MAY AS A FLY-FISHING MONTH. 125 



April and beginning of May are the best times, and 

 the trout in such are then in excellent condition ; 

 but for rivers in general, the month of May, taking 

 it as a whole, is worth any two months to the fly- 

 fisher. Sport may be more relied upon than in the 

 preceding month. The birth and appearance of 

 flies on the water is rendered less dependent on the 

 weather ; a cold day or an east wind does not do 

 the same mischief, and the trout will generally take 

 during the whole day, unless the weather is ex- 

 tremely cold. We have never at this season found 

 it of any use to attempt fly-fishing before seven or 

 eight in the morning ; the forenoon, from eight till 

 about noon or an hour or two after, we consider 

 the best time ; about two they generally leave off 

 taking, but commence again in the evening, if the 

 weather is mild. In the beginning of the month 

 we have generally met with more success in a warm 

 sunny day ; but to tell the most favourable weather 

 with anything like certainty is impossible, as the 

 trout are very capricious, and will sometimes take 

 readily during a hail-storm, while at other times, in 

 such a case, not a trout will rise. Towards the end 

 of the month we prefer a showery day with west 

 wind, or a thoroughly wet one if the weather is 

 warm. 



The best condition of water for capturing trout 

 is when there is just sufficient rain to raise the 

 water slightly, and make it of an amber colour. 

 When a large flood occurs, it scatters the trout too 



