154 DRY-FLY FISHING 



In still or gently gliding pools trout, except 

 when cruising, seem to prefer waiting for the fly 

 to be brought to them, and selecting only such 

 as give them the minimum of trouble to secure ; 

 they are not so violent in their attacks, rising quietly, 

 and sometimes scarcely disturbing the surface at 

 all ; they do not move to one side or another as 

 they do in faster water. We find, or think, it pays 

 best to lay the fly on the rise or only a few inches 

 beyond it ; but again it is well to consider whether 

 it should be done at once or delayed. We have, 

 not once but on numerous occasions, seen a trout 

 rising with such regularity and at intervals so 

 small that the rings from consecutive rises inter- 

 fered with one another. In such a case the fly 

 could be delivered at any time, as the trout must 

 be poised very close to the surface, but to succeed 

 the artificial would have to be a very good imita- 

 tion of the natural insect on the water. In more 

 usual circumstances it is better to postpone pre- 

 senting the fly, so that the fish may have time to 

 sink to its position, that is until it is again on the 

 look-out. 



It will often be noticed that when the Ephemeridce 

 are hatching they arrive in comparatively small 

 detachments. A good trout will secure for itself 

 the best position its prowess can command, and 

 collect as many specimens as it can while the hatch 

 lasts ; it then descends to swallow and digest. 

 The angler should not enter into competition with 

 the flies, if they are numerous, or lay siege to the 

 trout while it is busy taking down the insects. He 

 may ; but, as suggested in the preceding paragraph, 

 his success will largely depend on the excellence 



