FISHING THE SALMON FLY 75 



that one only begins to understand how very 

 difficult the subject is, when one has learned 

 all there seems to be to learn. I agree with your 

 remarks about placing the fly at right angles 

 over a fish, if he won't come with the fly worked 

 from above at the usual angle. If a fly hangs 

 on a fish, he will often lie and look at it without 

 moving ; but if it goes quickly over him, he will 

 be tempted to rush at it and may take it. 

 There is on water I fish, a bridge from which 

 fish lying in the stream below are easily seen. 

 I frequently get my man to go up, and tell me 

 all that goes on as the fly comes over. One 

 day last season I tried about half-a-dozen flies, 

 moving fish time and again, but none would 

 take until just in the evening, when I killed one 

 with a 'Popham.' The next day I had a beat 

 higher up the river, and tried a fine pool three 

 times down with Wilkinson, Durham Ranger, 

 and Gordon, knowing I was casting over fish, 

 but never had a touch. After resting the pool I 

 mounted a ' Popham,' and fished it up and across, 

 while the ghillie rowed gently. 1 I killed four fish 

 (best 25 Ibs.), all of which we had previously seen 

 rise, in two hours, and two of them had the 

 ' Popham ' in their throats, so they must have 

 rushed open-mouthed at it. The Indian Crow 



1 Was it the change of fly or the manner of the fishing which 

 scored? I think the latter. AUTHOR. 



