34 FLY-FISHING. 



WHEN TO FISH. 



1 . Some rivers and lakes are early and some 

 late, whilst there are a few, like the Devonshire 

 " Otter," in which it is said the Trout rise best in 

 a snow-storm. This of course is a very excep- 

 tional case ; but, taking the ordinary run of early 

 and late waters, there are few months of the year 

 from early spring to late autumn in which the 

 Trout-fisher cannot find sport somewhere or 

 other. 



2. In all Trout fly-fishing, whether on lake or 

 river, a moderate, rippling breeze and a chequered 

 sky are great advantages ; principally, doubtless, 

 because they help to conceal the counterfeit fly, 

 and lessen the glitter of the gut. 



3. A bright sun, a dead calm, or water that is 

 very low and clear, are always bad, for the con- 

 verse reasons. 



4. Water that is thickened by rain or other 

 cause is always bad. It prevents the fish seeing 

 the fiies on the top, and brings down with it a 

 quantity of ground-food which fixes their atten- 

 tion on the bottom. 



5. The rise that precedes, and the fall that 

 follows a flood li'/tcti the ivater has cleared, are 



