CONCERNING THE WIND 197 



did advise them to fish upstream and with the float- 

 ing fly. 



In spring the East wind is comparatively warm, 

 let us grant, at Tweedmouth, and will become 

 slightly colder as it blows up the many miles of 

 Tweed to Biggar Water, while in summer it will 

 undergo a small rise in temperature as it performs 

 the same journey. Consequently, if it is always 

 good on Tweed, as it is commonly said to be, and as 

 we find it to be, its goodness cannot be due to its 

 temperature ; that is due, we think, only to the 

 fact that it assists the angler by its direction. Any 

 wind that blows against the stream at any particular 

 part is a good wind for that part. 



Some anglers have formed the opinion that warm 

 winds are necessary for successful dry-fly fishing. 

 In April there is, on all but the coldest days, a hatch 

 of flies, plentiful or scanty as the case may be, but 

 the March Brown may appear whenever there is 

 a touch of sunshine, even though the temperature 

 be low ; in average weather Dark Olives and Iron- 

 Blues will also arrive to keep the trout and the rod 

 busy. In May, olives of a lighter shade are due if 

 conditions are those generally prevailing ; the 

 Gravel-bed fly will come forth if the sun's rays are 

 powerful ; the Iron-Blue will reappear if the day is 

 unseasonably cold. During the next three months, 

 it is on the coldest days that we make the best 

 baskets, best, that is, in weight and numbers ; but 

 warm weather provides by far the most interesting 

 fishing. September resembles May. 



Therefore, throughout the season, be the day 

 warm or cold, there is sport to be had on the river 

 to the floating fly and, however unpromising the 



