Flies and Fly-fishing. 293 



be found. If not, he resorts to his host, or anybody 

 else who seems able to afford information. 



Every stream has its own peculiarities, not only as to 

 the most successful fly, but as to the habits of its trout 

 as well. 



Some years ago, when I knew more about fly-fishing 

 than I ever shall again, I made a fishing trip to Tobyhan- 

 na, in Pennsylvania. I had frequently fished streams 

 within thirty or forty miles of there, and supposed I at 

 least knew where to look for sport. The weather was 

 propitious, rather showery perhaps, but still a good fishing 

 day. The stream was a wading brook of brownish color, 

 quick water being succeeded by still reaches, apparently 

 stagnant. I fished the rapid water with care and indif- 

 ferent success. The still waters, though they were less 

 obstructed and easier to cast over, I ignored altogether, 

 because the look of the banks and the water indicated a 

 muddy bottom, and I then believed trout never fre- 

 quented such localities. When I returned in the even- 

 ing to the hotel, I was astonished to no small degree 

 when the landlord informed me that these were the very 

 cream of the whole fishing. Nor was this all. I found 

 that the small, sober-tinted flies I had been accustomed 

 to were next to worthless, and that flies larger than I 

 supposed were ever successfully used for trout, and much 

 more gaudy in color, were needed in those waters. These 

 revelations had not a little undermined my self-confi- 

 dence, but its utter annihilation was reserved for the next 

 day. I then met my landlord on the stream. I was cast- 

 ing in what I considered very fair style, and when my 

 flies lit upon the water I drew them diagonally across the 

 stream, the droppers just skimming the surface. I had 

 then never seen nor heard of any other method of ma- 



