FLY-FISHING. 299 



The angler, then, we shall suppose, commences 

 operations at the head of a pool or stream, and, 

 throwing his flies as far as he can across from where 

 he is standing, raises his rod and brings them gradu- 

 ally to his own side of the water. He then steps 

 down a yard or two, repeats the process, and so on. 

 Having dismissed the idea that the angler can imitate 

 the flight of a living fly along the surface of the 

 water, we must suppose that the trout take the arti- 

 ficial fly for a dead one, or one which has fairly got 

 into the stream and lost all power of resisting. A 

 feeble motion of the wings or legs would be the only 

 attempt at escape which a live fly in such a case 

 could make. What then must be the astonishment 

 of the trout, when they see the tiny insect which 

 they are accustomed to seize, as it is carried by the 

 current towards them, crossing the stream with the 

 strength and agility of an otter? Is it not much 

 more natural to throw the flies up, and let them come 

 gently down, as any real insect would do ? 



In addition to drawing their flies across the 

 stream, some anglers practise what is called playing 

 their flies, which is done by a jerking motion of the 

 wrist, which imparts a similar motion to the fly. 

 Their object in doing this is to create an appearance 

 of life, and thus render their flies more attractive. 

 An appearance of life is certainly a great temptation 

 to a trout, but it may be much better accomplished 



