How to Get Them 



^reat value at times, though a black fly is seen at 

 night just as well by the trout, but not by the angler. 



i\[y great objection to the flies oflered for sale 

 is that they are much too large and bushy for clear 

 water. Every possible advantage is in favor of a 

 lightly dressed fly; it is more like 

 FUcs'' ^""^^ t^® natural insect, it falls lighter in 

 the water, and the hook is not so 

 covered with feathers as to stop it from getting a 

 iiood hold. 



In addition to the above four flies, I think it 

 wise, nay necessary, to have a cast of hackles or 

 spiders of black, brownish red, ash color, or gray. 

 In the summer months, when trout are lazy and 

 well fed, or much fished and very shy, the spider 

 will be found more deadly than the winged fly ; so 

 that if the leader be a gray-winged fly, remove it 

 and put on a gray hackle or spider of 

 the same size. The reason is that the 

 liook is better concealed, and if the fly is made of 

 soft hackle the water agitates the feathers, giving 

 them a life-like appearance. If the trout will 

 not take a gray hackle, try the black, and after- 

 ward the brown. In case all these fail, give up 

 and go home. 



For brilliant primary colors (red, yellow, and 



blue) I have no use, having long since given them 



away to inquisitive strangers on the 



f> *f|* 4. *- ~ 



Flies'^" stream who ask what fly I got it on. 



Nothing is more exasperating than to be 



expected (even by friends) to give one's taking 



flies, especially when the supply is getting low. 



193 



