WINTER FLY-FISHING. 95 



duals, it is true, retain their edible qualities for a month 

 or two longer, and the small fish of a season's growth, 

 along with parr or fingerlings, continue as sweet as 

 ever, until late in October. 



Trout, during the months of August and September, 

 often rise freely, especially after floods and in dark- 

 coloured waters. To the sportsman who is not a mere 

 pot-hunter, they of course afford amusement, and occa- 

 sionally, notwithstanding their declining condition, test 

 freely the strength of his tackle. I have found the red 

 or brown hackle more killing in these months than any 

 other fly, I mean when the waters were in high order ; 

 for if clear and reduced, trout will prefer the hare-lug 

 and dark-coloured hooks. Spring sizes also are com- 

 mendable in autumn, on some of our rivers, those espe- 

 cially that are frequented by whitlings and bull-trout, 

 fish which, I find, frequently give the preference to a 

 common trouting fly over the highly-bedizened lures 

 employed against them by many anglers. 



To pursue this subject into the months of October 

 and November is quite unnecessary. Angling with the 

 fly loses, on the approach of winter, many of its recom- 

 mendatory properties. It becomes stripped, as an 

 amusement, of half its interest. One can neither wade 

 nor expose himself to damp feet with any degree of 

 safety. The trout, in general, are poor, lank, and 

 uneatable. They rise badly, and when hooked, afford 

 little or no sport. The streams and gathering spots are 

 strewn over with dead leaves. There are no pure 

 southern breezes, smelling of verdure, to delight the 

 senses to cheer and invigorate the heart. In fact, as 

 nature with regard to all other recreations hath 

 appointed, so also in regard to angling. It owns, in 

 common with them, its fitting and appropriate season, 



