SIZES OF FLY. 119 



to be seen, and the thickness of the water prevents 

 trout from detecting their artificial nature, as they 

 would if the water was clear. In a dark windy 

 day, a size or two larger may be used than in a 

 calm sunny one, as the roughness of the water and 

 the darkness of the sky prevent trout from seeing 

 the flies so distinctly ; therefore, the clearer the 

 water and brighter the day, the smaller should 

 the fly be, and the thicker the water and darker 

 the day, the larger should it be ; always increas- 

 ing or diminishing the fly as circumstances prevent 

 its being easily seen, or the reverse. 



Where trout are not much fished for larger flies 

 may be used than where the reverse is the case, as 

 the trout under these circumstances get suspicious, 

 and look twice at a fly before they take it. The 

 reason why shy trout will take a small fly more 

 readily than a large one is, that since they cannot 

 see it so distinctly, its artificial nature is not so 

 easily detected. In streams where the trout are 

 very shy we generally find^that the very smallest 

 fly raises most fish. 



When commencing a day's fly-fishing at any 

 season, the angler should begin with three or four 

 different varieties say a black spider for the tail 

 fly, a woodcock wing with yellow silk and red hackle 

 for the ijrst dropper, a hare-lug body and corn- 

 bunting wing for the second dropper, and a dun- 

 coloured spider for the fourth fly. It will be found 

 advisable, if the trout evince a decided preference 



