CHAPTER XI 

 HOW TO FISH THE WET-FLY 



As has already been said the playing of the fly is the 

 most important element in wet-fly fishing. The fly can be 

 played either upon the surface, just below the surface, or 

 in the water to a depth of four to eight inches, and under 

 certain conditions, even to a greater depth, with success. 



The fly or flies should not, however, be fished so deep 

 in the water that the swirl of the trout, which takes place 

 immediately before the strike occurs, cannot be seen, for 

 if the angler, when fishing the deep fly, waits until he feels 

 the trout before striking, he will almost invariably fail to 

 hook his fish, because the trout can expel the fly from its 

 mouth much quicker than the angler can strike and set the 

 hook. The reason for this is, the trout has but a very short 

 distance to move the fly to get rid of it, and he can do it so 

 quickly and forcibly that the angler, in striking, cannot 

 hope to move his wrist, rod, line, leader and fly as quickly, 

 not to mention taking up such slack as there may be in the 

 line at the time of striking. 



In ninety-five per cent, of such cases the trout has ex- 

 pelled the fly before the angler can act after he is aware of 

 the fact, from the feel, that a strike has occurred. There- 



179 



