AMERICAN TROUT FISHING 

 some of the caddis flies that flutter or buzz, and fly off the water for an 

 instant, only to alight again ? If insects never buzzed I fancy that our 

 floating flies with centipede legs would fail to kill. 



With quill bodies and oiled flies, a moderate quantity of hackle is suf- 

 ficient for a floating fly. A few of Mr Skues's patterns of nymphs dressed 

 upon larger hooks, say No. 3 (new style), might prove a good investment. 

 The American Grannom is an exasperating fly at times, when it takes 

 flight at once and the trout are feeding on the nymphs. It is most 

 extraordinary how swift the transformation of the larger £phemerid8e is 

 on some occasions. It looks as if the fly rose from just under the surface, 

 in perfect form with wings erect. 



I lay upon a flat rock in the stream, where the water was about four feet 

 deep, during the rise of a large, light yellow Ephemera, which the trout 

 were taking boldly, and the insects were coming to the surface almost 

 under my eyes. The effect of the rapid transformation was peculiar; 

 one imagined that the flies rose full fledged from the bottom. Not all were 

 hatching in this way, as a few of the flies could be seen floating upon the 

 stream; I presume that the air was very dry, as it was a fine day in the 

 month of June. The flies did not rise in the quiet water of the deep pools 

 but in the streams. 



Of recent years I have preferred to fish the well-known streams in 

 settled regions and almost exclusively with the dry fly. The portions of 

 these waters that are not preserved are overflshed, but when conditions 

 are good, fair sport may be had. The presence of brown trout in these 

 waters has improved the fishing, as the average size of the trout killed 

 is much larger than formerly, and big fish are not uncommon. Native 

 brook trout are still very plentiful in the upper reaches, where the streams 

 are small and the water is cold in summer, but they are for the most part 

 very small. All chars are, I believe, very good to eat, and Fontinalis is cer- 

 tainly one of the best. This fish attains large proportions in regions where 

 the food it prefers is abundant and where it can retire to the deeps when 

 the surface water has become heated during the summer. 



It is comparatively easy to maintain a good stock of brown trout if the 

 water is at all suitable and holds the necessary food. These fish are sturdy 

 beggars, and successfully endure the extremes of heat and cold, prolonged 

 drought, and many fishermen. Of late much of the restocking has been 

 with native trout. This is probably a mistake, as we cannot restore the 

 conditions of twenty to thirty years ago. 



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