ARTIFICIAL FLIES 47 



of flies supplied by the trade, more especially 

 the winged flies, are sadly overdressed, and 

 thus much of their killing efficiency is wasted. 

 The natural insects found on and about the 

 water belong to many different species, and 

 they are hatched at their own particular 

 seasons ; therefore, the exact imitation theor- 

 ists use different flies for different months, 

 and often change patterns several times 

 during the course of a day's fishing. Those, 

 however, who set small store by colour and 

 detail, use comparatively few flies of an 

 " impressionistic " character, their general 

 shape and size alone being roughly approxi- 

 mate to the proportions of the natural 

 insect. 



The mode of procedure of the two schools 

 also differs. The imitationist notes the species 

 of insect on which the trout are feeding for 

 the time being, and he then affixes to his cast 

 a fly or flies in duplicate thereof. If the fish 

 ignore these patterns, he replaces them with 

 others, these also being imitations of insects 

 on or about the water at the time. It may 

 be that certain insects are late in appearing, 

 but this does not deter the angler from using 

 artificials of those patterns, if, in his estima- 

 tion, the time is really ripe for the arrival of 

 the naturals. Thus, on a day when trout are 



