A DAY'S DRY FLY FISHING 15 



Hence you will readily understand that the latter has not 

 only to use the more perfect and life-like form of fly, but to 

 present it poised naturally and in life-like condition on the 

 surface of the water. The wet fly fisherman can, on the 

 other hand, present flies to the trout either on or under the 

 surface of the water, and in a far less perfect condition. 



Now, as the water is clear and the weather is warm, 

 flying water insects will soon be numerous, consequently 

 the fish will be taking the dry fly, and therefore we will first 

 of all try our friend the Blue Quill ; for two things are 

 certain : that the fish were taking this fly yesterday, and 

 also that there are some of these flies already on the water, 

 and probably there will be an early hatch of the same kind 

 before long. We have seen no rise, it is true, but we may 

 be able to tempt a fish before the rise proper commences, 

 and this I call " fishing the stream." When the rise com- 

 mences we shall try for rising fish, and this I call " fishing 

 the rise." There is more scientific knowledge required 

 when fishing the stream with a dry fly than in fishing the 

 rise, and the former is perhaps the more successful method 

 throughout the day ; for while the rise may be uncertain 

 and very brief, fish can be taken at all times during the day, 

 if a knowledge of the locality and the habits of trout be 

 possessed, by casting the fly in the most likely spots, even 

 though the trout are not rising in the strict sense of the 

 term. 



The dry fly fisherman should fish the rise when it is 

 apparent, and fish the stream at all other times. It is 

 impossible for anyone to see more than a limited extent of 

 the water, even in his immediate vicinity, and innumerable 

 rises may, therefore, escape his notice. Fish are not always 

 feeding, and even when feeding are by no means always 

 rising to the surface. It follows, therefore, that if a fly is 

 cast in all likely places while not omitting at the same time 



