DRY FLY FISHING 81 



himself by his own weight. This may be the 

 case with a wet fly moving under water, but 

 it is as a rule not the way in which a large 

 chalk stream trout feeds. He lies close to the 

 surface of the water, and takes by preference the 

 flies which pass exactly over him, taking them 

 with the smallest possible effort and change of 

 position ; often he does little more than just put 

 the end of his mouth to the surface and with- 

 draw it, taking the fly with the mere tip of 

 his lips, and rejecting it instantly if it is not 

 what he expects. It seems to me better there- 

 fore (though authorities differ about this) to 

 strike directly the fly is seen to be taken. There 

 must in every case be a perceptible interval 

 required to overcome the slackness of the line 

 before the strike takes effect, and where, as 

 often happens, the line owing to the manner 

 of the cast or the action of the stream is not 

 perfectly straight upon or in the water at the 

 time, this interval is sometimes too long rather 

 than too short. Large trout, which have probably 

 had some previous education, are apt to feed 

 very carefully and to take the fly so delicately, 

 that the angler often has only half a chance 



