TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



above the water diminishes. The sky-line prevails as the 

 background as long as the water and sky are clear, and 

 there is good light. When the sky-line is dark there is little 

 light for the water to absorb; consequently the back- 

 ground becomes the water line and the outline of the fly 

 is made against the water, which is lighter above than be- 

 low the fly. 



It is well to consider the flies as being divided into three 

 classes of color, such as : 



Light-Colored Flies, 

 Medium-Colored Flies, 

 Dark-Colored Flies. 



The Light-Colored Flies are those that have a decided 

 lightish shade, and where white, light blue, light gray and 

 light yellow predominate. 



The Medium-Colored Flies are those that are more 

 neutral in shade, having no very marked leaning to either 

 dark or light colors. 



The Dark-Colored Flies are those that have largely 

 black, dark brown, dark green, red and indigo in their 

 make-up and their general aspect is of a dark shade. 



The many fancy patterns of colored flies should be 

 classed as medium, although some belong to the other 

 classes. 



The resume of all that has been said in connection with 

 my experience of many years in applying the principles 

 I have advanced, amounts to just this : 



195 



