The dainty artificial fly
Designed to catch the wily trout,
Full loud _laudabunt alii_,
And I will join, at times, no doubt,
But yet my praise, without pretence,
Is not from great experience.
I talk as well as anyone
About the different kinds of tackle,
I praise the Gnat, the Olive Dun,
Discuss the worth of wings and hackle
I've flies myself of each design,
No book is better filled than mine.
But when I reach the river's side
Alone, for none of these I wish,
No victim to a foolish pride,
My object is to capture fish;
Let me confess, then, since you ask it--
A worm it is which fills my basket!
O brown, unlovely, wriggling worm,
On which with scorn the haughty look,
It is thy fascinating squirm
Which brings the fattest trout to book,
From thee unable to refrain,
Though flies are cast for him in vain!
Deep gratitude to thee I feel,
And then, perhaps, it's chiefly keen,
When rival anglers view my creel,
And straightway turn a jealous green;
And, should they ask me--"What's your fly?"
"A fancy pattern," I reply!
* * * * *
[Illustration: Catching crabs and flounders in the Thames]
* * * * *
[Illustration: Catching wails at Whippingham]
* * * * *
[Illustration: Catching soles and skate on the (sea) Serpentine]
* * * * *
[Illustration: Catching whiting from the Strand]
* * * * *
[Illustration: SOMETHING LIKE A CATCH.--_Mrs. Binks_ (_sick of it_).
"Really, John! How can you bear to spend your time whip--whip--whipping
at the stream all day long and never a single fish taking the least
notice of you?"
_John._ "Ah, but think o' the delight, Maria, when you do get a fish!
Lor' bless us, my dear, have you forgotten the day when you hooked
me?"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: FROM DEE-SIDE.--_Piscator._ "Yes, my boy, ain't he a
beauty? Forty pounds--three foot eight from tail to snout--fresh run!
I'm going to have him photographed, with a full-grown man standing by,
to show the proportions. By the way"--(_faintly_)--"would--er--would
_you_ mind being the _man_?"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Imperturbable Boatman._ "Haud up yer rod, man! Ye have
'm! ye have 'm!"]
* * * * *
ANECDOTE BY IZAAK WALTON.--One Piscator, whom I will not further name,
had a certain acquaintance who, through the credit he had gotten by his
wealth, worth, and wit, came to be made a magistrate. Whereupon Piscator
goes me to the river and catches a fish, which having brought home, he
sends to the new-made justice with a note, saying, "Inasmuch, sir, as
you are now promoted to the condition of a beak, I do send you a
perch."
* * * * *
[Illustration: ANGLING EXTRAORDINARY
_Customer_ (_in a great hurry_). "A small box of gentles, please. And
look sharp! I want to catch a 'bus!!"]
* * * * *