254 SALMON AND TROUT. 



ficial fly the general observations offered by Major Traherne on 

 salmon fly fishing will be found applicable. 



Sea-trout fishing, on the contrary, takes, as a sport, rank 

 next to salmon fishing itself. In many parts of England and 

 Wales, and over most of the districts of Scotland and Ireland, 

 the sea trout, under this or some local name, is known and fished 

 for. As in its relative size standing in this respect between 

 brown trout and salmon so in the tackle, flies and rods em- 

 ployed in its capture, the bright gamesome Salmo trutta occu- 

 pies a sort of half-way house between the two species. The 

 most convenient-sized rod, whether for lake or river fishing, 

 is a double-handed trout rod, about 13 feet or so in length 

 (described at p. 77), and carrying a reel and line similar to 

 that used for salmon fishing, but smaller and lighter to suit the 

 shorter and less powerful weapon. As to the mode of using 

 the rod, casting, &c., the instructions given in regard to salmon 

 fishing hold good almost in their entirety, as also 'those on 

 gaffing, netting, and so forth. 



With respect to the flies used, which again stand midway 

 between salmon flies and brown trout flies ranging from the 

 ordinary sized brown-trout lake fly up to a grilse or small salmon 

 fly there can hardly be said to be any generally known or 

 accepted standard patterns. Almost every locality (I might say 

 almost every fisherman) has its own patterns and ideas. The 

 only point in which there can be said to be the smallest approach 

 to unanimity is in regard to a certain amount of silver or gold 

 tinsel being a desideratum in the construction, or rather deco- 

 ration, of the bodies, which otherwise may be dressed smooth, 

 with floss silk, or rough, with mohair or pig's wool ; and of all 

 shades and colours of the rainbow oranges, clarets, and blacks 

 or blues being, perhaps, the most generally favoured. 



Many of the patterns of flies suitable for loch-fishing for 

 sea-trout (Salmo trutta} and for brown trout (Salmo far io), et 

 hoc genus, may be regarded as practically almost interchange- 

 able; that is, a sea-trout fly will sometimes, and not very 

 infrequently, be found the killing pattern for brown trout, and 



