

WET FLY FISHING, ETC. 131 



useful. On one occasion, when fishing on a delightful 

 chalk stream in Normandy, I gave up any attempt to attract 

 the fish, which were showing up in all directions, with the 

 dry fly, and by adopting the above method secured quite a 

 respectable basket of fish. I have since then, under 

 bulging conditions, tried a Gold-ribbed Hare's Ear, also 

 a Greenwell's Glory, and think the reader will find either 

 of these flies well worth trying, the gold ribbing being 

 most likely the attraction. Alders, or Coch y Bondhu can 

 at times be used with success when trout are persistently 

 bulging. 



KEEPING THE LINE CLEAR 



A word as to casting and fishing when daylight has ceased 

 and before the moon makes her appearance. In order to 

 keep your line clear in casting, bring the rod back a little to 

 the left of the vertical, and return it slightly to the right, 

 or vice versd. This should effectually prevent fouling, always 

 allowing plenty of time for the line to extend itself behind. 

 The line should, however, be drawn through the fingers 

 every few minutes, in order to make certain that it has not 

 fouled. When a breeze is blowing across your line, always 

 bring your rod back slightly to leeward, and return it 

 slightly to windward of the vertical plane in which you 

 would otherwise cast. 



CHANGING THE FLY AFTER DARK 



Now as to the greatest difficulty of all the changing or 

 replacing of trout flies on the cast after dark. This is a 

 difficulty which has on more than one occasion robbed me 

 of the charm of redeeming the ill-fortune of a poor day, 

 when the very audible but invisible activity of the trout 

 was telling me of a long delayed and anxiously expected 

 rise. 



