINTING DAYS. - - -DISAPPOINTING Days! How well we all know them, and how terribly -frequent they are. Full of ardour and keen as mustard, we anticipate -great things, only to find that another day of disappointment is to -be added to the many already recorded in our angling diary. And it is -sometimes so difficult to anticipate them; all the omens seem to be -propitious, and yet the fates are inexorable. - -There are days admittedly hopeless, when the river side is only sought -for its companionship, and for the unknown possibilities of fortune; -and others that are worse than hopeless, when to try to fish for -salmon with a fly would be the height of absurdity, as, for instance, -when the river is in high spate, or so full of snow brue or ice as to -render your chances almost ridiculous. These, in a sense, are certainly -disappointing; but it is not of them that I would write, but rather of -those inexplicable days when all seems to be fairly propitious and yet -we come home "blank." - -Fortunately, fishermen are not easily browbeaten by unkind fortune, -and these black letter days only serve to give a renewed zest to -the future, in anticipation of the more fortunate days that we all -confidently believe to be in store for us. - -Everything seems on some occasions to go unaccountably wrong. The water -may be in order, the fish up, and yet at the end of the day you have -nothing but mishaps to record, your confident expectations have been -rudely dissipated, and you have met with a series of misfortunes. - -Perhaps on starting you find that you have left your flask or your -tobacco pouch lying on your mantelpiece, and imprudently have turned -back to secure them. That circumstance alone, in the eyes of your -gillie, will prove amply sufficient to give you a "disappointing day." -You have already discounted your luck, and must not grumble at the -result. On reaching the water side you find that you have brought -with you the wrong box of flies, and only have with you the one you -had discarded overnight as containing those of a size too large. -Well, you must make the best of it, mount the least objectionable of -those at your disposal, and proceed to wade out into the stream with -half your confidence gone. You soon realise that your waders, which -had already given you warning indications of hard wear, are leaking -somewhat unpleasantly. After working your way half down the pool you -discover that your pipe is smoked out, and as you are in need of the -consoling influence of tobacco, you propose to refill it, proceeding -to knock out the ashes on the butt of your rod; in doing so the pipe -slips through your fingers and disappears in the stream at your feet. -It is impossible to recover it, so you are pipeless, and therefore -inconsolable all day. - -Some disappointments are sheer ill fortune; some we bring upon -ourselves. You are, for example, casting mechanically, and therefore -badly; moreover, you are not watching your fly, nevertheless you get -a rise. You step back a yard or so, in order to be sure of getting -the length right for the next cast, and in so doing forget the slimy -green boulder that you had just negotiated on your way down. An awkward -struggle, in which you have to use the butt of your rod as a stick to -avoid an upset, does not serve to mend matters, but rather to unsteady -you the more. At any rate, you have escaped a real ducking and are -proportionately thankful. - -Then, your mental balance being somewhat upset, you cast over your -rising fish; he comes up well, a good boil, but you are too anxious -and keen, and fairly pull the fly out of the fish's mouth. You have -pricked him, and you will hardly get another rise out of him. Still -there is a Will-o'-the-wisp kind of luck awaiting you, for near the -tail of the pool you get a fair head-and-tail rise, and are fast in a -good fish. He won't come up into your pool, but insists on making down, -through the broken water, into the pool below. Having guided him to the -best of your ability through the intricacies of the run, you hasten to -get ashore to get on terms with him, keeping your rod point well up. -More haste, less speed. The fact of your mental balance being upset -reacts upon your bodily balance, and you catch the toe of your brogue -on a submerged rock whilst working your way ashore, and this time you -go a real "howler." Thoroughly wet, with a big chunk cut out of your -wrist in your fall, you pick yourself up to find that you have broken -your favourite rod point. Disconsolately you begin to reel up, the -broken top meanwhile floating on your line in the water. - -Still a gleam of luck: the fish is on, and, moreover, is complacently -careering round the head of the new pool. Thoroughly aroused, you take -the greatest care in getting on to terms with him again. Your rod has -now a somewhat quaint appearance, like a dismasted yacht. Half the -play of it is gone, and the top swirls about on the water in a most -disconcerting