IMITATION OF THE NATURAL INSECT 157 



study of the trend of the stream currents 

 particularly of those upon its surface before 

 beginning operations. Whether or not the fly 

 is to be placed an inch from the bank, or a foot 

 or two away, should depend entirely upon this 

 observation, plane being always the important 

 consideration. 



The surface currents carry down numbers 

 of insects, both dead and alive, and the edge 

 of that one which is carrying most drift and 

 is travelling slowest should be chosen by the 

 angler for the delivery of the artificial al- 

 ways with regard to the avoidance of drag. 

 If there are no insects about or upon the sur- 

 face of the water, small drift stuff, leaves, 

 twigs, and the like will be carried down in 

 the same plane, and under this surface drift 

 the fish will probably be lying. He is inter- 

 ested in things upon the surface, and it is the 

 angler's business to know it, and to so present 

 the fly that it will come down as naturally as 

 an unhampered insect. 



It seems hardly necessary to state that it 

 will be found well-nigh if not quite impossible to 

 imitate the fluttering of a fly over or upon the 

 water, by means of the rod. Yet many of us, 

 when wet fly fishing, have deluded ourselves 



