72 ADVANTAGES OF WET FLY 



to attempt the wet fly method, and yet perhaps some 

 four hours later, when the water is thickened by a 

 passing thunderstorm, the wet fly is the only one likely 

 to secure trout that is, until the water clears suffi- 

 ciently to allow the dry fly to be once more seen by the 

 fish. 



And if sport is wanted, and opportunities of fishing 

 are few, it would be a mistake for the dry fly man to 

 reel up his line when a temporary thickness of the water 

 shuts out his fly from the ken of the fish, and so prevents 

 his fishing with a dry fly. If the rain has been a warm 

 one the trout are sure to be feeding toward the bottom 

 of the stream, and probably on drifting matter, such 

 as the drowned sub-imago, etc. It is much wiser, 

 therefore, for the angler to put on a wet fly cast, and, 

 sinking his flies well below the surface, to fish his way 

 down-stream ; he is very likely to pick up some good 

 fish, instead of losing half, or perhaps more, of his 

 precious day's fishing. And now, as we have finished 

 our luncheon, I will show you yet another way of 

 taking a trout before I go home. 



You can see that not a fish is moving ; everything is 

 baking hot. The sub-imago is sheltering amid the 

 grass, and the pupa amid the weeds ; both dislike this 

 bright and torrid glare, and while the former is getting 

 ready for his joyous but very brief honeymoon exist- 

 ence, the latter is clinging to his wavy and shadowy 

 retreat, and waiting for the impulse which is to send 

 him, despite all dangers, jigging up towards the surface 

 to loosen the wings which are fretting within his mask. 



