IV 



TROUT FLIES IN APRIL— WHEN INSECTS 

 FIRST APPEAR 



In April "Sol wins the ascendency, and blunts 

 the sharp teeth of rebellious winds — withered win- 

 ter vanishes in flowery green and woodland music." 



The native song-sparrow carols merrily ; the blue- 

 bird flits by in familiar companionship with the 

 angler alongside the stream. The fish-hawk has 

 returned from warmer climes — bolder, because 

 more hungry in spring than in summer; the king- 

 fisher, robed in gray, attends to the business of de- 

 pleting the stream of young fish. 



"Trout are now voracious and bold. They dash 

 unerringly at the passing fly without fear or scru- 

 ple. This genial life-cheering month teems with 

 sport for the fly-fisher." 



Suddenly, any day, all along the river trout stir 

 up as if a general had commanded them to begin 

 feeding; but not before the waters run much lower 

 and the refreshing warm showers come ; then "flies 

 follow flies in thick succession fast." 



In early spring when trout begin to feed they are 



18 



