120 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



take fly readily early in the morning ; they generally 

 commence about six, and continue taking for four or 

 five hours, when they stop for some time ; com- 

 mencing again in the evening, if the weather is 

 favourable. At all seasons, the forenoon is the 

 best time, unless, perhaps in June and July, when 

 they will take most freely about sunset. 



The atmosphere at this season is frequently in 

 a calm thundery state, with heavy white clouds 

 floating about, which is not favourable to the angler. 

 From the end of May to the end of August, a driz- 

 zling or thoroughly wet day is the best ; next to 

 which is a showery one, and then a bright day with 

 a breeze of wind ; a dark day without wind is the 

 worst of all. East wind, which is looked upon with 

 so much horror at the commencement of the season, 

 is not at all objectionable now ; being rather favour- 

 able than otherwise, as it is generally accompanied 

 with a cool atmosphere. 



In July we have always met with even less sport 

 when the water was coloured than when it was clear, 

 which we can only account for by supposing that, as 

 it is the worm season, the trout are on the outlook 

 for this description of food, and pay no attention to 

 the flies ; at least in such circumstances we never see 

 many rises at the natural insect. 



In the summer months it is considered a great 

 improvement to hook a maggot to the end of a fly, 

 but this is not fly-fishing, and changes the character 

 of the lure from the most clean and pleasant to the 

 most disagreeable of all the methods of capturing 



