WORM-FISHING. 33 



be even larger. It is of importance to adapt the size 

 of fly to the condition of the water ; but as the season 

 advances, the size may be reduced as far as is con- 

 sistent with safety in retaining hold of the fish. If it- 

 is found that a considerable proportion of trouts get off 

 after being hooked, it may be assumed that the hook 

 is too small ; and though fewer fish may probably be 

 raised, more will be creeled by using a size larger. 

 As a rule, larger flies may be used in the Tweed than 

 in any of its tributaries or in smaller streams. Fine- 

 ness of gut and lightness of construction the wings 

 being gauzy and the body slim are of more impor- 

 tance in the fly than the precise shade of colour. 

 The fly-fisher's rod should be so light as to be capable 

 of being used with one hand, for a whole day without 

 fatiguing the angler. It must also be pretty stiff, to 

 enable him to strike with instant rapidity, and to 

 throw if necessary against the wind. It cannot there- 

 fore be long, and to our mind about 11 or 12 feet is 

 the longest that will suit most people. 



Next to Fly-fishing, both in the order of the sea- 

 son and in general estimation, comes WORM-FISHING. 

 Worm-fishing may be practised the whole season 

 through, and trout may probably be caught with it 

 every day in the year. We have taken them in that 

 way when a dead worm froze to brittleness if kept a 

 few minutes in the air, and the dropping water icicled 

 on the line. But worm-fishing proper does not begin 

 until the trout have fed to satiety upon the abundance 

 of insects called forth by the summer sun ; and it is 

 usually about the beginning or middle of June that it 



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