THE BROOK TROUT. 223 



to use but one fly on my cast where the big fellows were 

 known to exist. 



The largest Trout I had ever hooked was fast — fast and 

 furious. I did not time the struggle, but it was long, and 

 my rod was tried to its utmost capacity. When at last the 

 Trout found a hiding-place behind a rock near the shore, and 

 sulked at the bottom, the native, who had looked with much 

 interest upon the contest, approached and offered to "jigger" 

 the fish; which courtesy I curtly declined, not liking the look 

 of his weapon. 



The Trout again roused himself for the fray, but he was 

 wearied, and before many minutes I succeeded in bringing 

 him to the net. His weight was about three pounds, and he 

 was the largest fish which I took at any time upon the 

 Rangeley lakes. 



I heard talk there as elsewhere, of the extraordinary size of 

 the Speckled Trout there taken, but at that time no compe- 

 tent guides were to be had, and I did not then know, what 

 has since proved to be the fact, that those large fish are not 

 surface-feeders, and it is believed that they do not rise to 

 the natural fly. 



The Parmacheene Belle, which is one of the most taking- 



o 



flies for that region, was, I understand, suggested by the 

 appearance of the belly-fin of a Trout — a bait much in use 

 with many fishers. The Grizzly king, Montreal, Silver Doc- 

 tor, and other gaudy flies, are taking at different times. 

 Large hackles, gray and brown, are often attractive, but in 

 my own experience, the jay-fly has proved the best. When 

 a fly is taken by the larger of these Trout, it is always when 

 below the surface of the water. Cast a straight line, let the 

 fly sink a foot or two, then draw it toward you with short 

 pauses, finally retrieving quietly to make another cast. 



When the ice goes out of the Rangeleys, the Trout are not 

 commonly taken until the temperature of the water and that 

 of the morning air are nearly the same. In hot weather. 



