ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING IN RIVERS AND LAKES. 85 



that described in the chapter on Tackle, it is better 

 when playing a fish, to remove the hand altogether from 

 the line, so as to allow of its yielding freely to any 

 hidden springs or rushes. 



When to Fish. 



1. Some rivers and lakes are early and some late, 

 whilst there are a few, like the Devonshire " Otter," in 

 which it is said the Trout rise best in a snow-storm. 

 This of course is a very exceptional case ; but, taking 

 the ordinary run of early and late waters, there are few 

 months of the year from early spring to late autumn in 

 which the Trout-iisher cannot find sport somewhere or 

 other. 



2. In all Trout fly-fishing, whether on lake or river, a 

 moderate, rippling breeze and a chequered sky are great 

 advantages ; principally, doubtless, because they help to 

 conceal the counterfeit fly, and lessen the glitter of the 

 gut. 



3. A bright sun, a dead calm, or water that is very 

 low and clear, are always bad, for the converse reasons. 



4. Water that is thickened by rain or other cause is 

 always bad. It prevents the fish seeing the flies on the 

 top, and brings down with it a quantity of ground-food 

 which fixes their attention on the bottom. 



5. The rise that precedes, and the fall that follows a 

 flood zuhen the ivater has cleai'ed, are generally favourable, 

 more particularly after drought. 



