THE FLY-FISHING SEASON. 171 



the water at the particular times ascribed to them, 

 we take care to enumerate those artificial flies 

 which, even considered apart from their supposed 

 resemblance to particular natural insects, will be 

 found in their general character and size to be 

 best adapted to the state of the water and of the 

 atmosphere at the periods and under the circum- 

 stances mentioned. In short, we recommend 

 such flies, and give such instructions, as our ex- 

 perience has taught us to consider most likely to 

 obtain the object of fishing, "the wherewith" 

 to occupy the pannier. 



The angler's Spring includes February, March, 

 and April after which, for the four succeeding 

 summer months, there is little fishing to be had 

 in the day-time. Evening fishing is then chiefly 

 practised but of that anon. The season of 

 Spring obviously furnishes the greatest amount 

 of sport, for then the fish are generally ravenous 

 for flies, after their long winter's abstinence from 

 them, and the artificial fly is freely taken, be- 

 cause the fish are bolder, and because the com- 

 parative scarcity of natural flies, in the earlier 

 period, renders the fish less fastidious in the 

 choice of their favourite food. In February and 

 March, therefore, you need not be over-nice in 

 your combinations of fur and feather. The blue 



