40 ROD & CREEL 



time issues through the skin of the thorax and the actual fly 

 emerges. 



The fourth stage is sub-divided into two. In the first part 

 the insect is known as the "sub-imago" until it molts, it is 

 then the fully developed fly, sexually mature and known as the 

 "Imago." 



The life of the adult "day fly" is very short, but not just a 

 day as the name implies, and is commonly supposed to be the 

 case, as some species have been kept alive for two or three 

 weeks. The flies pair immediately, deposit their eggs and soon 

 afterwards fall into the water in a dishevelled state, when they 

 are known as spent gnats or flat- winged spinners. 



Now, if you aspire to being a "dry fly" artist of the most 

 scientific type you must not only study the adult flies but the in- 

 sects themselves in the "nymph," "imago" and "spent" 

 stages, but you should also endeavour to look at it from a trout's 

 position, who sees it from below under the water. To such an 

 extent have some men in Great Britain gone that they now tie 

 their flies with heads, waists and even egg sacs. 



In British Columbia, however, though it is a most interest- 

 ing and engrossing study, the day has not yet arrived when 

 such extremes are necessary, though a study of the flies on the 

 water will most certainly often fill a basket which otherwise 

 might remain empty. 



In this Province it is almost impossible to tell what flies 

 will be on the water during each particular month, as there is 

 too much variation in the seasons and the temperature of the 

 water caused either by glaciers or high altitude. 



For instance, take such flies as the "black gnat, "black 

 midge," "stone fly," which are generally June flies, you are 

 quite likely, owing to variations in the temperature of the 

 water through high altitude, glaciers, etc., to see a hatch of 

 them as early as May on one water or not until July, or even 

 August, on another. So that nothing more than a general idea 

 of what flies to use can be given, and you must rely to a great 

 extent on your own observation and judgment while fishing. 

 Moreover, it docs not follow that a fly will not kill because 

 there is not a hatch of that particular species on the water. 



Now with regard to the stock of flies you should have in 

 your book. If you go into any big sporting-goods store you 

 will be confronted with an enormous number of flies and 

 "lures." If you bought some of all and returned in a year 

 you would surely find a number of new ones, all of which laid 

 claim to great merit. Also, no matter what district you visited, 

 you would be likely to find special flies for ijhat particular dis- 

 trict, so that you could go on buying flies until at last you found 

 yourself with an enormous stock, that you had forgotten the 



