n6 Wet-Fly Fishing 



Occasionally trout may be observed 

 lying close to the very margin of a large 

 bed of gravel, nipping up the "sand" and 

 " cow-dung " flies, which are blown across 

 the dry bed towards the river; and when 

 this is observed, the hint should be acted 

 upon instantly. The fisherman should 

 stalk these feeding trout, stooping, or 

 even crawling on hands and knees, and 

 whipping the thin edges of the stream 

 upwards, but never allowing the line to 

 dwell for more than one or two seconds 

 on the surface. 



It was in this way that I hooked the 

 largest trout I ever killed with a small 

 No. 2 fly, in the Tweed, and which weighed 

 5 Ibs. 1 oz. He seemed to be lying in water 

 scarcely sufficient to cover him. He seized 

 and held the fly as it crossed his nose, 

 giving no indication of a "rise " whatever. 

 It was therefore with some surprise that I 

 found myself dashing into the river up to 

 the tops of my waders, throwing out the 

 reel line with my left hand the while, as 

 he rushed across a grand salmon cast into 

 the pool below "The Webs " "The 

 Woabs," as old Slater, the fisherman, used 

 to call it. But for " observation," I should 

 never have even seen that trout. 



