102 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



of when to concede and when to employ pressure. He 

 wants in a great measure the nice, regulating powers 

 which a good, flexible, single-handed rod invests him 

 with. 



I am referring, be it remembered, in these remarks, 

 solely to trouting ; and that with small flies and fine 

 tackle. They cannot be said to apply to any other 

 department of angling, least of all to salmon-fishing 

 or trolling with the minnow. As a general rule bear- 

 ing reference to this subject, all streams manageable 

 from bank to bank, and such lochs as are frequented 

 by trout under a pound in weight and do not require 

 the use of a boat, should be fished with the single-handed 

 rod. As to the degree of pliancy requisite I say no- 

 thing, but leave that to be regulated by the discretion 

 of the angler; indeed, practice will not unfrequently 

 reconcile one to the use of a rod which, at the first 

 handling, he thought much too stiff, or, it might be, x 

 much too flexible. The double-handed rod may be 

 used with advantage on broad rivers, and where the sea- 

 trout a fish which in clear water holds the small 

 trouting fly in esteem are abundant; also in lochs 

 where large fish exist, and where long throwing is 

 necessary. 



In the preceding chapter, by indicating the resorts 

 of trout during the fly-fishing months, I have suf- 

 ficiently informed the angler when and where to expect 

 sport. I have also attempted the adaptation of fly- 

 hooks in point of size, to the condition of the water, 

 the progress of the season, &c., &c. It is therefore 

 unnecessary to re-enter upon these subjects} and the 

 more so that, in the course of my x^ppendix, I have 

 thought proper to apply many of my remarks to indi- 

 vidual streams and localities. 



