Trout Flies. 155 



certainly, and something like in colour, but not 

 a bit like the natural midge coming down. I threw 

 over the nearest fish ; up he came, and I had him ; 

 and took in quick succession 4J brace of splendid 

 fish. I sent up the fly to my friend, and to tell 

 him of my sport, in case he was not doing much. 

 He declined my fly ; and when we met at 

 luncheon I had nine fish, not one under \\ lb., 

 and he had one — a good one, taken with the 

 Chantry. Here size and colour had done what 

 one without the other would not have ac- 

 complished. It also exemplifies the capricious- 

 ness of the fish. Wind, and colour of sky the 

 same on both days, yet, one day taking greedily 

 the Dark Chantry, and the other nothing but the 

 smallest midge. 



I lay great stress upon the size of flies. As a 

 rule in calm weather, and the water clear, the flies 

 can hardly be too small, provided you have got the 

 right colour. With a good breeze blowing you 

 may use larger flies. The fish take the lure as 

 food coming down the water, and as a great 

 many flies are drowned as they float down, so 

 your fly is taken for one of them. Trout are 

 taken both with a wet and a dry fly. If you 

 watch a trout feeding, and get a favourable situation 

 over him, so that you can see him well, you will 

 see how often he moves on one side or the other, 



