CHAPTER VII

THE TOP WATER

"Once more upon the waters! yet once more!" -BYRON, Childe Harold.

WHEN We leave Second Fos behind us we enter a different land. The road, which in the narrow pass has hung over the foaming waters of the fall, leaves the river as the valley widens into a broad plain, and pursues a more direct course to the next ravine, two and a half miles higher up. Immediately at the top of the Fos, in the very curl of the yet unbroken water, fish often lie, and are sometimes hooked. In such an event it is well to "be aisy" with them, and to induce them to swim up into the less dangerous waters above. One's natural inclination is to hold tight to prevent them going down. This is quite futile, and in such a desperate struggle a fish is likely to lose his head and his balance, and to be carried by the force of the water over the fatal edge. For the next half mile there is a fair stream in which salmon may

often be seen lying, but it is too even flowing and smooth to fish for them except on a rough day, or in very big water; and then as a rule we have other fish to fry. This stream commences at a small island, which breaks the smoothness somewhat, and creates a small cast on either side.

For two miles above until the influence of the next rapid, Alvaer Fos, becomes perceptible, the river resembles rather a narrow lake. It is broken by one or two gentle streams, but they are not important from a fishing point of view. In some seasons a good many fish lie in this lake-like stretch. If we were able to devote more time to it, it is probable that we should be occasionally rewarded. Though the volume of water is much greater, it somewhat resembles those West of Ireland streams which are considered only fishable in a breeze. Even when the surface is perfectly still, it is strange how fish may sometimes be lured to the fly. I once had a remarkable experience of this. We were fishing a small river not far from Stavanger. Day by day it had been falling until it was reduced to a few still pools, connected by a mere trickle. Some of these

often be seen lyng, but it is to even flowing and smooth to fish for them except on a rONLA day, or in very big water; and then as a 11. we have other fish to fry. This stre. Cris mences at a small island, which Teks di smoothness somewhat, and creates a small e on either side.

For two eles above until the influence of the next rapid, Alvaer Fos, becon.es perceptible, the river resembles rather a narrow lake, I: is broken by one or two gentle streams, but they are not important from a fishing point of view. In some seasons a good many fish lie in this lake-like stretch. If we were 21. to devote more time to it, it is probable that we should be occasionally rewarded. Though the volume of water is much greater. it somewhat resembles those West of Ireland streads which are considered only fishable in a reeze, Faen when the surface is perfectly still, it is stra e how fish may sometimes he lured to the ily. I once had a remarkable experience of this. We were fishing a small river not far from Stavanger. Day by day it had been falling until it was reduced to a few still pools. connected by a mere trickle. Some of these