Casting the Fly 361 



bait down a stream for several seasons gives sub- 

 stantial experience to the future fly fisherman. 

 He will acquire a thorough knowledge of the 

 water where the trout lie, their hours of feeding, 

 when on the rifts, and when in the pools; the 

 situation of the bottom and surface flowing 

 springs near which the trout love to lie; the 

 character of the banks, the trend of the trees and 

 bushes, where the boulders, logs, and other ob- 

 structions are located in the current, and last, not 

 least, if he has the true instinct of the fly fisher to 

 be developed in the future, he will note all the 

 phases of insect life fluttering over and born of 

 the water or on the overhanging bushes. 



The bait fisherman will find no difficulty in 

 catching trout when a qualified freshet is on a 

 slightly clouded stream. A fly-fishing rod and 

 tackle, with a No. 6 Sproat hook, baited with a 

 moss-scoured garden worm, which is to be al- 

 lowed to trail down the current, guided here and 

 there, to the most likely places, will usually fill 

 the creel, if the fish are there and on the feed. 

 But on a bright sunny day, when the water is 

 low, a different finale is apt to occur. Under such 

 a condition, the bait fisherman must bring into 

 play all the caution and finesse of the fly-caster 



