FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AtfD GRAYLING. 175 



five times, had they been all retained, whilst several an- 

 glers who had repaired to the same length returned to the 

 hotel, under the impression that the water was too thick 

 for the worm. 



When the fish are basking, during the mid-day hours 

 in the hot summer months, they are not always to be 

 drawn to the surface by small flies. The red caterpillar, 

 elsewhere described, we believe to be unsurpassed for 

 trout and large grayling at mid-day; and when cast as a 

 night-fly in the " gloaming" of evening. Browns and 

 gaudily-dressed lake flies, too, when cast and played like 

 a minnow, just below the surface of the water, are good. 

 But the combination more suitable for this method is the 

 dressing known as the "Alexandra fly." This is as large 

 as a full-sized Sewin fly, the hook employed being a 

 Limerick, the shank carefully wrapped with broad silver 

 tinsel, to represent the body; the wings, if any, consist 

 of a dozen strands or so of brown turkey feather; hackles, 

 blue feathers from the peacock's neck. This fly was orig- 

 inally introduced by Dr. Hobbs, some fifteen years ago. 

 Upon well- wooded, swift-running waters it is most useful; 

 the line is allowed to run out with the current, being then 

 drawn back up-stream by a series of short jerks that serve 

 to open and shut the fibres of the hackle, thus exposing 

 the white body only at intervals, at measured distances. 

 It is surprising how the fish will follow and take this fly 

 when in the "running" mood.* It is, most certainly, 

 far superior to the minnow, from the fly-fisher's point of 

 view. 



In angling there are various influences that affect the 

 fish, and which are as yet but little understood. Not 

 only are their habits and movements most important to 

 the angler, but, for the better pursuit of sport, meteoro- 

 logical changes and influences should also be noted by the 



* They doubtless mistake it for a big bug making frantic efforts to 

 leave the water. 



