e fly, than a score with bait. As
for the man who goes a-fishing simply to catch fish, the fly-fisher
does not recognize him as an angler at all.

When the sun is hot and the weather grows warm, trout leave the
ripples and take to cold springs and spring-holes; the largest fish, of
course, monopolizing the deepest and coolest places, while the smaller
ones hover around, or content themselves with shallower water. As the
weather gets hotter, the fly-fishing falls off badly. A few trout of
four to eight ounces in weight may still be raised, but the larger ones
are lying on the bottom and are not to be fooled with feathers. They
will take a tempting bait when held before their noses--sometimes; at
other times, not. As to raising them with a fly--as well attempt to
raise a sick Indian with the temperance pledge. And yet, they may be
taken in bright daylight by a ruse that I learned long ago, of a
youngster less than half my age, a little, freckled, thin-visaged young
man, whose health was evidently affected by a daily struggle with a
pair of tow-colored side whiskers and a light mustache. There was
hardly enough of the whole affair to make a door mat for a bee hive.
But he seemed so proud of the plant, that I forebore to rig him. He was
better than he looked--as often happens. The landlord said, "He brings
in large trout every day, when our best fly-fishermen fail." One night,
around an outdoor fire, we got acquainted and I found him a witty,
pleasant companion. Before turning in I ventured to ask him how he
succeeded in taking large trout, while the experts only caught small
ones, or failed altogether.

"Go with me tomorrow morning to a spring-hole three miles up the river
and I'll show you," he said.

Of course, we went. He, rowing a light skiff and I paddling a still
lighter canoe. The spring-hole was in a narrow bay that set back from
the river and at the mouth of a cold, clear brook; it was ten to twelve
feet deep and at the lower end a large balsam had fallen in with the
top in just the right place for getting away with large fish, or
tangling lines and leaders. We moored some twenty feet above the
spring-hole and commenced fishing, I with my favorite cast of flies, my
friend with the tail of a minnow, He caught a 1 1/2 pound trout almost
at the outset, but I got no rise; did not expect it. Then I went above,
where the water was shallower and raised a couple of half-pounders, but
could get no more, I thought he had