28 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



trouting waters of North-western Maine. On these I 

 tied a number of flies, and gave them during the ensu- 

 ing six weeks, with others tied upon Sneck-bend hooks 

 of like size, a careful trial in that region. 



The trout of that locality may, for our purpose, be 

 divided into three classes the small, including those up 

 to one and a half pounds ; the medium, including those 

 up to three pounds; and the large, embracing those above 

 that weight. The small and the medium fish may read- 

 ily be taken with two or more flies handled in the usu- 

 al manner that is, with the drop flies just skimming the 

 surface of the water ; but the habitual caution of the 

 large fish seems best to be overcome by quite a differ- 

 ent method of temptation. A single large fly moving 

 very slowly about six inches under water appears most 

 to their taste. The larger the trout the more slowly 

 he approaches and takes in the fly, but the more prompt- 

 ly he realizes and rejects the deception if time is al- 

 lowed him so to do. The eye alone directs when to 

 strike. To strike, and at the proper moment, is neces- 

 sary, while the duration of that moment might well 

 serve as a type of brevity. Again the offer comes 

 when least expected, like a thief in the night. Then 

 the utmost promptness of action is requisite, together 

 with no little vigor, to transmit the impulse to the hook 

 through the half-sunken line. The highest attainable 

 excellence in every portion of his outfit, and unremit- 

 ting vigilance on the part of the angler, alone will pre- 

 vent the most bitter disappointment, as he gazes, with 

 feelings beggaring description, on the subsiding swirl 

 of the mighty fish, which, though he combats the feel- 

 ing with all the excuses his ingenuity can devise, 

 his inner consciousness tells him should have been 



