90 TROUTING FLIES. 



chiefly on Highland lochs, and among waters frequented 

 by sea- trout or whitlings. 



June and July are not/ in general, on our larger 

 streams, greatly esteemed as fly-months. On warm 

 nights, however, trout, and these frequently of great 

 weight, are taken by the angler using this lure. It is 

 not necessary for night-fishing that the artificial fly 

 should have any definite colour, or that it be made, 

 as many suppose, to resemble a small moth. I have 

 found black, brown, and hare-lug flies equally as 

 effective as white and yellow ones. Trout, at night, 

 roam more freely than during the day, often forsaking 

 the lower portions of the pool for the head and stream, 

 and vice versa. They also frequently indulge in a 

 cruise among the shallows, and although thus exposed, 

 are not so ready to take alarm as one from their 

 general caution might conjecture, when approached by 

 the wader. Indeed, I have captured them, in more 

 instances than one, close to where I stood, in water 

 agitated altogether by my own movements. 



In night-fishing, two flies are sufficient to form the 

 cast, a greater number being very apt to perplex the 

 angler, without insuring him any accession to his sport. 

 These, in general, should approach in their sizes to the 

 spring hooks, and be dressed upon tried gut. During 

 the months in question, trout, on fine evenings, imme- 

 diately before and after sunset, are generally observed 

 to rise freely at the natural fly. On such occasions, 

 a very small black midge, No. 00, will be found 

 attractive. 



The large flesh-maggot, previously toughened in a 

 little oatmeal, and used at night as a fly, is reckoned 

 very deadly. The hook employed should be No. 4, 5, 



