ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING 23 



lence, and a trout seeing one of the flies at 

 all is quite likely to go for it. At any rate, 

 I have on scores of occasions fished carefully 

 up a rapid, and have then repeated the 

 operation downstream, to the great improve- 

 ment of the bag. 



In slow or medium water, a downstream 

 fly can be seen by a trout as it advances, 

 as it passes him, and when taking its depar- 

 ture. The fish has time to inspect it, and 

 if he thinks it is one of the " hot feet " 

 variety, he ignores it. In the rapids, however, 

 his first view of the lure is practically coinci- 

 dent with his rush to take it, for, owing to 

 the speed of its passage, he must make up 

 his mind on the instant. When the trout 

 seizes such a fly, he frequently turns round 

 and down ; thus the hook goes home, for 

 the line is kept taut by the current, and the 

 fish practically hooks himself. Once firmly 

 hooked, he instinctively runs further down- 

 stream, and so assurance of a good hookhold 

 is made doubly sure, as long as the angler 

 does not bring too much pressure to bear 

 and thereby cause a smash. 



It always pays to fish the rapids, even 

 when trout are not rising in the deeper water. 

 In the latter, when not alert for flies, the 

 trout lie near the bottom, and so may not 



