I 4 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



To be sure, a landing net is more or less of a nuisance 

 in the brush, but it should be considered as a very nec- 

 essary evil. Late in the season fly-medicine or "dope" 

 is a necessary item; frequently, as I have said else- 

 where, it spells the difference between fly-fishing and 

 mere fly-fighting. A canvas, khaki, or duxbak hunting 

 coat because of its many pockets is handiest for trout 

 fishing wear and very durable. The waterproof qual- 

 ity of the duxbak material is especially desirable. 



Stream Fly-fishing in General 



The typical trout stream of the woodlands or wil- 

 derness, as intimated above, is a thing of infinite variety. 

 Swift-running, shallow riffles deepen and increase in 

 swiftness, forming strong, turbulent rapids. These are 

 succeeded by falls, and at the foot are dark, quiet pools. 

 Now one comes upon some long, still reach where there 

 is little or no current; and again he finds the stream 

 combining riffle and quiet water in a manner difficult 

 to describe. 



The stream bed is also subject to constant variation. 

 Although in most trout streams gravel bottom predom- 

 inates, yet there will be many places where it will be 

 merely sand, possibly large boulders lying close together, 

 or perhaps the bottom will be weedy. You know there 

 are trout in the stream but where? Are they in the 

 riffles, rapids, or pools ? What is the nature of the stream 

 bottom for which they may have some passing prefer- 

 ence? Obviously the solution is a matter of natural 

 history the habits of the brook trout. 



