i8 DRY-FLY FISHING 



ridiculous than the dry-fly purist. The latter 'seeks 

 to lure a " tailing " trout, that is to say, one grubbing 

 about in the weeds, searching not for fully-fledged 

 flies but for nymphs and shrimps, and betraying 

 its presence and occupation from time to time by 

 throwing its tail above the surface. It would be 

 more logical to offer it a wet-fly or a worm, and more 

 in accordance with his own principles. 



The dry-fly, used as indicated in the following 

 chapters, assists the angler to accomplish every 

 object he has in view when out on a fishing expedi- 

 tion. He catches trout in a fascinating, sporting 

 manner, indulges in a pleasant recreation, enjoys 

 in the sunlight the beauties of the country, exercises 

 and increases his skill in manipulating the rod, 

 reading the stream, and overcoming his captives, 

 all of which he might also do sometimes, whatever 

 his lure ; but the floating fly will ensure their con- 

 tinuance during that period of the year which is at 

 present least kind to him, and at other times it will 

 certainly not fail him. 



There are a few who say that the practice of 

 dry-fly fishing has one great effect, viz. that it 

 destroys the most reprehensible desire for big kills, 

 and yet they give instructions in the art, so that 

 anglers may be enabled to catch more trout than 

 ever they did before. They record instances where 

 the superiority of the dry-fly over other lures was 

 clearly demonstrated, and relate how certain pools, 

 considered to contain impossible fish, were made to 

 yield freely of their magnificent specimens. 



The expert with the dry-fly does not lose his desire 

 for a big basket no angler ever does. On the 

 contrary, he accomplishes his ambition. He, how- 