manner. With set teeth, you grimly determine that, come -what may, you will land that salmon. And you meet with some measure of -reward, for after a somewhat prolonged duel, he begins to flop about on -the surface, and to show unmistakable signs of having had enough of it. - -With the greatest care you select the best spot for gaffing him, and -successfully get the gaff free from your shoulder. Your now stiff and -stodgy rod is, however, not best suited for bringing him in to the -gaff. It is some little time before you get anything, like a fair -chance. Then, with the rod in your left hand, your trusty gaff in -the right, he is led in, down stream, and he flops about. The hold, -alas, has been somewhat worn, and, just as you are making ready for -your stroke, the fish makes one more roll and surge and is free. A -wild scrape with the gaff only scores a scale or two from his side, -and, slowly gliding out of sight into the deep water, he disappears -for ever. You feel that you have only yourself to thank for such a -_denouement_, but that is scant consolation. - -[Illustration: THE FALL'S POOL.] - -Damp and annoyed, you sit yourself down by the river side to try to -make matters straight. Where is that waxed silk? At home, of course. -So you have to content yourself with sacrificing a good length of the -taper of your line in order to make a temporary splice. - -Taking all things into consideration, your efforts to rig up a jury top -are reasonably successful, and it might yet kill a fish. If only you -had a pipe to console yourself with, things might look brighter and -better; but the loss of your pipe is an undeniably severe one. The pool -that you are now fishing has a shelving stone bank on your side, the -deep water being opposite to you. It is ideal water to fish, as the fly -works out of the heavy stream into the shallowing water on your side. -The wading, moreover, is easy, and the pool a long one, so that there -is every probability of your being able to yet retrieve your fortunes, -and of being able to account for a heavy fish before you have done with -it. - -Still keeping mounted the fly that, contrary to your expectations, -had already deluded the former fish, you wade out and recommence -operations. The cast, however, demands a certain length of line to -cover the fish, and your rod is hardly the man it was; the breeze has -increased a good deal, and is directly behind you; still, you manage to -cover the water fairly well, and are beginning to get on better terms -with yourself. A few yards down there is a good rise and a welcome -heavy "rugg." The fly, however, comes away, and you are left lamenting. -The long pool is steadily fished down, and some hundred yards or so -lower you get another bold and confident rise. You strike, and the fly -again comes back. Reeling up, sadly you wade ashore, and, on examining -your fly, find the barb gone. - -In all probability it was broken at the head of the pool on the -shelving bank behind you, the strong wind at your back and the long -cast with a weak rod having brought about the misfortune. Why, in the -name of goodness, had you not examined the fly when it came back after -your last rise? No doubt but that the barb had gone long before that. -Mentally cursing your carelessness, objurgating Dame Fortune, and -longing for the companionship of a pipe, there is nothing to be done -but to mount another fly and to fish, albeit somewhat mechanically, the -next stretch of water. But there is now no response. That inexplicable -co-relation between the temperature of the air and the water that seems -to cause salmon to rise has undergone some modification, the breeze has -dropped, and the mists are beginning to rise. Do what you will, not a -fish will move. - -Had your luck been in the ascendant, or had you paid more respect to -the superstitions of your attendant gillie, things might have been -so different. You have had three good chances, each of which, under -normal circumstances, might have been fairly expected to score, and -that with flies that, in your judgment, were a size too large. Fate had -determined that you were to have a "disappointing day," and you cannot -say that you have not scored one. - -In September, 1902, having received an invitation from an old friend to -fish one of the upper beats of the Spean, I journeyed up North, full of -eagerness. I had long wished to try that river. My host had informed me -that that river was low, but that everything pointed to broken weather -and rain; and though this forecast was true as regards some portions of -Great Britain, the change never came during the fortnight that I spent -on Spean side, that bonnie river getting finer and finer day by day, -until at last it became a mere shadow of its former self. At the time -of my arrival everything looked promising. Heavy clouds were gathering, -and it looked as if the promised rainfall could not be long delayed. -At the lodge I found, besides my