NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 209 



and ribbed with black. This is a good % to dib with in 

 a style similar to the May fly. Towards evening, after 

 sundown, the Eed and Golden Spinners are generally on 

 the water in great force, at intervals here and there, 

 mostly near weirs, bridges, or overhanging trees and 

 bushes, where they may be seen whirling in clouds. The 

 trout are in better condition at the latter part of this 

 month than at any other part of the year, a small half- 

 pound fish proving as strong and vigorous as a fish dou- 

 ble the weight a month or two earlier or later. The 

 extraordinary fattening qualities of the heavy ephemera 

 are mainly instrumental in effecting the change. 



JULY. 



The fish are now to be found in the small eddies and 

 small streams behind large stones, sunken rocks, or any 

 other impediment, in and by the sides of rapid streams. 

 The Golden, July, and Pale Evening Duns, and the Pale 

 Evening White (shades of the Ephemera Olive) will pre- 

 dominate. The Spinners, especially the Golden, are 

 very numerous, as are also the Midges and the Grass 

 Moths. 



This month is perhaps the most difficult to fish suc- 

 cessfully during the whole season. We often meet with 

 young inexperienced anglers during a long sultry July 

 day, who flog industriously from "early morn till dewy 

 eve," meeting with but faint encouragement. Fine 

 weather would seem to act as a magnet to draw the unin- 

 itiated to the water side. For the special guidance of 

 such, we append a few brief instructions as to the plan 

 of procedure. To commence at daybreak, a cast of flies 

 similar to the dead ones seen upon the water beneath the 

 overhanging boughs of bushes, trees, etc., should be used 

 over the moving fish before breakfast; when it is no un- 

 common thing to find the fish rise until the dead flies 

 are picked off. During mid-day it is of small use whip- 



