THE FLOATING FLY 71 



the purpose of exciting the trout and inducing 

 them to strike by the use of a glittering or 

 highly colored fly which, fished considerably be- 

 neath the surface, arouses their curiosity or an- 

 ger or may be taken for a small minnow. This 

 style of fishing with the fly is distinctly on a 

 lower level than the correct imitation of the 

 natural floating insect by means of the dry fly; 

 nevertheless, in fairness to the many fishermen 

 whose days on the stream are rare and 

 eagerly anticipated with attendant hopes of 

 some practical success, I cannot but advise the 

 use of the sunken fly under the conditions 

 named or when, at any time during the sea- 

 son, somewhat similar conditions prevail. 



In an average season the dry fly man may 

 confidently expect success on suitable water 

 from about the first of May to the last days 

 of the open time. The trout streams are now 

 clear and at or below the normal stage of 

 water; the temperature of the water is rising 

 steadily; the observant fly-fisherman will note 

 the natural ephemeridae abundant at intervals 

 over and on the stream and there is no sight 

 in nature (at least from the writer's view- 

 point and, I fancy, from that of all other trout 

 fly-fishermen) more interesting or more 

 wonderful than a good hatch of duns. With 