host, another angler whom I am also -privileged to call an old friend, and in such company I knew that, -whether sport were good or no, we should at least have a jolly time. -That evening we discussed flies and angling details as only fishermen -can, and with a last look out of the window at the murky sky, and a tap -to my barometer as I turned in somewhat early, looking forward to the -morrow with the keenest anticipation. - -Early astir next morning, I drew up my blinds to find an almost -cloudless sky and a bright sun. All the evening promise had been -dissipated, and the rain-laden clouds had wandered out to sea to -discharge their precious stores where least required. The river, though -small, was, nevertheless, still fishable, and there were plenty of -salmon up. At the lowest pool on the beat I put up my rod and fixed -up the local "medicine"--a Thunder and Lightning--and, wading out, -fished the pool down carefully, without result. My host then fished it, -also blank. Several fish had shown at the tail, but we could not get a -rise out of them. Then we wandered up the beat, trying all the likely -pools in turn. In the mill pool I managed to get into a small salmon, -about 7 lb. in weight, and duly got him out; otherwise our efforts -were entirely unrewarded. It was a great thing to learn the pools, and -to know where it was safe to wade, etc., and so I felt that the day -was not a lost one as far as I was concerned, though of course less -interesting to my friend S. and to my host. As we came home the clouds -again began to gather, to lure us, Will-o'-the-wisp-like, on to further -baseless hope, as the following bright, hot morning amply testified. - -And so the days wore on, rocks gradually appearing where water had -flowed before, shallows becoming stony strands, and the fish more -pool-locked than ever. Finer grew the tackle used, smaller the flies. -We were really learning the geography of the bed of the river to some -weariness. After a few days S. gave up trying for the salmon, and -contented himself with trout waders and a trout rod as being more -productive of amusement. Being, however, of a more dogged temperament, -I stuck to the salmon, fishing with the smallest flies I could get, -and almost trout gut. By means of these allurements I did succeed in -amusing myself, rising and hooking quite a respectable number of fish, -but somehow or other I never could get a good hold of them; all were -lightly hooked, and got off in playing or eventually broke me. One fish -I was particularly annoyed with; he was a heavy one, well over 20 lb., -and might have been 30 lb. I had often seen him showing in the pool at -the end of the Red Bank. This formed really the head of the Mill Pool, -but was now cut off from the main part of the Mill Pool by a daily -lowering shallow some 1 ft. to 18 in. deep, through which sharp-cutting -rocks jutted at intervals. In mid-stream quite a highish bank of stones -was now disclosed, and on our side had quite cut off the flow of water -and formed a large backwater. The pool was fishable with a short line, -and the high, rocky bank behind formed a good shelter whilst working -down the very rough bank side. About four o'clock one afternoon I saw -my friend show twice in the head of the pool, and determined to give -him another trial with the little Popham that had already risen fish. -He took it grandly, with a head-and-tail rise, right up in the roughish -water in the neck, and then proceeded to sail round the diminished -proportions of the deep hole. He played very heavily, but did not -jigger or show any signs of being lightly hooked. After some time of -this kind of work, which was taking but little out of him, my light -cast forbidding any heroic measures on my part, I began to wonder how -I could manage to kill him. He could have got up into the pool above, -where it would have been an easier matter to deal with him, but no arts -of mine could induce him up stream. I thought that if I could get him -down into the backwater I could more readily manage to play and kill -him, so I walked him steadily down stream, and he followed for some -distance like a lamb. Suddenly, however, he made up his mind for a run, -or, realising the object of my manoeuvre, off he went, churning his -way across the wide shallow, his back fin almost showing, bound for -the main stream on the other side. Sixty yards of line were soon gone, -then seventy, then eighty, and, as I could not follow, it was merely -a question of when he would break me, when apparently he changed his -mind, turned clean round and ran back through the shallow towards me -for all he was worth. Holding the rod as high as I could to prevent -my line being cut by the half-submerged, jagged rocks, and paying in -line as hard as I could at the same time, I got him within twenty -yards of the spot where he was hooked, the little Popham holding well, -and with no slack line. Just as my gillie and I were congratulating -ourselves that we had him now, up came the point of my rod, and he was -gone. The light cast had been terribly frayed by his mad rush across -the shallow water, and he retained my Popham and left me lamenting. It -certainly was hard lines, when all the dangers of the run had been so -successfully overcome and hooked fish were so scarce. - -It is useless, however, to repine in such circumstances, and after all, -in a very dead time, he had given me a good twenty minutes to half an -hour of sport. My friend S. came up just as we parted company, and -condoled with me. That same afternoon my host managed to land a 21 lb. -fish on a stouter tackle, and he was not very red--the fish I mean, -not my host!