8 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



fishing requires in addition patience, experience and 

 observation. 



Many excellent fishermen confine their fishing to either 

 the wet or dry fly method, but while the most successful 

 fisherman generally will be he who is in reality the master of 

 both, there can be no question as to which method of fishing 

 requires the greater skill or affords the more delightful 

 and interesting pastime. 



Even on such classical waters of dry fly fame as the 

 Itchen or the Test there are days when the trout who cannot 

 or who will not see the floating fly may yet be caught on the 

 sunken one.* Again, there are times on northern loch or 

 on the waters of wet fly streams when the wet fly expert 

 may use his sunken lures in vain, but when the fish will 

 eagerly take the floating fly. Both wet and dry fly can be 

 used with success on the same day. The Rev. Hamilton 

 Young caught in one day, on the Deveron, forty-four pounds of 

 trout, using both wet and dry fly methods. Here is the 

 entry from his diary : 



" The Deveron, May 10, 1899. Fished from 9.30 

 to 1.30 with wet fly, using the Hareslug and Yellow 

 Cotterel. Wind south, rainy and squally ; then sun 

 came out ; wind dropped. Fished with Olive 

 Quill, and got most heavy trout. Total weight, 44 

 pounds." 



It will be readily admitted, however, by those who are 

 skilled in both methods that not only is the dry fly more 

 successful in southern waters during May, June, July and 

 August, but that, as a means to sport, it is infinitely more 

 fascinating and delightful than the wet fly. The tendency 

 of every wet fly fisherman is toward dry fly fishing, and the 

 often repeated statements, " Oh, it is too scientific for me," 

 " I should like to learn," etc., are my apology for dealing 



* On this subject, " Minor Tactics on our Chalk Streams," by Mr. Skues, 

 is a book well worth reading. 



