76 SALMON FISHING 



toppings on the body no doubt make it look 

 like a shrimp, and that is why I think they take 

 it so well in low water. The reason the fish 

 don't take your fancy flies is, that the colour is 

 too bright. You will have to subdue this, and 

 don't forget the Indian Crow. They come to 

 your fancy fly when they will not to a sober 

 one, but as soon as they get near the ex- 

 cessive colour frightens them, therefore you can 

 only carry this to a limited extent. The point 

 is, that you must attract, and having attracted, 

 you must give confidence to the fish if he is to 

 take the fly. So much of course depends on the 

 light, that the exact degree of colour will be 

 difficult to determine. There should be at least 

 three shades, and I am of opinion that they 

 should be used thus : the lightest one in the 

 brightest light, and the darkest one when the 

 light is weak." 



When a river is in good ply, there is no need 

 to spend time on these methods; but when the 

 water is fine, and the " casts " are reduced from 

 ten possibly to two, it is quite another matter, 

 and success may still be attained by the angler 

 who is resourceful. 



A careful note of the position of the sun is 

 always necessary. If it is shining directly down 

 on the head of the pool, fishing is generally 

 speaking of little use, except in a heavy wind, as 



