Getting Old tlie Fly Books 



own strongholds forces one to believe that 

 the latter had usually little else than tradi- 

 tion and local pride in their favor. Ex- 

 ceptionally, some peculiarity of light and 

 water will give a real advantage to a local 

 favorite; and when this advantage is asso- 

 ciated with some singularity of color or 

 structure, it is quite possible that the fly 

 may resemble something known as food, 

 or as an enemy to the salmon. But if one 

 takes a dozen or twenty approved standard 

 patterns, he cannot fail to notice that every 

 one has some peculiarity as brilliancy, 

 striking color, or strong contrast that 

 makes it an object likely to attract atten- 

 tion in the water. 



The pleasures of fly-fishing are not con- 

 fined to those who have access to trout 

 brooks and salmon rivers. The widespread 

 black bass readily takes the fly; and many 

 humbler fish, such as chub and sunfish, give 

 good sport if the tackle be suitably light. 

 Indeed, almost any fish that feeds near 

 the surface will take the moving sunken 

 fly, whether in fresh or salt water. The 

 resources of the fisherman are much 

 increased in the South by the use of the 

 fly in shallow bays, harbors, and lagoons. 

 Game fish of large size and excellent 

 quality are thus taken in abundance. In 



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