--although he must have been up some time. - -The same thing went on all the next week. A few desultory showers did -not help us much, and at the end of a fortnight's solid work I could -only show two small salmon of 7 lb. apiece, my host one of 21 lb., and -S., who had confined his attention to the trout after the first few -days, had not landed any fish. And so it is--too often, alas!--that -our hopes are doomed to disappointment. There were the fish, plenty -of them; but also there were the gradually dwindling river and the -expanding river bed. Nothing was wanting save a kindly and copious fall -of rain--so much needed by three ardent anglers--rain that was falling -only too copiously down South, whilst the normally wet North-West coast -of Scotland was languishing for want of it. - -A dear fishing friend of mine took a rod for February one year, and -lived at Brawl Castle for the month at the rate of about L1 per day. -During the whole month the river and even Loch More were ice-bound, and -his rods reposed in the box. The trip must have cost him the best part -of L100. So our Spean experience was as nothing to his. - -And these disappointments make an admirable foil for those happy, -though not too frequent, times when, for a wonder, river, fish, and -weather are all we could desire them to be. How little we should value -them were they of constant recurrence. So, consoling ourselves with -these reflections, we enjoy to the full the pleasure of the company of -kindred spirits, tie flies, grease lines, and fettle up rods generally, -yarn away our fishermen's tales, drink nightly the toast of "Rain, and -lots of it," and retire at night, confident, despite all, of the morrow. - -Perchance your next holiday up North you may find your pet river in -sullen, heavy flood, the skies pouring down upon the devoted hills a -constant deluge. Each day you mark on the river bank the water level, -only to find your mark submerged the next day. Supposing even it were -to stop now. Could the river fine down sufficiently before the end of -your stay to enable you to have a glimmering hope of a fish? It is -possible, but doubtful. Next day's deluge settles the matter, and you -are done. But still, it is a poor heart that never rejoices. Next -time, after such a run of bad luck, you are bound to have an innings. -Men who have the instincts of sportsmen and who deserve the name have -a marvellous power of rising superior to adverse circumstances, and -consequently get their reward, whilst the dead-hearted give it up -as a bad job. Come good or bad luck, let your heart be in the right -place. You will be able to extract from either much enjoyment and some -experience, and will be just as keen to take the luck that comes the -very next opportunity you get of testing it. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -SEA TROUT FISHING AND ITS CHANCES. - - -FOR his size and weight there is no more sporting fish in the wide -world than the sea trout. His play when hooked is so full of vivacity, -so strenuous, you never know what he is going to do next. Half the time -of the contest he spends out of the water in the air. He rushes hither -and thither in the most unexpected manner, and having no particular -stronghold or shelter to make for, such as his cousins, the brown -trout, possess in their rivers, he tries by resourceful activity to rid -himself of the irksome restraint of the rod and line. His rise, too, is -so determined and so dashing--no quiet sucking down of a dun without -much perceptible body movement, but rather a rapid dash to secure an -article of food before his comrades can get it. Not much need to strike -with him; he hooks himself pretty effectually by his own efforts. Given -a single-handed split cane rod, fine tackle, and plenty of fresh run -sea trout in a Highland river, and you have the prospect of as good a -day's sport as any you ever enjoyed. You never know what the next cast -will produce; it may be a half-pounder or something twelve times as big. - -The worst of sea trout, from the angler's point of view, is that they -are rather gregarious and keep in shoals; they are always anxious to -move up to the still deeps they love so well, and you may just miss the -shoal--they may be just above your water. But if