The weather may be propitious, the humour of the fish charming, two
capital items, that can only now and then be inserted in an angler's
diary; but some things may occur to spoil a day's diversion, commenced
even under the most favourable auspices; for instance, let us suppose
that a man (who whilst "realizing the charms of solitude") is
nevertheless carefully and cautiously fishing with success in a clear
low water; how great then must be his vexation, and disappointment,
when he sees looming in the distance a rod, and net, the owner of which
is soon distinctly visible. It does not require a moment's
consideration as to what he must now do; he must either give up fishing
for that day, or seek some fresh ground, because any person coming
fishing down a low water, or even walking close to the banks of it,
scares the fish to such an extent, that making for their holds, they
will probably remain there for some hours. My object in reference to
the above suppositious statement (which many anglers will find too
often a reality) is to demonstrate to the inexperienced, what very
meagre sport any one must have in a clear, low water, previously fished
on the same day.
Reversing the case, that is to say, a day or two after a flood, and
when of course there is plenty of water, and also, when fish are not so
soon alarmed and disturbed; I hold even then, first come first served,
to be the order of the day; for when fish are inclined to feed, any
person in advance of you has a decided advantage, and particularly so,
should he be either trolling, or worm fishing. In wide rivers however,
you may (owing perhaps to a feed coming on) have excellent diversion
where a person who has preceded you half an hour, or so, has had but
indifferent success. If there is only plenty of water, companionship is
admissable, though I am inclined to suppose that (under all
circumstances) a solitaire has a decided advantage; for this reason,
that two or more persons, get over the ground far too quickly, and do
not fish in that true, steady, and careful way, they perhaps would do
if alone; just whipping the stream here and there, hurrying over the
ground, and so spending probably half their time in walking, instead of
fishing; but in free waters, where anglers are sometimes as thick as
blackberries, and a man cannot do as he likes, the "go ahead" system
often proves the best. Some way or other there is generally some sport
to be had in streams, free from hush, but many rivers are daily subject
to it, causing great interruption, to say nothing of total stoppage to
angling pursuits for many successive days. Slight hushes, when the
water is low, are so far serviceable, that by partially discolouring
the water, fish take the artificial fly, especially the Black Midge,
more boldly than they would do if the water remained clear. Taken
altogether, the hush undoubtedly levies a considerable tax on the
patience of those anglers who fish in its vicinity.