SECRETS OF THE SALMON 



visible object, which is the reflection, and tries to 

 take it instead of the real fly. To the fisherman 

 this fish seems to "come short." This, however, 

 will not happen so often when the surface of the 

 water is broken by waves or ripples. The reflec- 

 tion is partially or even totally destroyed by the 

 broken surface, and the fish, therefore, comes for 

 the real fly only. All fishermen have had the ex- 

 perience of missing fish in still water, and we all 

 know that swift water is much easier and a surer 

 place to hook them. Also, often when a fish 

 "comes short" the fly is of the wrong size or the 

 leader is too large and scares him. I have come 

 more and more to think that the relative positions 

 of the fly and the light to the fish have much more 

 to do with his turning away. This is evidenced 

 by the fact that he often takes it better if it is 

 pulled faster as he comes toward it. The faster 

 motion no doubt makes the flash in the water. 

 Frequently salmon lying in the current pay no at- 

 tention to a fly if it is swung past their noses on 

 the turn of the leader, but the same fish will take 

 it if it is pulled directly away from them up-stream. 

 This must be due to the light effects, as a small fly 

 must look very small indeed if perceived from the 

 back. 



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