^66 The Trout s of America 



There is said to be over two thousand artificial 

 flies, of various colors and forms, including the 

 nondescripts, used by anglers in both hemi- 

 spheres. To acquire even a knowledge of the 

 names of these would entail hard study, and 

 when acquired, would be more ornamental than 

 useful. To become familiar with their compara- 

 tive killing qualities, the best hours and seasons 

 for using them, the atmospheric condition under 

 which they are most effective, their integral 

 make-up, with their multitudinous shades of 

 color, would entail years of application, and con- 

 stant intercourse with the members of the craft, 

 many of whom evolve a new combination of 

 feathers every time they visit a trout stream. As 

 before intimated, the tyro should enter upon his 

 novitiate with a few dozen standard flies in his 

 book ; selecting hackles tied palmer fashion, and 

 wins^ed flies of contrastinsr colors. 



Natural and artificial baits for trout are of 

 many diverse kinds. Of the natural, the common 

 earden worm and the live minnow are the most 

 enticing. Of the artificial, the phantom minnow 

 for trolling, or use in rapid water, is the only one 

 that gives satisfaction, according to the expe- 

 rience of many excellent anglers, who sometimes 



