SEDGE AND MAYFLY. 145 



Armed, therefore, with one of his biggest 

 Wickhams at the end of strong gut, the novice 

 looks out for a rise. This will probably be a very 

 modest affair, a mere dimple resulting in a quiet 

 ring on the surface. But if the fly falls properly 

 into the middle of this ring proof will surely be 

 given that it was caused by no small fish. Another 

 dimple should follow, the raising of the rod should 

 drive the hook home, and the angler should then 

 try to get the trout into the net as quickly as 

 possible. I like to drop my fly immediately over a 

 fish because, if he means having it, the rise is 

 immediate, and I think a little more violent and 

 visible, than if he sucked it in as it floated down. 

 Also, no doubt, fish mostly take the natural fly at 

 the instant when it dips on to the water in laying its 

 eggs. There comes a last period when one can no 

 longer see the fly, but can just see the ring made 

 by it as it falls, and then I do not think it matters 

 whether it be dry or water-logged ; the heavier it is 

 the more commotion it makes, which is an advantage 



Some men fish the sedge wet, casting it across 

 or down stream, and working it to imitate the 

 movements of the natural fly swimming across the 

 water. I have caught fish in this manner, and even 

 by dragging the fly dry across stream, but I do not 



like it so well as the up-stream plan ; it is rather 



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