Flies and Fly-fishing. 305 



fly is not attractive, but handle it by a series of short, 

 slow jerks a little below the surface of the water, and 

 its wings will open and shut so that it really appears to 

 swim a process which seems amazingly to strike the 

 fancy of large trout. 



With these flies tied on a hook of the same size as a 

 No. 5 Harrison Sproat hook, for small fish, and on the 

 same sized hook as No. 2 of that make for the big fel- 

 lows, I consider an angler well fitted out. A greater 

 variety is quite useless. 



And here let me caution you once more, if you pro- 

 pose to fish these waters, or any others in which large 

 fish may be had, never put a leader to your line which 

 has not been tested since it was last dry and stiff. Dry 

 gut will crack if bent, and the better and more elastic 

 the gut, the greater will be the injury caused by such a 

 mishap. These cracks in a leader defy the closest in- 

 spection, and their presence or absence can only be de- 

 termined by a test of its strength. 



In these waters a guide is essential to the stranger if 

 he wishes good sport; for, as a general rule, one place, 

 as far as surface indications are concerned, looks as well 

 as another, and the best fishing -grounds are and have 

 been discovered only by actual trial, rod in hand. These 

 the guides know of course, and they will place their 

 sportsman where the chances are then best. 



Such as are reasonable in their expectations, and not 

 over conceited, can have good sport in this region; but 

 let me strongly advise him who goes there for the first 

 time, at least, to place himself in the hands of his guide 

 without reserve. Say to him, in such terms that he will 

 not doubt your sincerity, that you are a stranger, and 

 propose to be governed as to where and how you fish, 



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