70 



FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 



them quite so heavily as you would other fish, but of 

 course kill as soon as you can. 



Although white trout do not exercise the same epicure- 

 anism in regard to flies as their brown confreres, I am still 

 of opinion that they have sometimes what may be termed 

 an unanimity of preference for a particular fly. 



I fished one whole day in autumn a river on which the 

 August dun was out strong. I had on my cast a March 

 brown, and three others, orthodox white trout flies. I 

 killed thirty-three white trout, and twenty-nine of them 

 took the March broivn. In the morning it was placed as 

 first dropper, but in the afternoon I changed its position 

 to that of stretcher. jNow I think this is a clear proof, 

 that, on this day at least, the fish shewed a most de- 

 cided partiality for a particular fly. The water on this 

 occasion was as clear as crystal, and I have always ob- 

 served that fish are most fastidious as to what fly they 

 take when this is the case. 



I never fish for sea trout with the natural minnow,, 

 but they will take the artificial minnow mentioned in the- 

 chapter on minnow fishing very well indeed, especially in 

 the smaller streams. It should be made of the silvery 

 metal, not brass, and the smallest size is the best. 



The Sewen of "Wales should be fished for as above. 



