130 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



best time, unless, perhaps, in June and July, when 

 they will take most freely about sunset. 



The atmosphere at this season is frequently in 

 a calm thundery state, with heavy white clouds 

 floating about, which is not favourable to the 

 angler. From the end of May to the end of 

 August, a drizzling or thoroughly wet day is the 

 best ; next to which is a showery one, and then a 

 bright day with a breeze of wind ; a dark day 

 without wind is the worst of all. East wind, 

 which is looked upon with so much horror at the 

 commencement of the season, is not at all objec- 

 tionable now ; being rather favourable than other- 

 wise, as it is generally accompanied with a cool 

 atmosphere. 



In July we have always met with even less 

 sport when the water was coloured than when it 

 was clear, which we can only account for by sup- 

 posing, that as it is the worm season, the trout 

 are on the outlook for this description of food, and 

 pay no attention to the flies ; at least in such 

 circumstances we never see many rises at the 

 natural insect. 



In the summer months it is considered a great 

 improvement to hook a maggot to the end of the 

 fly, but this is not fly-fishing, and changes the 

 character of the lure from the most clean and plea- 

 sant to the most disagreeable of all the methods of 

 capturing trout. It has, moreover, at all times a 

 substitute in a fine red worm, which is much more 



