138 FLY FISHING 



is certain that for these few weeks of the season 

 worm fishing for trout is altogether a different 

 thing from what it is at any other time. It is 

 an art of which I have had little experience. It 

 needs special skill in casting the worm up 

 stream, a knowledge of when to strike, and, for 

 great success, a practised rapidity in baiting the 

 hook, when trout are being landed quickly. 



After the beginning of July the angler may 

 have many a pleasant day's fly fishing though 

 his basket will not often be heavy. The natural 

 flies continue to hatch out in July and August, 

 and the trout feed upon them, but in dilettante 

 ways, and in all sorts of water in deep still 

 water, as well as in streams and pools. The 

 rivers will as a rule be very small and clear, and 

 the fish partly for this reason, and partly because 

 they are now less intent at any given time of 

 the day upon feeding, will be more shy and 

 particular. It becomes desirable to cover a 

 larger extent of water than is at all necessary 

 earlier in the season, fishing one bit of water 

 because the light summer breeze happens to be 

 making a fair ripple on it ; another because 

 a fish is seen to rise ; and a third because it 



