MA Y-FL Y FISHING. 361 



never do get thoroughly well on to the fly at all. As well might 

 one try to stem the rising tide as hope to convince fishermen 

 that it is good policy to leave the trout alone and let them feed 

 in safety for a few days on the winged insect ; and as, above 

 all, it is my desire to make this chapter of practical use, I sup- 

 pose it is necessary to pander to the taste of the fly fisherman, 

 and try to teach him how to catch the trout while they are 

 taking the nymph. 



It is not difficult to discriminate between the rise of a trout 

 taking the May-fly itself on the surface of the stream, and the 

 movement of one taking the nymph swimming upwards through 

 the water. When feeding on the nymph the fish is bulging, 

 that is, darting backwards and forwards, to the right and to the 

 left, driving a heavy wave before him and making a loud floop- 

 ing noise as he snatches at his prey, but very seldom taking it 

 on the surface. On the other hand, when taking the subimago 

 he is poised close to the surface, in midstream occasionally, but 

 more generally on the edge of a run behind weeds, or in a 

 favourable corner close under the bank, quietly and gently 

 sucking in flies one after another as they sail smoothly down 

 over his nose. 



When the fish are bulging, perhaps the best pattern of all 

 to use is a hackle fly dressed as follows : 



Hackle : A well-marked darkish feather from the breast of 

 an Egyptian goose. If one is insuf- 

 ficient, use two. 



Body: Pale maize-coloured floss 

 silk, ribbed with a strand of peacock 

 herl of a pale cinnamon colour at 

 root the pale portion of the herl at 

 shoulder, and the metallic point 

 showing about three turns of a dark 



rib at the tail end. A strand of white condor with blackish 

 point is perhaps preferable, and certainly stronger. 

 Whisk : Three or four strands of brown mallard. 



Hook: 3 or 3 long. 



