FLY-FISHING ON THE NIPIGON. 181 



Now one word as to requisites for a trip to the Nipigon 

 River. The sportsman from the States must have a 

 permit from the Government authorities. He needs a 

 good large birch-bark canoe and two experienced men. 

 He will provide a tent (mosquito tight), provisions and 

 clothing suited to a cool and bracing climate. He wants 

 good tackle, two or more steely, stiff fly-rods, because 

 one may break. Good, long, heavy reel lines ; short and 

 strong gut leaders and plenty of large flies. Hackles of 

 all kinds, white moths, royal coachmen, silver doctor, 

 Montreal, Canada, captain, and most of the salmon flies 

 are all good flies for the Nipigon. A large and deep land- 

 ing-net with long staff is also wanted, but there is no need 

 to take a creel. 



It is fortunately against the law to use a spoon, or to 

 kill fish that cannot be used. It is not a safe place for 

 pot-fishermen to go. 



At times bait is of no use at all At Virgin Falls on 

 a bright warm day, we found that the fish took eagerly 

 any bait that resembled a shiner, and only took the fly 

 when it was under water and resembled a small fish. 

 One night at Camp Alexander the stone flies were on the 

 water in the greatest abundance ; the trout were rising 

 to them all over the rapids ; but the fish took some other 

 artificial fly more eagerly than they did the close imita- 

 tions of the natural fly. At times the trout seemed to 

 strike at any small object moving in the water which 

 excited their curiosity. At several points on the river, 

 particularly in the wild water at the foot of falls, the 



