Notes and Sport of a Dry -Fly Purist. 187 



that of last spring and especially gratifying to the 

 dry -fly fisherman, who in many ways, if he be a 

 purist, handicaps himself by restrictions, and yet 

 when his opportunities come has this consolation, 

 that the sport obtained is in its highest perfection. 

 That certainly is his aim rather than to make a big 

 bag, for about three brace are usually enough for 

 him, and he rarely kills a fish under IJlb. These 

 favourable conditions induced me to bring out my 

 fly rod on the opening day, contrary to my practice 

 for some recent years of waiting until May. It was 

 altogether delightful to be by the riverside, ready 

 and physically fit to wield the trusty lift, split-cane 

 rod again after its long rest, with no jot of 

 enthusiasm abated. 



Patience was rewarded when, after about half an 

 hour, the trout mentioned above rose again, and, 

 more encouraging still, remained in position near 

 the surface, ready to snap up the olive duns now 

 coming down in fitful and thinly scattered lines. 

 He was soon so well on the feed that I felt sure he 

 was doomed, and, in fact, directly my olive quill, 

 lightly and well cocked, floated over his nose, up he 

 turned, followed, and unhesitatingly took it, and 

 was well hooked, instantly rushing up-stream in 

 wild affright, and clean through a patch of weeds, 

 nor durst I restrain him until he stopped. Then my 

 turn came, and quickly winding in the unavoidably 



