MATTER OF EQUIPMENT 19 



Furthermore, in view of this state of affairs, 

 it would seem best to avoid at this time any 

 lengthy reference to the entomology of the 

 trout stream, as leading only to confusion 

 worse confounded there is an instant and im- 

 perative need of an authoritative American 

 fly-fishing entomology and of a fairly compre- 

 hensive series of artificial flies, dry and wet, 

 dressed in imitation of the native insects com- 

 mon to our streams and upon which our trout 

 are known to feed; until these are available we 

 must adapt the means at hand to the end de- 

 sired. In this connection, however, it should 

 be noted that it is not strictly necessary for 

 success that the angler at all times use an ex- 

 act copy of a natural fly witness the wide em- 

 ployment of various fancy patterns both here 

 and abroad, and the further fact that our 

 native trout are still fortunately rather less 

 discriminating in the matter of rising to the 

 artificial fly than the brown trout of England. 



The selection of the proper tackle for dry 

 fly fishing is obviously dependent upon a 

 thorough knowledge of the manner in which it 

 is to be used. Possibly it is unnecessary to say 

 that the dry fly caster invariably works up- 

 stream, casting, preferably, upstream and 

 slightly across the current, and that between 





