A Dry -Fly Purist's Advice to a Beginner. 09 



There also record your observations about flies 

 and natural objects at your leisure after your fishing 

 day is over, or next morning, but make brief notes 

 by the riverside to aid your memory when writing 

 a fuller description ; carry a pencil and scraps of 

 paper in your pocket for the purpose. 



Avoid a restless angler ; give him a wide berth. 



Be courteously polite to other rods whom you 

 meet by the riverside. If they offer you a killing 

 fly, give one or two of your own favourite patterns 

 in return, but do not gossip too long. 



Never, in casually passing a fly -fisher at work, if 

 a stranger, ask him abruptly " what sport he has 

 had ? " for if good he may not care to publish it, 

 and if nothing at all, it is somewhat humiliating to 

 say so. I never can understand why utter strangers 

 to a man carrying a rod and creel, as he passes 

 along a thoroughfare on his way home, should sans 

 ceremonie accost him and take the liberty to ask 

 the above question. It is peculiar to angling. A 

 gentleman carrying a gun is never asked by a 

 stranger, "How many birds have you killed?' 3 



Aim at perfection as much as possible in flies and 

 tackle, and never fail to put all straight and in 

 order after the day's fishing, however late it may 

 be, before retiring to bed. 



It is not always advisable to show your hand 

 in other words, to fish in your best manner while a 



