Maxims and Hints on Angling, Chess, Shooting, and Other Matters Part 3

VIII.

Feeling the first cold drop giving notice to your great toe that in less than two minutes your boot will be full of water.

IX.

Going out on a morning so fine that no man would think of taking his water-proof cloak with him--and then, before catching any fish, being thoroughly wet through by an unexpected shower.

X.

When you cannot catch any fish--being told by your attendant of the excellent sport which your predecessor had on the same spot, only a few days before.

XI.

Having brought with you from town a large a.s.sortment of expensive artificial flies--and being told on showing them to an experienced native, that "They are certainly very beautiful, but that none of them are of any use here."

XII.

After trying in vain to reach a trout which is rising on the opposite side of the river--at last walking on; and before you have gone 100 yards, looking back, and seeing a more skilful friend catch him at the first throw.--Weight 3 lbs. 2 oz.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Looking back, and seeing a more skilful friend catch him at the first throw."

To face page 30.]

XIII.

Having stupidly trodden on the top of your rod--and then finding that the spare top, which you have brought out with you in the b.u.t.t, belongs to the rod which you have left at home, and will not fit that which you are using.

XIV.

Having steered safely through some very dangerous weeds a fish which you consider to weigh at least 3 lbs., and having brought him safely to the very edge of the bank,--then seeing him, when he is all but in the landing-net, make a plunge, which in a moment renders all your previous skill of no avail, and puts it out of your power to verify the accuracy of your calculations as to his weight.

XV.

Fis.h.i.+ng with the blowing-line when the wind is so light that your fly is seldom more than two yards from you, or when the wind is so strong that it always carries your fly up into the air, before it comes to the spot which you wish it to swim over.

XVI.

Wis.h.i.+ng to show off before a young friend whom you have been learnedly instructing in the mysteries of the art, and finding that you cannot catch any fish yourself, whilst he (an inexperienced hand) hooks and lands (by mere accident of course) a very large one.

XVII.

Attempting to walk across the river in a new place without knowing exactly whereabouts certain holes, which you have heard of, are. Probing the bottom in front of you with the handle of your landing-net,--and finding it very soft.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Probing the bottom in front of you with the handle of your landing-net."

To face page 32.]

XVIII.

Going some distance for three days' fis.h.i.+ng, on the two first of which there is bright suns.h.i.+ne and no wind, and then finding that the third, which opens with "a southerly wind and a cloudy sky," is the day which a neighbouring farmer has fixed upon for was.h.i.+ng two hundred sheep on the shallow where you expected to have the best sport.

XIX.

Being allowed to have one day's fis.h.i.+ng in a stream, the windings of which are so many, that it would require half a dozen different winds to enable you to fish the greater part of it, from the only side to which your leave extends.

XX.

Finding, on taking your book out of your pocket, that the fly at the end of your line is not the only one by many dozen which you have had in the water, whilst you have been wading rather too deep.

XXI.

Wading half an inch deeper than the tops of your boots, and finding afterwards that you must carry about with you four or five quarts in each, or must sit down on the wet gra.s.s whilst your attendant pulls them off, in order that you may empty them, and try to pull them on again.

XXII.

Jumping out of bed very early every morning, during the season of the May-fly, to look at a weatherc.o.c.k opposite to your window, and always finding the wind either in the north or east.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You must sit down on the wet gra.s.s whilst your attendant pulls them off, in order," &c.

To face page 34.]

XXIII.

Having just hooked a heavy fish, when you are using the blowing-line, and seeing the silk break about two feet above your hand; then watching the broken end as it travels quickly through each successive ring, till it finally leaves the top of your rod, and follows the fish to the bottom of the river.

XXIV.

Receiving a very elegant new rod from London, and being told by one of the most skilful of your brother anglers, that it is so stiff,--and by another, that it is so pliant, that it is not possible for any man to throw a fly properly with it.

XXV.