24 TROUT-FISHING FOR THE BEGINNER 



always see your lures. In the rapids, on the 

 other hand, the water is comparatively 

 shallow, and even if lying near the bottom, a 

 fish or two may be tempted, because they 

 can hardly fail to see the flies. 



4. The month of May ; and " Mayflies" 

 Of all months in the year, May is the best 

 for fly-fishing. In addition to the beauty 

 of one's surroundings at that season, the 

 trout are then in the best of condition and 

 take our artificials freely. It is rather an 

 anomaly that the Mayfly one of the largest 

 insects to make its appearance on and about 

 the water seldom shows up in any numbers 

 till June, but when it does come, the trout 

 devour it greedily, even the largest fish 

 bestirring themselves at this time. Very 

 heavy baskets are often made during the 

 rise of this fly, and because even the veriest 

 tyro can sometimes prove successful, the 

 period has come to be known as " The 

 duffer's fortnight." 



