BAIT FOR TROUT. 105 



when trout are inclined to feed on this kind of bait, it 

 does not much signify what shape or colour your fly is, 

 provided the SIZE be strictly attended to. Any great 

 disproportion in this particular will decidedly mar all 

 chance of success. When a stream has been completely 

 covered with what is called the " may-fly," and the fish 

 rising at them in all directions, we have filled our creel 

 in quick time with other kinds of flies, as opposite as pos- 

 sible, both in shape and colour, to that particular insect. 



Now it is a commonly received notion amongst many 

 expert anglers, that when trout are rising at these flies 

 they will scarcely look at anything else. Nothing can be 

 more erroneous, as experience will amply testify if proper 

 means be employed. True it is, we have occasionally 

 met with a few instances, where trout dashing rapidly at 

 the natural fly, have obstinately refused the artificial fly; 

 but in all such cases as have come under our observ- 

 ation, we have, upon inspection, invariably found the 

 rejected fly too large in size. On the substitution of a 

 small one, somewhat in conformity perhaps as to shape, 

 though it may be decidedly opposite in colour to the 

 insect on which the fish were feeding, the evil has been 

 immediately rectified, and trout taken with great rapidity. 



But what we consider almost decisive of this question 

 is this; when we traverse a fine trout-stream, we often 

 meet in the course of our rambles ten or a dozen brother 

 anglers, all well skilled in the craft, and employing an 

 endless variety of fly. If the fish be in good humour, the 

 whole fraternity bear testimony ; the difference in the num- 

 ber of fish each one has got will be but very trifling, and 

 will well enough be considered referable to the difference 

 of time they may respectively have been on the rivers, or 

 the casual advantages which some might enjoy over 



