26
TROUT FISHING
succeeded in his destruction ; no smaller dared, and no larger one cared, to turn this
fish fel-
so he held his own retreat, which after his removal was speedily occupied by another. This rule of particular retreats of trout applies of course most forcibly to the very small streams, or to such portions of the larger ones as are from their subdivisions of the main cur-
low
and
out,
—
them however
rent allied to
;
any
will
river
to
keep in mind the rule on be of much importance,
since it will teach us to pick out, as it were, the very fish we particularly desire, rather than leave our fly to the many who may pursue it, and all of whom often from over-eagerness in the chase will fail in catching it. I believe
we may
safely assert that
when
a
fly,
worm, grub, or no matter what attractive article 3f food is cast into a pool, where many trout in different parts of it are lying, all take a look at it, and prove sufiiciently attractive to him, the largest trout will seize it; if he declines the offer, the next trout in size and power is permitted his refusal of it, and so on till some young green-horn starts off", and in case of the baited hook, discovers his mistake too late. This is often seen when one is fishing with the worm or artificial minnow, the latter especially as being more exciting, a bright piece of metal is drawn swiftly through a pool, and in an instant all the fish seem in movement, and if the master of the pool is inclined to take so large a mouthful, he at once mingles in the race, and immediately the small fish in fear will be if it
—