WET FLY 51 



deep pools, they can be cast across at first, then 

 more up, till thrown directly upstream as in river 

 fishing, and if these be ruffled by a breeze success 

 is almost certain. The most fatal of all times is 

 about the second day after a good freshet when, 

 though still tinted, the stream is subsiding. By 

 that time trout will have had enough .of bottom 

 food and be eager for fly again. Places scarcely 

 worth a cast in drought will now be worth trial, 

 and the slightly coloured water aids concealment. 



In the early season trout are often engaged with 

 larvae at bottom, or the pupae or nymphs just 

 leaving it, and do not show on the surface. In 

 this case it is a good plan to sink the flies well, 

 and move them by short jerks to imitate the 

 nymphs. For this, buzz-tied flies answer best, 

 and the scantier the hackle the better. It is 

 practically useless to fish the extra strong or 

 violent rushes and currents early in spring. 

 Trout are still weak after spawning and winter- 

 flood bufferings, and are rather to be found in the 

 easier and lighter runs and in the lower parts of 

 turbulent pools. Some anglers may not agree 

 with me, but I always think that both dead and 

 deep water is best passed over until spring is well 

 advanced. 



In upstream casting very little line is necessary, 



