FLY-FISHING IN THE R ANGEL Y REGION. 89 



been tried, and tried in vain. Many regard it as an un- 

 lucky omen, and such has been my own experience. 

 The most careful observation has suggested but one pos- 

 sible explanation that it is done to aggravate the an- 

 gler. If so, it is phenomenally successful in result. 



Assuming it to be true that these large trout are not 

 surface feeders, it might be supposed that those com- 

 binations of form and color which were most successful 

 in taking them, would bear little or no resemblance to 

 the local insects ; and such is the fact. 



As in most other localities, a half-dozen varieties are 

 sufficient. But these should be tied on large hooks ; 

 those shown in the illustrations of " Lake Flies " in this 

 book being none too large indeed, hooks even as large 

 as numbers 1, 2, and 5 of the first plate of " Salmon 

 Flies " are at times not at all amiss. 



The most taking flies are as follows : 



Before all others in my esteem ranks the "Parma- 

 cheene Belle." 



We generally cease fishing in the middle of the day. 

 After dinner the fly-box is apt to appear, and the word 

 to be, " Well, John, what shall we tease them with this 

 afternoon ? " Thus, some seven years ago, this fly was 

 born. Of a very large family, it, on the grand general 

 principle of the survival of the fittest, alone outlived its 

 youth. 



That the large trout looked upon the artificial fly not 

 as an insect, but as some form of live bait, we agreed 

 was probably the fact. Upon this theory, that combina- 



