82 DRY-FLY FISHING 



of the angler and so induce him to give it a trial. 



This pattern will give a good account of itself 

 when the little watery duns are out on quiet evenings 

 on loch and reservoir. Many an angler has given 

 up in despair and disgust on seeing his efforts entirely 

 ignored by " smutting " trout, but defeat is by no 

 means a foregone conclusion ; in fact, it may readily 

 be converted into victory if the Badger Hackle is 

 laid quietly on the smooth water and floated over 

 the rise. 



The Trichoptera or sedge-flies are a numerous 

 family, forming a plentiful supply of obviously 

 agreeable food for the trout, and therefore they 

 deserve more attention from the angler than they 

 usually receive. They are well known to the night- 

 fisher, most of whose death-dealing deceptions are 

 intended to represent these insects of the wonderful 

 life-history, and while it is true that many of them 

 love the night and are therefore of little interest to 

 the dry-fly man who finds himself under no necessity 

 to fish in darkness, some rejoice in the brightness of 

 daylight, and others again are most active in the 

 gloaming hour. 



These caddis-flies float much lower in the water 

 than do the Ephemeridcz, and therefore the artificials 

 should be provided with short, soft, hen-hackles. 

 Unlike some other flies, they are seldom, if ever, at 

 peace on the water ; apparently they do not enjoy 

 being borne quietly onwards by the current, but 

 skate about the surface until, sooner or later, a trout 

 rises to terminate the voyage. 



The Corncrake, the Cinnamon, and the Black 

 Sedges are all patterns likely to prove useful from 

 time to time. On Loch Dochart the Black Sedge is 