you do happen to hit -them off, you will have no reason to regret it. Not many seasons ago I -was invited by a friend to shoot with him on one of the many Western -islands near Mull. Just before I reached the lodge, in my somewhat long -drive up from the landing place, I met my friend, rod in hand, by a -deep-looking, leg-of-mutton-shaped pool where his stream found its -outlet into the brackish waters of the arm of the sea that looked like -a land-locked loch. - -"Get out of the trap; I've got a treat for you," were his first words -of greeting; and then he explained that they had had, the evening -before, the first run of the sea trout, and that, standing on a little -rock in the brackish water, he had caught quantities of fine fish. -Nothing loth to stretch my arms and legs, I took the proffered rod -with many thanks, and fished the pool down carefully without a rise -of any kind, or a sign of a fish. Putting on another fly, I tried it -down again, and also the brackish water at its mouth, with similar -results. My friend had foreborne to throw a fly on it until my arrival, -and so he chaffed me unmercifully at my want of success after the -extraordinary sport he had experienced the afternoon before. I told him -that I did not believe there was a trout in the water, and as he had -the netting rights, and had come down in the boat with the nets in it, -we carefully netted the pool. My host was so convinced that the sea -trout were there, that he offered to bet me any odds against a blank -draw. He would, however, have lost had I taken his bet, for sure enough -there was not a single fish in the whole pool. Whilst I made my way up -to the lodge, he went up to try some of the higher pools, but not a -rise did he get. The whole big run, shoal like, had run clean up into a -small lochan, of which his stream was the outlet. - -But when you happen to find them just in the right place, where you -are, then you may congratulate yourself, if you have not too big a -rod with you, for half the pleasure of angling is to suit your rod -and tackle to the river and the fish. It is giving the show away and -discounting half your sport to be "over-rodded." To fish, for instance, -in the upper beats of, say, the Helmsdale, in Sutherland, with an 18 -ft. rod is absurd. A 16 ft. or 14 ft. grilse rod will enable you to -cover the water well, and the sport you will get from the 9 lb. to -14 lb. salmon in the well-stocked river will be greatly enhanced. A -powerful 18 ft. Castleconnel will choke the fish unadvisedly. You might -as well use a sledge hammer to crack an egg. So, too, with sea trout, -a 14 ft. double-handed rod robs you of the better part of the sport -and gives you no real satisfaction. On the other hand, if, as you may -well do, you happen to get into a grilse or small salmon with your -small rod and forty yards of line, then the sport you get will be worth -living for, and will often recur to your remembrance in after times. -You will need all your knowledge and resource not to be broken; you -will in all probability have no gaff with you, and will have to tail -him out, or, better still, persuade him to kick himself ashore on a -shelving beach when played out. And it is extraordinary how little -pressure of the rod is needed in such cases to keep his head the right -way, and each kick and wriggle sends him further up the beach. Then -getting between him and the river, having laid down your rod, you can -put him out of his misery and despatch him. - -A few seasons ago, when grouse shooting in the North, I was kindly -given an opportunity to fish the Glentana beats of the Dee. The river -was low, and as it was then early September, what fish were up were -red and ugly, but a change to the river side was welcome, and I had -never seen the pools in that part of the water. So, donning my waders, -I took with me a 10 ft. 6 in. rod, cane-built, by Walbran, some light -grilse and trout casts, and the smallest grilse flies I had by me. I -also fortunately put in my bag a small box of Test flies. Nothing had -been done for days in any of the Ballater waters, or indeed in any -part of that brawling river Dee. The few anglers who had gone out had -religiously kept to the orthodox salmon rod, salmon gut, and big flies, -and had caught nothing. When I got out of the dogcart and put up my -little rod I noticed a smile upon the river keeper's face, but nothing -daunted thereby, I followed him down the slopes to a beautiful pool -below. - -I put on a baby Jock Scott, and fished the pool most carefully. At -the tail of the pool a big red fish gave a sullen kind of plunge, but -not at my fly, for it was not near him at the time. I put the Jock -Scott over him without result, and then tried him with a tiny Silver -Doctor; but he ignored that also; and so I wandered down from pool to -pool, learning a good deal of the river bed, owing to the lowness of -the water. After a bit, I saw what I took to be the rise of a trout on -the far