TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



of the trout, as the eyes have become accustomed to a sub- 

 dued light, which has made them slow to resume their nor- 

 mal vision. At such times the angler should use flies of a 

 much larger size than he would ordinarily use later in the 

 season. For instance, where trout have been under ice 

 for some time, flies tied on Number 4 and 6 hooks are the 

 best size, and the ones most likely to prove successful, 

 while flies tied on 8, 10 and 12 hooks will prove of little 

 use. 



This condition lasts for from twenty to thirty days, 

 depending somewhat upon local conditions, and how long 

 the trout have been under the ice, also whether it is a warm 

 or cold spring season. 



The eyesight of the trout grows nearer to normal each 

 day (when the ice is gone) after the first two weeks, but in 

 some waters they do not seem to regain their full normal 

 vision until the last of June. This, however, is the excep- 

 tion, not the rule. 



For years I have fished the trout waters of New York 

 and the New England States early in the spring or just as 

 soon as the open season for fishing has begun, and I have 

 found these conditions I have mentioned to be the same 

 year by year, so that personally I believe them to be a fact, 

 not a fancy or theory. 



Each season for many years I have made it a practice 

 to start fly-fishing with small flies. Numbers 10 and 12, 

 such as I use later in the season, but never have I had any 

 success with these flies on waters that have been ice-cov- 

 ered for many weeks or on streams that have large, deep 



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