MAYFLY AND LAKE FISHING 91 



for the top hook, and a No. 3 for the bottom. 

 To bait the tackle, the upper hook is passed 

 through the throat of the fly, while the lower 

 hook is pushed through the abdomen, the 

 barb being underneath. The best time to 

 fish the stonefly is when a breeze is blowing 

 upstream, and an inch or two of fresh water 

 is in the river. A slight rise in the height 

 of the stream washes the flies out, whereas 

 a flood carries them away, and sport with 

 them ceases for the season. The best places 

 to fish are the streams and broken water, 

 and the edges of the gravel beds. With a 

 fair breeze, the pools are also worth atten- 

 tion. Trout take the " creeper " quite as 

 well as the mature fly. Early morning is 

 the best time to begin fishing, daybreak 

 being none too soon to make a start. To- 

 wards the end of May, and early in June, 

 the stoneflies hatch out in thousands on 

 the gravel beds of our northern streams ; 

 and by turning up the stones at the water's 

 edge, the angler can soon secure a sufficient 

 store of the insects. They can be carried 

 in a tin, such as tackle-makers supply for 

 the purpose. There is at least one pattern 

 of artificial stonefly that kills well, but most 

 north-country anglers prefer to fish with 

 the natural insect. 