side, so taking off my "Doctor," I opened my Test fly box and -examined its contents. I hit off a gold-ribbed hare's ear, dressed on -a 00 hook, which I thought might do, and wading out, had to make my -little rod do all it could to reach the required spot. I fished the -water above first, in order to soak my fly and make it sink. When I -reached the place where I thought I had seen the rise, I fished with -more care, and soon as my fly was working round below me, I felt a -vigorous tug; something had taken it under water without showing. I -was soon convinced that it was no trout that had laid hold, and got -ashore as quickly as I could, but I had only forty yards of line and a -little backing, so was soon compelled to take to the water again, as -my fish was playing sullenly on the far side of the stream. I put on -what pressure I dare in order to get on better terms with him, and this -roused him a bit, for a vigorous run up to the head of the pool nearly -ran my line out, although I was wading as deep as I dared do. My friend -the keeper now became interested, and waded in alongside me. - -Though big, the fish was rather craven-hearted, and I was soon able to -get ashore again. However, his weight was great, and when he got into -the stream down he went into the next pool, I following, rod point up -and reel freely running. There were about forty minutes of this slow -kind of play and several incursions into the water, and then I began -to see my backing on the reel perilously diminishing. The 00 hook, -however, still held well, and at last I had the satisfaction of seeing -the big brute floundering on the surface. The keeper, meanwhile, had -gone lip to the house to get a gaff, and, walking backwards from the -river, I tried to drag the exhausted salmon within his reach; but, -although the rod point was about level with the reel, the dead weight -of the fish was more than I could manage. So my friend the keeper, -deploring the irreparable damage that must have been done to my rod, -waded in, thigh deep, and drove the steel into about as ugly and as red -an old cock fish as I have ever seen. His under jaw was crooked, and -he looked like an evil monster. He weighed just 17-1/2 lb. As soon as the -strain was off my Walbran rod it sprang up as straight and as limber as -ever, to the great astonishment of the keeper, who had, oddly enough, -never come across a rod of that description. Burying our red fish in -the bracken, we went down a bit lower, and, two pools below the house, -got out another cock fish of 10 lb., and returning home secured a third -in the very same pool where I had caught the first; this proved to -be a hen fish of 12 lb. They were all red and ugly, but the last one -was, comparatively speaking, quite passable. As soon as she was gaffed -we looked up the first fish; he had turned quite black, and was a -gruesome sight. So, leaving the three fish with the keeper, to kipper -or do what he liked with, I got into the dogcart and drove home. Of -course, these fish would not have come to the gaff in the way they did -had they been spring fish, or lately arrived in the water; but, all the -circumstances being taken into account, the 21st September, 1900, will -always recur to my mind as a real sporting day. Sundry other salmon has -this little rod accounted for, and it is as true as steel and fit for -any fight. - -Such incidents as these add very materially to the interest of sea -trout fishing, for, as I have said, you never can tell what your next -cast may produce. It is small wonder, therefore, that good sea trout -angling is so eagerly sought after and so hard to get. Your best chance -of getting such sport is to go a bit further afield, to the Shetland -Isles, the Orkneys, or somewhere a little out of the beaten track. - -[Illustration: FINIS] - -[Illustration] - - - - -_L'ENVOI_ - - -_Seasons come and go, each in its turn bringing us nearer to the last, -those that remain for our enjoyment growing steadily and inevitably -fewer. But the instinct of sport, inbred in most of us, dies hard. I, -too, would echo Mr. Sydney Buxton's words, and hope that when my time -comes, and my loved rods hang useless in their cases, Old Charon will -permit me to loiter awhile on the Styx, and cast one last fly on its -dark and turgid waters._ - - - - -ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR. - -UNIFORM WITH "CHATS ON ANGLING." - -STALKING SKETCHES. - -With Numerous Illustrations by the Author. - - -CONTENTS. - - I.--INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. - II.--THE FOREST AND SANCTUARY. - III.--THE STALKER. - IV.--PERSONAL EQUIPMENT. - V.--THE SHOT AND THE GRALLOCH. - VI.--DEER AND THEIR ANTLERS. - VII.--PECULIARITIES OF DEER. - VIII.--HIND SHOOTING. - IX.--DEERHOUNDS AND WOUNDED DEER. - X.