88 TROUTING FLIES. 



On many of our streams,, those especially which flow 

 south of the Grampian range, May, as far as the fly is 

 concerned, is the principal angling month for trout. I 

 make no reference, at present, to loch fishing, which 

 may be pursued with success during the whole of the 

 summer quarter. The beginning of the above-men- 

 tioned month is generally, like the latter weeks of April, 

 distinguished by the prevalence of the March-browns 

 and other ephemeral insects, of what may be termed 

 gregarious habits. These, floating on the surface in 

 occasional swarms, influence very considerably, as I have 

 already stated, the movements and inclinations of the 

 fish. Among other results omitted to be mentioned, 

 they induce them to frequent certain localities, and by 

 their crowding into these pell-mell, the range or extent 

 of cast becomes, in some rivers, very materially lessened. 

 As the month however proceeds, the birth of the ephe- 

 meras is rendered less dependent on vernal gleams and 

 sunbursts ; the days are longer and the weather more 

 steady and genial. Consequently, river insects of 

 various sorts burst into winged existence, not as before, 

 in simultaneous swarms, the effect, to boot, of their long 

 thraldom during winter, but in gradual and almost 

 imperceptible succession. The deeper portions of the 

 stream are also moved by the sun to yield their measure 

 of sustenance. Into these, and throughout the whole 

 course and current, trout accordingly distribute them- 

 selves. Now, they select, apart one from another, 

 places of ambush the covert of a rock, stone, bank, or 

 tree-root, where concealed and defended, they may 

 watch for their fluttering victims ; nor are the exposed 

 and open channels left altogether unfrequented. Thi- 

 ther too, as the day advances, resort the bolder and 

 greedier fish, less eager after fly food than aliment of a 





