CHAPTER VI 

 NYMPH-FLY FISHING 



IN the late season during July and August, one 

 often notices salmon rolling in the pools. By 

 this I mean coming out at the surface of the water, 

 showing their heads and generally their back fins 

 before going down. They seem to be moving 

 very slowly as if looking for food. Often if you 

 are close to them you can hear the "suck" noise 

 which they make with their mouth as they take 

 something below or on the surface. At such a 

 time it is often impossible to notice any flies on 

 the top of the water and most people suppose the 

 salmon are just playing around. Their behavior, 

 however, is exactly like bulging brown trout which 

 are known to be taking nymphs of the water insects 

 rising to the surface. At such a time brown trout 

 are most difficult to catch on a dry fly, while a 

 small wet fly drawn slowly just below the surface 

 with a fine leader takes them readily. This 

 nymph-fly fishing, as it is called, has been the sub- 

 ject of much study in England and many good 

 descriptions of it have been written in recent years. 

 The flies are often used without wings. 



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