--THE SPIRACULA OF DEER. - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - OVER THE PASS (Frontispiece). - BY THE LOCH SIDE. - BRINGING HIM IN. - THE POOL IN THE SANCTUARY. - A FAMILY PARTY. - A GOOD REST. - CREEPING DOWN THE HILL. - SPYING. A WET CRAWL. - A DOWN-HILL SHOT. - HEAD OF RED DEER STAG (44 Points). - CURIOUS ONE-HORNED STAG. - DEFIANCE. - THE HUMMEL AND THE HORNED STAG. - SENTINELS OF THE FOREST. - CHILDREN OF THE MIST. - THE LAST ACT. - - -_EXTRACTS FROM PRESS NOTICES._ - -"The book will be found a welcome addition to the sportsman's -library."--_Liverpool Mercury._ - -"The author's full-page illustrations are delightful things--pictures -in the best sense of the word."--_Newcastle Chronicle._ - -"Capt. Hart-Davis's delightfully breezy pages contain, besides a -quantity of advice to novices, and, for that matter, others besides -novices, a number of excellently written accounts of stalks and good -stories of the 'hull.' The writer's pencil sketches add not a little -to the attractiveness of a volume that is sure to take its place -on the shelves of the enthusiastic stalker.... Every page contains -sound and wholesome advice on the sport and everything connected with -it."--_County Gentleman._ - -"The seventeen full-page illustrations are a pleasure to look at, -filled as they are with the very breath and spaciousness of the lonely -haunts of the deer."--_Glasgow Herald._ - -"Such a compleat stalker is Capt. Hart-Davis, and many who -view his hardier craft with scant interest, or even with scant -sympathy, may spend a delightful hour in looking over his admirable -drawings."--_Yorkshire Observer._ - -"The prime essential to make a book worth reading is that the author -should have familiar knowledge of his subject; but when he adds -just that degree of enthusiasm which renders him eloquent as well, -the reader deems himself fortunate. Capt. Hart-Davis, however, adds -a third grace, for he is his own artist likewise, and has drawn a -series of beautiful illustrations, rich in the true atmosphere of the -Highlands."--_Notts Guardian._ - -"Without bringing Landseer into comparison, there are a number of -drawings here, which for their presentment of stag and hind, of -moor and fell, and misty mountain side may fairly be placed against -anything of the kind from the pencils of Ansdell or Frederick -Taylor."--_Bookseller._ - -"One great merit that the book possesses is originality, for although -the subject is by no means new, the author's treatment of it imparts -a freshness which carries the reader from page to page with sustained -interest."--_The Field._ - -"His chapters on 'Personal Equipment' and 'The Shot' are excellent, and -ought to be closely studied by all novices at this sport."--_Sporting -and Dramatic News._ - -"Capt. Hart-Davis deserves thanks not only for what he has written and -sketched, but also for what his book suggests of the sport which holds -the first place in Scotland."--_Land and Water._ - -"The surroundings of stags in the forests of Scotland are excellently -represented in 'Stalking Sketches,' a reprint of articles contributed -to _The Field_, illustrated by the author's drawings, which for the -most part have considerable artistic merit. The articles justify -republication, being pleasantly written and full of sound advice.... -The volume is attractively got up, and should please many besides -deerstalkers."--_Athenaeum._ - -"Capt. Hart-Davis has now published in book form his very interesting -series of 'Stalking Sketches' which originally appeared in _The -Field_. The volume is very well illustrated with a number of full-page -original pictures by the author. Everyone interested in our forests and -stalking, whether through the good fortune of personal experience, or -merely through the literature of sport, will welcome these articles in -their present form."--_Dundee Advertiser._ - -"Sportsmen who love the red deer will give a ready welcome to this -readable book. It is on every page lively with the interest born of an -intimate practical knowledge of the sport, and is illustrated by many -drawings, which are not only noticeable from their artistic merits, -but have a didactic value of their own for naturalists and young -sportsmen. The work makes a valuable addition to the literature of its -subject."--_Scotsman._ - - - London: HORACE COX, Windsor House, Bream's Buildings, E.C. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. All weights have a space between -the number and the "lb." This was also done with "ft." and "in." - -Page 56, duplicate word "a" removed from text. Original read (a a -smiling rubicund) - -Page 63, "circumstanses" changed to "circumstances" (upon several -circumstances) - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chats on Angling, by H. V. Hart-Davis - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATS ON ANGLING *** - -***** This file should be named 43874.txt or 43874.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/8/7/43874/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Emmy and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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