THE FLY QUESTION 111 



catches by the brace, a fact which tells its own tale, 

 though I had no reason to complain of the sport, 

 as the fish reached a very good size for the Exe 

 and gave great fun on gossamer tackle and tiny 

 flies. One of my fellow-anglers attracted my atten- 

 tion. He obviously knew all about it, but he took 

 things very easily, did not seem to care whether he 

 caught anything or not, pottered about a good deal, 

 and appeared to do more watching than fishing. 

 Then suddenly one day he addressed himself to the 

 business seriously and returned with a splendid 

 basket of trout over two dozen, I think, and of 

 good average size. He confided to me that the 

 hawthorn was the fly, and added that he had been 

 waiting for the opportunity. It has always struck 

 me as one of the most scientific fishing achievements 

 I ever came across waiting patiently till the chance 

 came, and then using it to such good purpose. 



I have never had the luck to find the hawthorn 

 causing chalk stream trout to rise, though I believe 

 that happens sometimes. Nor have I ever seen 

 a big fall of ants on the water, though I have occa- 

 sionally found the ant a very useful fly towards 

 the end of August or beginning of September when 

 the insects have obviously been about. The alder, 

 of course, has served me very well in its season, but 

 for a long time I must have given to it credit which 



