8o FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



great importance. In wild waters any of the well- 

 known stock-fly patterns are sure to be successful 

 when the trout are rising; and, when the trout are 

 not rising, quite often, even generally, you can imitate 

 nature until you are black in the face and still have to 

 eat bacon. Exact imitation of nature in trout fly- 

 fishing is best exemplified by the methods and flies of 

 the British dry-fly fisherman. This is a subject rather 

 too advanced to enter upon herein further than a few 

 notes under the later subject of dry flies which will be 

 taken up farther on in this chapter, after some of the 

 general principles have been laid down. 



Before discussing the various forms of flies, hackles, 

 palmers, reversed wing, matched wing, floating dry 

 flies, etc., the hooks upon which they are 

 birnp e dressed, how they are tied, and other 

 Flies. matters connected with the trout fly, 

 there are a few rules, quite universally 

 applicable and usually true, which should be stated. 

 If you know these general trouting truths it will help 

 much in the selection of flies. First, then, do not for- 

 get when filling the fly book, that on bright, clear days 

 very small flies of subdued colors are most successful ; 

 and, secondly, that on dark days larger flies of brighter 

 coloration are the best. Flies tied upon No. 8 hooks 

 may with safety be called normal. As a stock size 

 trout fly, a good " meat " fly on almost all waters, the 

 No. 8 is practically universal. Have the greater part 

 of your flies of this size with a few others of the best 



