74 Wet-Fly Fishing 



seldom good then. As a matter of fact, 

 practical wet-fly anglers, knowing this fact, 

 generally forsake the artificial fly for other 

 lures. And that is why I say a " somewhat " 

 low state of river, where legitimate fly-fish- 

 ing is still to be had, and where it is, to 

 the wise and prudent, at its best, as regards 

 the real charm of fishing with the wet fly. 



How, then, should one proceed ? 



If it is very early in the season, and the 

 weather bitterly cold, till the natural fly is 

 seen, you will probably be wise to fish 

 somewhat below the surface. 



I do not think I can possibly explain 

 matters better than I did in an essay 

 published (on May 5, 1894) by the Fishing 

 Gazette, entitled " The Delights of the 

 Deveron." I shall merely take some 

 extracts from it, such as the following : 



" The morning is cold, and the surface 

 is as yet unbroken by the rise of a trout. 

 I enter the water at once, and begin sink- 

 ing and very slightly ' working ' the fly. 

 I do nothing at first. Presently I get ' a 

 pull,' and my reel sings out its welcome 

 music." This is repeated time after time. 

 " Suddenly, however, a few little fairy- 

 forms appear on the surface. At first they 

 are hardly heeded, so I continue sinking my 



