218 DRY-FLY FISHING 



the flies that will cause the waters to give up their 

 trophies are the Blue Hen Spider, the Red Quill, 

 and the Black Midge. The Badger Hackle, useful 

 also at times during the previous month, is now 

 indispensable, and capable of many victories, when 

 the waters are besprinkled with tiny smuts. 



Only seldom are we out at noon of the trying days. 

 We prefer to set out at the dawning, creel on back, 

 and rod in hand. It is then good to be out, the 

 morning air is so sweet ; there is such a wealth of 

 life that later in the day hides itself from prying 

 eyes. Along the road innumerable rabbits frisk 

 about, and lordly pheasants fearless strut ; on the 

 hill we catch a glimpse of the red fox homeward 

 bound ; we hear the lark salute the morn ; we 

 flush the wary heron at the ford. 



We fish the early morning July rise, when the 

 music of the stream is hid in the melody of the 

 woods, before the first pillar of smoke floats away 

 from the herd's cottage on the moor, as the sun 

 begins to pierce the moist warm air, dispelling, if 

 luck attends, the gentle shower which delights the 

 thirsty midges. Then we learn again some of the 

 greatest joys in life. 



The trout are awake, the big ones are out, each 

 on its own special feeding-ground, and we may 

 take one of them if we know the spot and hasten to 

 get the worm or minnow over it while there is 

 yet time ; they will not linger long, but will depart 

 as the light grows to the safe shelter beneath the 

 bank or the stronghold of a sunken snag. If 

 such a prize is denied, there are still trophies await- 

 ing, the pounders, whose appetites are keen at 

 early morn. We select, if possible, a western stream 



