24 DRY-FLY FISHING 



wet-fly meets with any success at all, when it acts 

 in such an unnatural manner. That success should 

 attend the use of spiders or wingless flies is not 

 surprising, because some of the best patterns suggest 

 tolerably well nymphs and other subaqueous crea- 

 tures. The majority of wet-flies, however, are 

 dressed in imitation of fully developed flies, and 

 yet are fished beneath the surface, that is to say, 

 they are put into a position which the natural fly 

 can seldom occupy. 



When thus submerged, the wings in many flies 

 fold over the hook, and covering slightly the body 

 and modifying its colour, presumably give the lure 

 the shape and shade of a nymph. Being under water 

 and subjected to movement by the current and 

 perhaps also by the rod, the so-called fly resembles 

 the nymph in another particular, viz. action, and 

 therefore it is accepted. In short, though designed 

 to represent a fly, it accidentally suggests something 

 else well enough to delude a hungry fish. 



Again, it seems reasonable to assume that a trout 

 has no clear view of the surface ; in certain circum- 

 stances at least, for example, when the water is 

 ruffled by a breeze or current, it is possible that it 

 cannot see exactly whether a fly is on the surface or 

 slightly above or below it. Consequently it may 

 rise for a fly which has not yet reached the water, 

 just as it may take one that has sunk an inch or two. 



It is now understood that a trout is able to see 

 objects coming through the air towards the water. 

 Those who dap with the natural fly must have had 

 the experience of exciting the curiosity of several 

 trout in a pool and leading them about by dangling 

 the fly in the air ; it is possible at this game to select 



