302 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



by drawing his flies over the water in the usual man- 

 ner ; but on investigation it has invariably appeared 

 that the rise took place after he had become discouraged, 

 or when his attention was elsewhere, and that at the 

 time his flies were lying idle and were submerged. 



In so far I believe I express the unanimous opinion of 

 the guides of that region. We now enter on more de- 

 batable ground. 



I strongly prefer one fly for this fishing to a larger 

 number. When first struck these large fish seem utterly 

 uncontrollable by any tackle such as anglers use. Not 

 that they move so rapidly, for their motions are even then, 

 when life itself is at stake, rather deliberate ; but there 

 is a power in them that seems irresistible. If any ob- 

 struction is near, how heartily does the angler then wish 

 he was rid of that second fly. Besides, these large flies 

 are difficult to retrieve, if they are allowed to sink as they 

 should; and if the resistance of a second is added to that 

 of the first, the range of the cast is considerably dimin- 

 ished. Still there are times when a second fly does good 

 service. It is not uncommon to take a smaller fish on 

 one fly. and for him to tow the other through the water, 

 and thus tempt and actually fasten a much larger fish. 

 It is not very sportsmanlike, but when large trout are 

 known to be within sight of the fly, and they stubbornly 

 refuse to be tempted, this has been tried with success. 



What flies take best in those waters? There is a wide 

 divergence of opinion as to this; still I will give my own 

 for what it is worth. 



My first favorite is the "Parmacheene Belle." Per- 

 haps I am too partial to this fly, since it is in a measure 

 my own child. John and I seldom fish between half- 

 past eleven and four o'clock. That interval is passed 



