WET OR SUNK FLY-FISHING. 5 



used than is sufficient to cover the shank of the 

 hook. For a large or coloured water a little tinsel 

 may be added, but when the rivers are small and 

 clear this is unnecessary. 



As a general rule it is advisable, in all rivers 

 which are much fished, to use an artificial fly con- 

 siderably smaller than the insect it is intended 

 to represent. When a strong wind is blowing, 

 however, or the river is running full, a size more 

 nearly approaching nature may be used. 



In wet or sunk fly-fishing the number of 

 hooks used by experts varies from two to eight, 

 or even ten, but three or four may be put down 

 as the average. For a beginner our advice is to 

 use no more than two, or, at most, three, as he 

 will find that the hooks have an objectionable 

 tendency to catch not only each other, but also 

 the clothes, basket, and other belongings of the 

 angler. Even for one who has acquired some 

 skill in casting, we do not think there is much to 

 be gained by using more than four. The only 

 important advantage that we can see in a larger 

 number is that it offers the trout a variety of 

 choice, and so increases the probability of the 

 particular fly they are feeding on if, as too often 

 happens, they are capricious being discovered. 

 But this seems more than counterbalanced by the 

 difficulty in managing the extra hooks. 



As instructions for making up a casting-line, 



