SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 201 



see all the colours much plainer, and more distinctly in propor- 

 tion as the background was darker. If I held up the fly in a 

 room, I could distinguish the colour of almost every fibre in 

 the fly, but when it was dark a white fly was seen plainer than 

 any other colour. 



There were certain conditions of sky and atmosphere, 

 however, when I was puzzled to distinguish the colours. If 

 the sky was not wholly overcast, and there was a great glare 

 caused by the sun shining through the broken clouds during the 

 summer months, and on a dull heavy day, with a dark murky 

 atmosphere, I could not tell one colour from another, but 

 I could tell whether it was dark or light. In all states of the 

 background I could distinguish black and red better than any 

 other colour, and if it is taken for granted that a salmon can 

 see a fly as we do, when it is held up to the light in the manner 

 I have explained, it may assist us in the choice of a fly as regards 

 colour. 



In clear water, on a bright day, a fly composed of red or 

 black, being decided colours and easiest seen, might scare a 

 salmon when coming near it, or just about to take it ; therefore 

 it may be advisable to use a fly of a neutral or any light colour 

 on a bright day. Upon a dark day, particularly if there is a 

 wind, or should the water be stained after a fresh, as black 

 and red are more distinctly seen, the more likely are they 

 to attract a salmon's attention than a neutral colour, and in 

 such a case I should say that a fly with a black or dark body 

 would be most suitable. It must, however, at best be only 

 guess-work. Large, gaudy flies, such as are used on the Shan- 

 non, are not suitable for ordinary-sized rivers, and are only 

 good for fishing in deep rapids of big rivers, where they are 

 more likely to attract the attention of fish than flies of more 

 sombre or neutral colour. 



In a deep and rapid stream a black or red fly, of a proper 

 size, will be more likely to attract a salmon's attention than 

 any other colour. Whether he would take a fly body, hackle, 

 and wings all black, I am not prepared to say, but I have taken 



