ANGLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14222, 9 December 1911, Page 6

ANGLING NOTES.

TACTICS.

OBr "Iro.v ■■■Blvx.")

(SPECIALLT WRITTEN' FOR "XH_ PRESS."). Plain go-ahead casting, across and up the width of "a river, is all very ivell in its way,-but it is not quite.tho most interesting way 0 f fishing, and frequently there are oocasions when a little consideration will add weight to the basket. I n such cases we should proceed more carefully, and suit our tactics to the moment's need. , Scene one is on a clear rapid 6tream, perhaps forty feet wide at this particular place;. on my side a foot-high shingle bank, nnd opposite a willow protection work, where recently the branches hare been lopped, and wired go that they may lie in a continuous lino down _tream*along the blink. Twothirds of the distance up the water rushes straight into the protection work; there to be turned through a deep swirling pool, and afterwards into 0 long swift run. A hundred and a half jards below is a bridge, beneath which horribio wire entanglements used nowadays about such spots. At tho loft of the rush of water, against the willows, '.there is a smooth space of surface, and as the fly dragged across it was followed by a foiir-poundo[. If ono is not sure that any trout exist in a certain length of water, a good way to find out is by fishing across and down with a couple of biggish flics. By giving an appearance of a struggle to escape, the drag against tho current sterns to render them specially attractive, and the size of the flie3 making them easily seen, even the most unlnmgry fish will often reveal their presence by following out uear the edge. This part of tho river in question is very frequently dry or reduced to the merest trickle.. in summer, but as a rule a.fresh supply of trout runs up to restock the. water, and in the early months of a season, you try to discover by the quickest means if t'-fj has occurred. Having found that tho pool held at least one good fish, I wont crouching back from tho edge, as I had approached, and "circling, round, returned from below to cast upstream in a more orthodox style. The proper fly was a matter of doubt, but,when the brown, beetles aro about, a "coch-y-bondhu" generally will kill, so I tied one on as strotcher, with a red governor" for the drop fly. It was probable that tho place contained other fish,' so accordingly I began at tlie extreme ond. and was rewarded by a two-pounder almost at the first cast. He being luckily well-hooked, was pulled instantly down tho run and dealt with firmly; and the wator above was not disturbed. Meanwhile another, about half a pound larger than tho first, showed himself as he rose at some solitary fly, and the same set of tactics wero equally successful in his case. Then coming to the spot whero .1 had seen the fourpounder, he rose at once, and I missed him with exceeding clumsiness. Of course f,ho "tactic" suitable to tho occasion was "rest him for a few moments," so it seemed, fitting to make them pass by slowly filling a pip©. This I knew perfectly well did not take long enough, but in lighting up I dropped the box of matches, which scattered over tho stones.' - Hang it, no; surely the shadoof good old Isaac Walton must have sent-this for a sign, and putting down tho rod I picked-up every match with thoughtfuj care. When the-job had been finished there could be no doubt that sufficient timo had elapsed, and persuading myself that I -was fated to catch that fish, I put the fly over, him again/- He rose willingly and after trying hard'to smash tho cast among tho willow branches, swapi down and down until we were close to" the' bridge. Affairs became hazardous; -the'Vator. "was too I shallow to get tho landing net - under him conveniently, and' another 'dozen [yards,would bring him into .tho wires by the bridge. However, 'my . luckheld, and gradually he was edged- out on to the shingle, apparently to the great satisfaction of tho occupants of threo vehicles upon,'the- bridge.