Flies and Fly-fishing. 297 



them, when in the twilight the lakes are unrippled by 

 a breeze, and the slightest dimple of the mirror - like 

 water is conspicuous every one has then seen large 

 trout dash from underneath through a school of min- 

 nows playing on the surface. For large trout to roll 

 up during the month of September is also of frequent 

 occurrence. But I believe no one has as yet fathomed 

 the cause of this. The most careful observations fail to 

 show that any food is then taken ; and, as I have said 

 before, it is by some regarded as an unfavorable in- 

 dication, as far as successful fishing is concerned. But 

 I have no recollection, in ten quite protracted fishing ex- 

 cursions to those waters, ever having seen a trout of over 

 two pounds take a natural fly at all, nor have I ever seen 

 a trout of over four pounds take the artificial fly or even 

 a bait on the surface of the water. It may happen, but it 

 is certainly by no means common. Small fish up to two, 

 or even two and a half pounds, may readily be enticed to 

 take a fly manipulated in the usual manner ; but if the 

 larger fish are desired, and a surfeit of the smaller is soon 

 had, a large fly must be used, and it must be moved 

 slowly and somewhat below the surface, the deeper the 

 better. 



In this manner of fishing a fair cast is absolutely in- 

 dispensable to success. The line and leader must fall per- 

 fectly straight, and the spring of the rod must be upon 

 them at all times when the fly is in the water. By this I 

 mean, that the tip of the rod must always be raised 

 while the fly is in motion, so that should the fly be ar- 

 rested, the rod will at once bend and throw its spring on 

 the line. Not that the angler is to rely in the slightest 

 degree on feeling the fish ; his eye, and his eye alone, is 

 his guide. 



