ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY 117 



The flies used in May should be smaller than those 

 used in April; if the waters are clear, No. 11 or 12 

 will answer very well, but if the rivers are coloured, 

 a size larger may be used ; a good-sized fly will fre- 

 quently catch the best trout in heavy water. 



Towards the end of this month the stone-fly, or 

 May-fly of Tweedside, makes its appearance the 

 green drake, to which the name of May-fly is usually 

 applied, not appearing for a fortnight later. These 

 flies give the first great blow to artificial fly-fishing ; 

 they are so large, and the trout get them in such 

 abundance, that before they have been many days 

 on the water, the trout become quite satiated with 

 surface food. They are now in prime condition 

 strong and vigorous affording excellent play when 

 hooked. They also forsake the deeper portions of 

 the pools, moving up into the strong water at the 

 head, and into broken water and streams, where they 

 choose convenient feeding stations, such as eddies 

 behind stones, below banks, and submersed tufts of 

 grass, and, in short, every place where they can 

 remain unseen, and watch for their prey as it comes 

 down stream towards them ; and the angler should 

 neglect no place where he thinks there is a trout. 



About this time they begin to act the epicure, 

 becoming exceedingly nice in their tastes, and pay- 

 ing little attention to the angler's lure, and they 

 may frequently be seen following, without making 

 any attempt to seize it. When they are in this mood, 

 which generally lasts till the beginning of August, 

 always use spiders, and reduce their size to No. 12 



