The Sea-Trout. 287 



being that equally in sea-trout flies as in salmon- 

 flies, a very few of the more subdued colours are 

 all that are needed for any river in the kingdom. 

 They are dressed upon hooks varying in size from 

 No. 4 to No. 10, according to the condition of the 

 stream, large flies being required for heavy water. 

 The cast may carry three if the flies are large, and 

 five or six if small. The salmon-flies are most 

 deadly when the water is heavy. 



There is nothing in the method of sea-trout 

 fishing that has not been already said under 

 salmon-fishing. Fish down-stream. In summer 

 and autumn, after or during a flood, large num- 

 bers are caught with the worm at the mouths of 

 rivers, and in the sea they often take the spinning- 

 minnow; but the fly is the best lure when the 

 waters have subsided. When hooked, sea -trout 

 give rare play. If fresh run, they are, in propor- 

 tion to their size, stronger and wilder than any 

 salmon, and fight with the greatest pertinacity to 

 the end the bitter end often for them indeed, 

 but sometimes for the angler. In the small tidal 

 streams in the west of Scotland I have known sea- 

 trout of not more than 2 Ib. in weight, on feeling the 

 hook, dash impetuously up the water, surmounting 

 three considerable falls in succession, and running 

 out more than forty yards of line. They always 

 require to be carefully played, if the fisher wish to 



