194 Wet-Fly Fishing 



authority who has even mentioned my 

 next point. 



Suppose, upon a bright May or June 

 day, when the Iron-blue Dun figures on 

 the menu ; an old, large, wary trout, is ob- 

 served close to the surface, feeding upon 

 these delicate morsels. 



The fisherman is wading below, and his 

 first cast brings the middle fly, right in front 

 of the trout's nose. What is the result ? 

 That old " fox " sees that the centre fly is 

 supported by one on either side, and his 

 suspicions are instantly roused. He looks 

 again. He screws his eye-glass in tight for 

 a still better look. The three flies then look 

 what they are confounded shams when 

 viewed against that bank of white clouds. 



Do you wonder that he languidly remarks 

 under his breath, " Oh ! this is ' coming it 

 too thick/ you know ; what do these fellows 

 take me for ? " And, as he scuttles off, all 

 that is left of that ancient fish-torpedo, is 

 the wave which his retreating form leaves 

 on the placid surface of the pool. 



Again, suppose you have removed all 

 but the tail fly; and that you send this, 

 with unerring accuracy, close to his blunt 

 nose ; what is the use of all your skill, if 

 he sees 4 or 6 inches of gut before his 



