FLY-FISHING IN THE EANGELY REGION. 93 



In this fishing more than any other, a straight line 

 and leader is essential. The fish will not hook them- 

 selves. The eye, and the eye alone, tells when to strike. 

 The slightest disturbance of the water where the fly is, 

 or where it is supposed to be, must be followed by a 

 demonstration on the part of the angler without the loss 

 of a fraction of a second. Then no " turn of the wrist " 

 will serve the purpose. While with small fish, this is 

 the proper and artistic thing, with the large ones there, 

 it is a delusion. You must "sock it to them," but al- 

 ways with a free reel that undue vigor may be harmless. 

 Therefore, to use a fly which can readily be seen is ad- 

 vantageous, a merit which that first-named possesses 

 above every other. The first pause, or the first of the 

 succeeding movement of the fly, is the critical time. Not 

 unfrequently I have then seen large trout slowly swim 

 up to the fly, and take it in. The only indication that 

 he had it would be its eclipse. As far as feeling him 

 was concerned, he might as well have been in the next 

 county. Then a delay of over a single wink's duration 

 is fatal ; for before "you can say" not "Jack Robinson," 

 but even "Jack," the fly will have been ejected; and 

 though you charm thereafter never so wisely, as far as 

 that fish is concerned you will labor in vain. One taste 

 of that to him he thinks far better than a feast. 



During the first week, of June, 1883, I divided my 

 fishing between the Magalloway River, above Parma- 

 cheene Lake, in Maine, and the Lake itself. In a lovelier 

 sheet of water than the latter never did angler wet a 



