46 Tr outing-Flies. 



beds become heated by the sun's rays, the in- 

 sects, bursting from their larvae, attain their 

 full development as flies, and may then be seen 

 skipping in thousands over the stream, to the 

 intense delight and satisfaction of the hungry 

 trout. This applies especially to the Clyde, as, 

 for a great part of its course, it flows over a gravelly 

 bed with sand-banks on each side. As the March 

 brown is unquestionably the most effective fly from 

 the middle of March till the beginning of May, so 

 the sand-fly stands pre-eminent as a " killer " from 

 that time until the beginning of June, when the 

 May-fly makes its appearance. Should the weather 

 in May be bright and hot for then only are the 

 conditions favourable the sand-fly, closely imitated 

 and properly used, will afford more sport than any 

 other artificial fly that I know. At all events, in a 

 " small " clear water during bright sunshine, and for 

 days together, I have got heavier baskets with it 

 than with any other artificial fly, or even with all 

 the others combined, with the exception of the 

 blae, which, occurring under many forms, is always 

 represented on my cast in one variety or another 

 throughout the entire season. A cold day, how- 

 ever, being unfavourable for the development of the 

 natural flies, is unfavourable for the success of their 

 imitations. The fly is a small one, with dark body 

 and legs, and light brown and black mottled wings. 



