TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



tained by fishing the fly below the surface of the water 

 from four to six inches. It is seldom at such times that 

 trout are surface feeders, and on that account a surface 

 fly does not seem to have any attraction for them. 



A fly under the surface, played broad side to the trout, 

 often causes them to rise. Why this is the case I am unable 

 to say, except possibly the trout think they can get the fly 

 with less than the ordinary exertion. 



Remember that the greatest skill is shown by the angler 

 who persuades the trout to rise to his fly when they are 

 not feeding, and it is then he experiences the greatest pleas- 

 ure and satisfaction if success rewards him. 



The saying, "Oh! He is a lucky fisherman!" is one 

 that beginners as well as old-stagers at fly-fishing would 

 do well to discount as having no meaning nor significance 

 for, after all, SUCCESS in fly-fishing is not a question of 

 luck. It is rather the result of judgment and knowledge 

 in knowing how to select the proper fly for the particular 

 occasion and then knowing how to place and play it so as 

 to make it prove most attractive as well as acceptable to 

 the trout. 



At times, when trout are rising to food on the surface 

 of the water, it is a very good plan to make several false 

 casts over the water where they appear, letting your fly 

 come to within an inch or two of the water at each cast and 

 finally landing it quietly on the surface and playing it 

 very slowly. 



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