88 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



As trout prefer different flies in different waters, so 

 have they also a preference as to the manner in which 

 they shall be served to them. 



The Turk curls his legs under him and attacks his 

 food with the implements which nature has provided 

 him, while the European insists on a plate, knife, and 

 fork. 



Fishing for trout in the Eangely region is a case in 

 point. 



Every angler who visits that home of large trout, as- 

 pires to the biggest. The following remarks apply 

 solely to the method of taking such, and with the fly 

 only. Small fish up to two, or two and a half pounds, 

 can readily be taken there in the usual manner, and by 

 the exercise of a very moderate degree of skill. 



In ten quite protracted trips to those waters, I have 

 never seen nor heard of a trout exceeding two pounds in 

 weight rising to a natural fly. Rise the large ones do, 

 rolling up to the surface with a swirl like that made by 

 the blade of an eighteen-foot oar, showing a breadth of 

 tail and side that causes the heart of the unaccustomed 

 angler to bound into his throat, and nearly choke him with 

 mingled wonder and desire. But unless dashing through 

 a school of minnows on some still evening, why these 

 giants thus disport themselves has eluded observation. 

 It seems certain that they then take no food, and that its 

 pursuit cannot be the object they have in view. At such 

 times, large flies and small flies, as well as every other 

 wile known to the fisherman (except a shot-gun), has 



