WET FLY 53 



stone, and gently pulled in. If the spot where it 

 drops be an edge of still (or nearly so) water, it is 

 almost certain to be taken before it is sucked 

 into the current outside. Upstream casts are 

 delivered in quick succession when the flies are 

 being hurried down. On calmer water, too, I 

 should scarcely allow them to dwell, but repeat 

 them in various directions, and certainly jigging 

 the hand-fly on the surface. 



It is unwise to keep on pegging away at one 

 spot, even if a trout has been caught there. 

 Depend upon it, the flies have been noticed, and 

 after a couple more casts a little farther up, and 

 still farther up, all fishable places will be the right 

 way to work. I have said it is well to have flats 

 ruffled by wind, but for the major portion of a 

 brook, moor brooks excepted, wind is an objec- 

 tionable factor, as it makes casting extremely 

 difficult where trappy brambles and branches 

 abound. Of course, wherever open enough, 

 wind, not unreasonably strong, is all right. 



Showery weather is nearly always good. One 

 effect of heavy showers is to force numbers of 

 flying insects (imagos) to the water, where they 

 are carried down just beneath the surface in a 

 semi-drowned condition. At these times there is 

 often a splendid take, and the wet-fly man 



