118 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



or 13 ; a No. 14 midge may also be used with 

 advantage. This, to a certain extent, meets their 

 views, it being more suspicion of the nature of the 

 fly than want of inclination to seize it which makes 

 them so nice. On such occasions, also, the angler 

 should pass over the pools, and fish the streams, as 

 in them, owing to the roughness of the water, the 

 trout cannot so easily detect the artificial nature of 

 the flies. 



From the middle of June to the beginning of 

 August is the worst part of the whole season for fly- 

 fishing. In large rivers, such as Tweed, and all 

 slow-running streams, fly-fishing at least during 

 the day is not worth practising. At sunset, how- 

 ever, trout will rise freely, and continue to do so all 

 night if the weather is favourable. A dry, warm 

 night, with little dew falling, will generally be found 

 most favourable ; if there is much dew falling or 

 a thick mist rising from the water the surrounding 

 country being free from it trout will not take 

 freely. At night they leave the streams and pool- 

 heads, to cruise about among the pool-foots and 

 shallows, and it is in these places that the angler 

 should fish for them. Two flies will generally be 

 found sufficient for night-fishing, and they should be 

 a good deal larger than those used during the day. 

 The largest trout caught during the summer months 

 are usually taken at night, as it is only then that 

 they leave the bottom of the deep pools in search of 

 food. 



At this season the fly-fisher, in search of sport 



