36 TROUT LORE 



school, but always those experiences have been 

 followed by others which have reconverted me to 

 the formalist faith, and vice versa. I have about 

 come to the conclusion that to change from a 

 large fly to a small one, or from a small fly to 

 a smaller, is as apt to produce net results as to 

 change colors and pattern. In my experience 

 the smaller fly is as a rule the successful one. 

 Do not worry over many types of flies; a half 

 dozen standard patterns in various sizes will 

 prove ample. Time was when I thought it ab- 

 solutely necessary to have every known product 

 of the fly-tier's art in my stock book; to-day I am 

 satisfied with a meager half dozen or so. While 

 I pay attention to both form and color there is 

 something which I believe is of greater impor- 

 tance. 



I have become an osteopath, I believe in "man- 

 ipulation." More depends upon the man behind 

 the fly than upon the fly itself, granting of course 

 that the fly should be what the Irishman called 

 "dacent." The problem of the fly-fisher as stated 

 by Mr. Wells is: 



"1st. To place the fly within reach of the trout 

 without alarming it. 



2d. To handle it so as to simulate a living crea- 

 ture, and one tempting its appetite. 



