128 ON TROUTING WITH THP] FLY. 



August is the worst part of the whole season for 

 fly-fishing. In large rivers, such as Tweed, and 

 all slow-running streams, fly-fishing at least 

 during the day is not worth practising. At sun- 

 set, however, trout will rise freely, and continue 

 to do so all night if the weather is favourable. A 

 dry, warm night, with little dew falling, will 

 generally be found most favourable ; if there is 

 much dew falling or a thick mist rising from the 

 water the surrounding country being free from 

 it trout will not take freely. At night they 

 leave the streams and pool-heads, to cruise about 

 among the pool-foots and shallows, and it is in 

 these places that the angler should fish for them. 

 Two flies will generally be found sufficient for 

 night-fishing, and they should be a good deal 

 larger than those used during the day. The 

 largest trout caught during the summer months 

 are usually taken at night, as it is only then that 

 they leave the bottom of the deep pools in search 

 of food. 



At this season the fly-fisher, in search of sport 

 during the day, should have recourse to the 

 smaller waters and more backward districts of the 

 country, where the trout are not yet indeed in 

 some places they never are satiated with surface 

 food. Fly-fishing at this season is more difficult 

 than at any other ; for unless in a very favourable 

 day, the trout will not rise in the pools ; the 

 angler, therefore, must have recourse to the 



