38 DRY-FLY FISHING 



not available. They look for food below and 

 take the worm, not because they are accustomed 

 to it, for that they cannot be when waters are 

 low, but because it is alive and happens to arrive 

 where they are. The artificial fly is not readily 

 taken when surface-food is absent, because trout 

 are searching the depths and not scanning the 

 surface. 



If at all periods of the year flies like unto the 

 stone-fly in size and number were obtainable, there 

 would be no necessity for a dry-fly, except for 

 such anglers as prefer on all occasions an artificial 

 lure. Since natural flies do not exist so accommo- 

 dating in every respect as the stone-fly, the fly- 

 fisher desirous of prolonging the period of good 

 sport, must have the nearest approach to the 

 natural insect that has been made, in other words, 

 the floating fly. As that lure so very closely re- 

 sembles a living creature in shape, size, shade, 

 and behaviour, the last particular being probably 

 the most important, it deceives very nearly as 

 many and as good trout as any natural bait entices. 

 The great advantage of the floating fly is that it 

 takes trout of fine average size, the best the river 

 contains. In short, it allows the glories of the 

 stone-fly season to continue throughout the year. 



It is curious that the great majority of stone-fly 

 anglers fish it on the surface and yet, when they 

 are forced to use an artificial, which they do simply 

 because a natural fly suitable for impaling upon 

 a hook is not available, they allow it to sink beneath. 

 If an artificial represents a living fly, surely it should 

 behave as one, and float. 



Another great advantage of the dry-fly is that 



