66 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



close in their hiding places beneath the stones near the 

 water. Consequently the ideal conditions for Stone 

 Fly fishing are when a fresh of a few inches comes 

 suddenly down the river and washes them out of their 

 hiding places. 



The large females with the long wings are usually 

 preferred by both fishermen and trout ; the fishermen 

 find them easy to see on the water, and the trout no 

 doubt find them a satisfying mouthful. The males 

 vary in size, although they are smaller than the females 

 and have shorter wings ; the smallest males are difficult 

 to see when cast on the water and soon become water- 

 logged ; the larger males are almost as good as the 

 females. The males are called ** Jacks." If males are 

 used, the hooks of the tackle should be nearer 

 together than the hooks in the tackle usually used in 

 Stone Fly fishing. 



It is not as a rule difficult to collect a supply of Stone 

 Flies, but the males greatly outnumber the females. 

 As they are picked up they can be placed in one of the 

 Stone Fly boxes sold for the purpose, a transparent 

 one for preference. The tackle and rod line and cast 

 for Stone Fly fishing are exactly the same as those 

 described for Creeper fishing, and the fly should be 

 put on the hooks in the same manner as the Creeper. 



The fishing should again be upstream and the Stone 

 Fly be cast as in Creeper fishing ; but, whereas the 

 Creeper is fished under the water, the Stone Fly is 



