128 A rtificial-Fly Fishing. 



so to any angler who can devote only one day at a 

 time to "the gentle art," I would unhesitatingly 

 say, choose the day after a flood, and fish with 

 the artificial fly. 



On the upper reaches of the Clyde, when the 

 water is " small " and clear, sunshine and wind are 

 absolutely necessary to good sport. On Tweed, 

 sun suits very well during April, but in the sum- 

 mer months a dull, cold, showery day is best. In 

 the absence of wind, the streams and broken water 

 only should be fished ; nothing can come of fishing 

 smooth water in a dead calm. Sunshine, however, 

 is never desirable with a black water for the arti- 

 ficial fly, except in the case of the sand-fly, which 

 must have heat as well as sunshine. All the other 

 varieties of flies are more successful on a dull day, 

 when the water is in this condition. Fish can see 

 the angler much better when the day is dull than 

 on a bright sunny day in " small " clear water ; but 

 in either case he should fish up-stream should wind 

 permit. A warm, dull day is very unfavourable in 

 either a clear or a black water for fly-fishing ; and 

 I should much prefer a hot day with bright sun- 

 shine. 



It will thus be seen that in selecting a portion 

 of water for the day's sport with the artificial fly, 

 the angler has to take various circumstances into 

 account. The season of the year and the flies then 



