Trout Wet-Fly Fishing. 



69 



to allow the other flies to fasten 

 in the meshes of the net. A good 

 many fish are lost in that way. 

 Never make a dash at a trout ; it 

 is a certain way of missing him, 

 and causes a struggle when he 

 comes to the net again that may 

 be fatal to the gut. 



In swift rapids, which lend them- 

 selves to wet-fly fishing, the cast 

 should be made across stream, 

 allowing the flies to drift round, 

 gradually raising the point of the 

 rod, so as to keep the casting line 

 well stretched. Hold it for a few 

 moments in the strength of the 

 current, and let out a yard or two 

 more line to carry it further down 

 stream. Trout are on the look- 

 out for drifting flies in such places. 

 Then gradually shorten the line by 

 drawing it through the rings with 

 the left hand. In that way the 

 whole of the rapid may be 

 searched, and patience in due 

 time rewarded. 



In sluggish pools it is well to 

 put a little life into the flies by 

 a wrist movement of the rod. 

 The hand is raised up and down, 

 which causes the top to sway 

 gently to and fro. This fre- 

 quently tempts a fish. Flies 

 floating down stream do not need 

 to be worked, but drawn up ; the 

 movement mimics insects that 

 are swimming against the cur- 

 rent. The gut should be raised 



sufficiently to allow the dropper to 

 bob up and down on the water. 

 An alder or a governor serves well 

 for this purpose. A March brown 

 or a Zulu makes a good leader, 

 and a Greenwell's glory, hare's 

 ear, or one of the many duns is 

 suitable for the middle fly. Late 

 in the everring a coachman or 

 silver sedge has great attractions 

 for trout ; but of course one must 

 study the species of fly that are 

 about at different months, and 

 mount facsimiles. On a rough 

 day big trout often come on the 

 rise, and a March brown not in- 

 frequently tempts them : the more 

 gold twist on it the better. Alders 

 are blown from the sedges on to 

 the water at such times, and trout 

 are on the look out for them. 

 The angler should be ready to 

 oblige them. 



Lake fishing requires a boat, 

 and a gillie who knows the haunts 

 of the trout. Rough-bodied flies, 

 claret, olives, and orange grouse 

 are almost universally excellent 

 patterns. They must be a couple 

 of sizes larger than those used for 

 rivers. Where bank fishing is 

 possible, late in the season, big 

 fish find their way in towards the 

 shore, and often give a pleasant 

 surprise to a diligent angler. Flies 

 are not worked on the lake as they 

 are on the river, but simply drawn 

 along the surface of the water. 



