A DAY'S DRY FLY FISHING 31 



the commotion caused by a rise bears any relative proportion 

 to the fish making it, and " the bigger the fish the more 

 gentle the rise " is almost an axiom. The reasons for this 

 are simple. The dignified assurance with which a big trout 

 rises at a floating fly is due, not only to his greater experi- 

 ence, but to the fact that he is more often in the deeper and 

 more slowly running portions of the stream ; and the 

 floating fly therefore comes into his ken and towards his 

 station slowly, and permits of a well-regulated and 

 leisurely approach. 



His smaller brother, on the other hand, is more often 

 found in the shallow and rapidly running portions of the 

 stream ; hence, not only from the greater rapidity with 

 which a floating fly will travel, but from the uncertainty of 

 a lesser experience, and possibly from having a keener 

 appetite, he will be galvanised into a more impulsive action 

 when taking the fly. This rush will of necessity disturb the 

 surface more, and make it appear a more important rise, 

 than will the self-controlled action of the older or bigger 

 fish. 



See there again, under the bank in the deep water, about 

 thirty yards higher up. Just a dimple, no more. As there 

 are no Red Quill on the water, we will now go back to the 

 Blue Quill. We can dispense with the butterfly-net, 

 which is closed in three seconds, and placed in the fishing- 

 creel ready for use when required. 



FISHING THE RISE 



We can now fish the rise, for we know where certain 

 feeding fish are by these rises, and also which fly they are 

 apparently taking. There is no necessity to bring experi- 

 ence and knowledge to bear in order to determine the 

 probable position of the trout ; we have only to notice the 

 rise, and try for rising fish. 



