36 Wet-Fly Fishing 



be deficient in wisdom and knowledge if he 

 will not enter the water. The advantages 

 are so enormous. But here, where wading 

 is impracticable, you must just try to hide 

 your figure all you can. Stalk the trout. 

 Whatever you do, do not take them cheaply. 

 Somehow, nay, anyhow, keep out of sight, 

 since you may not and cannot wade. " On 

 thy belly shalt thou go." Yes, imitate the 

 snake, if you desire to possess the wisdom 

 of the serpent. 



I need scarcely add, that clothing 

 should not be conspicuous. An elastic 

 tweed of a neutral colour is all that is 

 required. Let ease supersede elegance. 

 Stout lacing boots, with a few good hob- 

 nails, and a pair of good leggings to finish 

 up with, are all that any man needs in 

 fishing a sluggish water like this. I may 

 add that, crawling about in wading stock- 

 ings is very fatiguing work, as well as 

 injurious to the waterproof material itself. 



The angler will often need to throw a 

 long line, but when a trout rises at his fly, 

 his wrist must be firm and ready to respond 

 in a moment. When no trout are observed 

 feeding on the surface, experience leads me 

 to regard such long stretches of dead water, 

 in any Scottish river of medium size, as very 



