When to Get Them 



a cold north or east wind, especially when against 

 the direction you are casting the flies on a run- 

 ning stream; or, again, the same wind blowing 

 hard across a lake is equally disagreeable for troll- 

 ing or still-fishing. A good windy 

 Windy Days j iTi 



day is when the wind blows gently 



from the south, rippling up the water in little wave- 

 lets, destroying the placid, even surface and hid- 

 ing the angler from the fish. It is then, if the 

 weather be warm, that trout, bass, perch, and even 

 pike perch, may be coaxed up to take the fly ; it is 

 favorable for trolling with bait or spoon, either for 

 pike or mascalonge. Rippling water seems to have 

 the effect of hiding the line, as it also helps to 

 deceive the fish as to the nature of the artificial fly. 

 After a hot spell when fish have not been bit- 

 ing, a shower or a good smart rain of a few hours 

 will have an immediate effect for the good of the 

 angler. The fish will not only rise better to the 

 fly, but will also take the worm. The reason is 

 obvious. After a clearing up, flies may be seen 

 all over the water, and rising fish popping in all 

 directions; if the water has not become muddy, 



numerous worms, caterpillars and in- 

 Wet Days . 



sects are washed down, placing food 



before them in plenty, and a wriggling worm, 

 deftly hiding the hook, never fails to be taken with 

 a rush. After a freshet, when the water clears 

 sufficiently for trout to see worms or flies, the 

 angler will find his creel rapidly filling up. High 

 water is always a better condition than low water, 

 no matter what time of day or season. I consider 

 237 



