FLY FISHING 33 



induced the rise. Alternately the writers threw over 

 rising fish with more or less success ; but the professional, 

 who persevered for another half-hour without changing 

 his flies, at last gave up in disgust. For the time 

 being at least he was beaten. Not that he did not know 

 the river or understand the habits of the trout — both 

 were to him as an open book — but simply because he 

 was deficient in his knowledge of insect Ufe. This man 

 probably knew some ten or a dozen good all-round 

 flies which he used the season through, but without 

 due regard to the hatch of natural insects. 



Now put yourself in the professional's position on 

 that particular day, only add to his knowledge that 

 of insect life. On finding your flies rejected, you would 

 have picked from off the water, and examined, the 

 natural insects which were floating down ; then, 

 immediately realizing what was amiss, you would 

 have substituted an imitation of the taking fly for one 

 on your cast. Success would have followed failure, 

 and a light-hearted angler would have tramped home- 

 wards at sunset with a creel the heavier for his practical 

 knowledge. 



From the foregoing it will be gathered that the novice 

 should make it his first duty to study on every possible 

 occasion the insect life of the river he is going to 

 fish, and not merely rely upon the tackle dealer 

 or professional to supply his deficiency in this, or 

 indeed in other matters. By this let it not be 



