ARTIFICIAL FLIES 43 



two schools of anglers, one of which believes 

 in the efficiency of what we may term the 

 exact imitation trout fly, while the other 

 believes that the fish, when in a feeding 

 humour, will take any pattern of fly, so long 

 as it is not abnormal in size or shape. 



If we collect a variety of natural insects 

 and lay them alongside our artificials, it does 

 not require a microscope to discover the fact 

 that even the neatest and best tied of imita- 

 tions is extremely crude in comparison with 

 the beautiful, ethereal creatures which spend 

 their brief lives near the water. The natural 

 insects are either up-winged, or flat-winged. 

 The former carry their wings straight up 

 above their backs when at rest, while the 

 latter hold theirs in close proximity to their 

 bodies. Artificial flies are tied in like manner, 

 feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., being used to repre- 

 sent the various parts ; and many are so well 

 tied that to human eyes they appear satis- 

 factory enough when out of water ; but once 

 they are submerged, they take on quite a 

 different appearance. 



Seeing that it is a fact that even the best 

 of our artificial flies are but crude representa- 

 tions of their natural prototypes, there is 

 reason for supposing that trout are not so 

 particular in their choice as some people 



