128 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



There are many days, mostly in fine weather, with clear 

 calm water, which require the floating fly to be in the most 

 perfect condition possible, while on a few other days, and in 

 perhaps rougher water, the more fluffy and knocked about 

 the fly be, the more deadly it appears to become. 



When hesitating as to the size of any fly it is better to 

 choose the larger size, even on such educated waters as the 

 Itchen and the Test. 



But it must also be remembered that educated trout 

 may easily be " put down " by a fly larger or smaller than 

 the natural fly on which they are feeding. 



MOTHS AND OTTERS 



Moths constitute a very real danger to the security 

 of all artificial flies, and during the off season camphor 

 should be freely used. 



" Otters is pisen whenever met." They are carnivorous, 

 and those which inhabit or visit trout lakes and streams 

 exact a toll from these waters, which is thorough and 

 destructive. Otters, in any particular stream, may eat, 

 and may even prefer, the frog and the eel to the trout. 

 Evidence on this point is, however, very meagre and 

 one-sided, but what about the stream which supports 

 trout only ? Even with a partiality for partridge, I have 

 known people in the close season content themselves with 

 spring chicken. 



THE BROKEN ROD 



The fisherman is likely at some time or other to fracture 

 or spring the upper or middle joint of his fishing-rod, the 

 handle of his fishing-net, etc. 



If he should happen to meet with this misfortune he 



