Dedication
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS
FROM THE
Common-Place-Book
OF THE
HOUGHTON FISHING CLUB
ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO HIS
BROTHER ANGLERS
BY A
MEMBER OF THE CLUB.
Maxims and Hints for an Angler: By a Bungler
[Loosely thrown out, in order to provoke contradiction, and elicit truth from the expert.]
I.
Are there any fish in the river to which you are going?
II.
Having settled the above question in the affirmative, get some person who knows the water to show you whereabout the fish usually lie; and when he shows them to you, do not show yourself to them.
III.
Comparatively coarse fishing will succeed better when you are not seen by the fish, than the finest when they see you.
IV.
Do not imagine that, because a fish does not instantly dart off on first seeing you, he is the less aware of your presence; he almost always on such occasions ceases to feed, and pays you the compliment of devoting his whole attention to you, whilst he is preparing for a start whenever the apprehended danger becomes sufficiently imminent.
V.
By wading when the sun does not shine, you may walk in the river within eighteen or twenty yards below a fish, which would be immediately driven away by your walking on the bank on either side, though at a greater distance from him.
VI.
When you are fishing with the natural May-fly, it is as well to wait for a passing cloud, as to drive away the fish by putting your fly to him in the glare of the sunshine, when he will not take it.
VII.
If you pass your fly neatly and well three times over a trout, and he refuses it, do not wait any longer for him: you may be sure that he has seen the line of invitation which you have sent over the water to him, and does not intend to come.
VIII.
If your line be nearly taut, as it ought to be, with little or no gut in the water, a good fish will always hook himself, on your gently raising the top of the rod when he has taken the fly.