126 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



much, and they become gorged with food, and do 

 not take so readily ; so that more trout can generally 

 be caught in clear water than after a heavy flood. 

 If the water is only coloured or slightly swollen, 

 trout will be found in the same places as when it 

 is clear ; but when the water is large and dark- 

 coloured it is of no use fishing the streams, as they 

 are too rapid, and in the pools the trout are all con- 

 gregated about the sides. In such circumstances, 

 therefore, the angler should not waste time fishing 

 the centre of the pool, but merely fish the sides ; 

 fishing the side he is on straight up and as close to 

 the edge as possible and the opposite side partly 

 across and partly up as usual. The greatest num- 

 ber will frequently be got on the thin side, but the 

 largest and best trout are almost invariably caught 

 on the deep side, and very close to the edge. 



The flies used in May should be smaller than 

 those used in April ; if the waters are clear, No. 1 1 

 or 12 will answer very well, but if the rivers are 

 coloured, a size larger may be used ; a good-sized 

 fly will frequently catch the best trout in heavy 

 water. 



Towards the end of this month the stone-fly, 

 or May-fly of Tweedside, makes its appearance 

 the green drake, to which the name of May-fly is 

 usually applied, not appearing for a fortnight later. 

 These flies give the first great blow to artificial fly- 

 fishing ; they are so large, and the trout get them 

 in such abundance, that before they have been 



