AMERICAN TROUT-STREAM INSECTS 



capture them. Yet in flight they appear to move 

 slowly and quietly along. 



The shad-fly is an excellent floater, and spends 

 much time walking along the surface, which it does 

 with ease. 



While most trout flies hide themselves behind 

 large stones and under leaves for protection from 

 the wind and rain on cold days, a remarkable fea- 

 ture of the shad-fly is to gather together in a great 

 swarm on a rock by the riverside, something like a 

 swarm of bees. If you brush them off in large clus- 

 ters to the water's surface they spread out, floating 

 down with the current, to attract a surprising num- 

 ber of trout and chub which rise up, making the 

 water bubble in all directions, to feed and gorge on 

 the unexpected feast. 



I can with confidence predict that, for the latter 

 half of May and most of the month of June, the 

 artificial copy of this insect, either male or female, 

 will be found by fly-fishers (both wet and dry) to 

 be superior to any other fly, even including the large 

 green and gray drake. When the shad-fly is on 

 the water you never fail to see trout rising; and 

 when the great rise appears, it is impossible to catch 

 a trout with any prevailing fly as now tied. 



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