1 66 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



of too great a size. Those Trout-flies known as "lake-flies" 

 are large enough for Black Bass, and hooks should never be 

 larger than No. 2, even for lake-fishing, and maybe as small 

 as No. 6 for stream-fishing. Sproat and O'Shaughnessy 

 hooks are the best. The fly should be tied with a small, 

 twisted gut, or a gimp loop, instead of being tied on a gut- 

 snell several inches long. 



Miscellaneous Articles. The other accessories for fly- 

 fishing are the landing-net, creel, or fish-basket, fly-book, 

 and leader-box, to which may be added hip-boots or wading- 

 stockings for stream work. 



HINTS AND POINTERS. 



Time. The best season for fly-fishing in the Central and 

 Northern states is in May and June, also September and 

 October, and in the Gulf States during autumn and winter. 



The best hours of the day are from eight to eleven in the 

 morning, and from six to eight in the evening the late after- 

 noon hours, even until dark being usually the very best. 



Wading. -In fishing a stream, the best plan is to wade 

 and fish with the current, or down stream. The angler 

 should proceed slowly and cautiously, with as little noise 

 as possible, and should be very careful not to disturb the 

 loose bowlders on the bottom, or stir up the sand, mud, or 

 gravel. The more careful he is in this the more successful 

 he will be. 



Casting. He should cast in all directions to the sides and 

 in front of him before moving onward. His cast need not 

 exceed forty feet, unless the water is very shallow and clear, 

 when it should extend to fifty or sixty feet. He should 

 cast as straight a line as possible, letting his flies alight 

 without splashing, and should rove them to the right and left 

 by jerky, tremulous movements, often allowing them to sink 

 several inches below the surface at likely spots, such as the 

 edge of weed-patches, in the deeper water under projecting 



