TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



some places light water bottoms have grass or weeds, but 

 they are, as a rule, widely separated. 



Light water bottoms produce bright coloration. 

 Neutral water bottoms produce subdued coloration. 

 Dark water bottoms produce dark coloration. 



A light water bottom is always a light water bottom, 

 and a dark water bottom is always a dark water bottom, but 

 the effectiveness of each bottom depends upon these five 

 conditions, i. e. : 



The kind or degree of light, 

 The color of the water, 

 The depth of the water, 

 The temperature of the water, 

 The season of the year. 



As white reflects and black absorbs color, it follows, 

 therefore, that the brighter the light the more effective 

 must become the light water bottom and the duller the 

 light the more effective must become the dark water bot- 

 tom. It also follows that a neutral water bottom is the 

 one least affected by the different conditions and degree 

 of light. 



The kind or degree of light, after all, is the factor 

 which controls the coloration of trout and which makes it 

 possible for the other factors to perform their respective 

 functions. Because, if it were not for the fact that some 

 degree of light exists nearly everywhere and at all times, 

 trout, as well as all species of fish, would be without colora- 

 tion, having simply a very dark appearance, such as is the 



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