BULGING TROUT 91 



water. When the trout are showing the dorsal fin 

 and part of the back above the water, they are then 

 said to be bulging. If the fisherman finds that the 

 trout, in these circumstances, persistently refuse to 

 feed on the floating fly, his best plan is to change his 

 cast, and fish up and across stream with a short line 

 and two or more single-winged flies. They should, 

 if possible, resemble the nymphse on which the trout are 

 feeding, and should only be sunk a few inches below 

 the surface, the spasmodic swimming action of the 

 nymphse being imitated as closely as possible by a series 

 of very small jerks given to the artificial fly as the cast 

 is drawn through the water toward the fisherman. 



I have found that a medium Olive Quill body and 

 heckle, with a single pair of the lightest starling wings, 

 is extremely useful. On one bulging day, when 

 fishing on a delightful chalk stream in Normandy, I 

 gave up any attempt to attract the fish, which 

 were showing up in all directions, with the dry fly, 

 and by adopting the above method secured quite a 

 respectable basket of fish. I have since then, under 

 bulging conditions, adopted this plan with success. 

 Mr. Halford recommends a Gold-ribbed Hare's Ear, 

 and though I have never offered one to a bulging 

 fish, I think them well worth trying, the gold ribbing 

 being most likely the attraction. Alders have, I 

 believe, often been used with success when trout are 

 persistently bulging. 



