THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 257 



day with dry air, do not get half drowned as soon as they alight on the 

 water. On the contrary, they seem to jauntily rest themselves on the 

 surface of the stream with wings dry and repellant of the water. Then 

 are they most tempting and toothsome morsels for the fish. In such case, 

 it would be against the dictates of common sense to persistently fly-fish 

 in the ordinary fashion. Use, therefore, the fly in season dressed as 

 described for fly-fishing, viz., with the wings turned outward, and, 

 before casting each time, give it two or three turns in the air to dry 

 it. Deliver it with the utmost care that it falls lightly, and then 

 gently raise the rod as the fly approaches your feet. Persevere with 

 the fly if the fish notices it at all, until, by its very importunity, he 

 cannot resist taking it. 



Mr. Francis thinks one can almost make a fish think there is a rise 

 of some particular fly by so doing. I once whipped for three hours 

 over a nonchalant old trout of 41b. at Chenies, and then got him. It 

 will have been noticed in the details of the list of flies I have given 

 that little or no mention has been made of the size of the hooks or 

 proper size of the flies. This was because both of these points ought 

 to be decided by the size of the insects on the stream about to be 

 fished. Failing to ascertain this, I would recommend that size of 

 artificial fly which corresponds with the size of the natural insect. 

 The size of hook is determined by the size of the bait, and a sense of 

 proportion will therefore dictate what it should be. In tackle making 

 I give the various sizes, and I leave it to the experience of the fisher to 

 select the fittest. 



When speaking of the selection of size for any particular water, 

 Stewart says, ' ' The two great causes which should regulate the angler in 

 selecting the size of fly to be used are the colour and size of the water, and 

 the wariness of the fish, in fact, it must be large enough to ensure its being 

 seen, but not so large as to enable the trout to detect its artificial 

 character." This is very vague, and, moreover, it is not reliable. It is 

 a fact that some rivers require large flies and others small, but I am per- 

 suaded that the indigenous natural flies regulate this, and not the depth 

 of the water nor the trout's wariness only. Unquestionably, however, 

 these two " causes " are necessary to be observed, and besides the com- 

 parison with the native fly of the locality which I have recommended, I 

 would suggest that when fishing over deep water a large fly be used, and 

 also, that when the river is of dark-coloured water, large flies be utilised. 

 In fact, the duller and darker outward surroundings are, the larger the 

 fly ; the brighter and clearer they are, the smaller and lighter they 

 may be. 



In a former part of this work I adverted to the American idea that 



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