SOME DRY FLY MAXIMS. 2i 



just in time to get a fish apiece from the bankside, and the rise was over. 

 Moreover, it was the only rise vouchsafed to us that morning or afternoon. 

 So that the moral is that you can never tell when the psychological 

 moment may arrive, and may easily miss it when it does come if you are 

 lying on your back reading a novel, or with your eyes anywhere but on 

 the water. One must lunch, no doubt, but it can generally be best 

 enjoyed in the outer air, where you can watch the water and the fish whilst 

 enjoying your luncheon and your rest. And on such inauspicious days do 

 not relax your precautions in approaching the water, or from nonchalance 

 or weariness allow yourself to cast carelessly. Your field glasses will 

 often reveal to you a more likely fish — at the tail of the weed, maybe, or 

 under the thorn bush on the opposite bank — and it may be worth while to 

 float a fly over him and give him a trial. If he accepts the offer he is 

 worth to you several got out under more favourable conditions. 



When fish are really smutting, and the water is almost boiling with 

 rises, the angler's patience is most sorely tried. Nothing seems to tempt 

 them ; the smallest gnats ever tied are far too big. Who will tell us what 

 to do in such a case ? In truth, I know not. All I can say is that they 

 are in a peculiarly aggravating humour. How vexatious, too, are the 

 tailing fish, boring their heads into the weeds and breaking the water with 

 their broad tails — and their tails always look particularly broad at such 

 times. I have at times caught them with a big alder, fished wet, and 

 jerked past them when they have finished for the moment their diving 

 operations, and their heads are up. It is chance work, and, if not 

 productive of much use of the landing-net, will serve to pass the time and 

 amuse you ; for if you don't succeed in hooking many you will certainly 

 get an occasional one to run at your fly, his back fin breaking the water 

 and making as big a wave as if he were twice the size. In the quick 

 water by the hatch holes on such a day you may find a rising fish, though 

 when hooked he will probably prove unsizeable. 



Never despair or give it up, unless you are one of the fortunate 

 individuals who live by their water side, and who can therefore pick and 

 choose. Where all days are yours it would be folly to persevere on really 

 bad ones ; but most of us are not so favourably situated, and we have to 

 make the most of the odd chances we get. Therefore my counsel is to 

 examine and watch the water, and be ever on the alert. 



