74 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



have done so deliberately, as the fundamentals of a 

 fishing manual are to assist the reader to catch fish, and 

 I offer no apology for the prolongation of the topic, as, 

 from years of experience, I know that hundreds of visiting 

 rodsters to sea-trout rivers fail to achieve their purpose 

 because they do not fully realize that sea-trout in day- 

 time are so timid. 



You may be able to throw a fly artistically and far, 

 and you may be able to collect big bags of brown trout, 

 but I assure you that you cannot take liberties with sea- 

 trout. On many occasions I have caught, with a dry 

 fly, a nice brownie within five yards of my feet, but no 

 sea-trout has ever fallen a victim to me in a like manner. 

 A sea-trout seems to have eyes in its caudal fin, so quickly 

 does it scuttle from an approaching shadow. Hence, be 

 warned. 



The greatest compliment that a writer on angling can 

 receive is to know that someone has benefited from his 

 advice, and I hope that many fishing readers of this book 

 will be able to say that they have caught sea-trout owing 

 to my well-meant counsel. 



Before passing from this chapter on the fly method of 

 enticement, I should, perhaps, refer to that herm- 

 aphroditical lure called the fly spinner, although it could 

 be included equally well in the following chapter 

 devoted to spinning. This fly spinner is a composite 

 contrivance embodying both fins and feather. It is 

 manufactured in a variety of forms : sparsely dressed 

 and heavily dressed : with treble hook and with single 

 hook : with and without swivel. It can also be obtained 

 with a dressing of any standard trout, sea-trout or salmon 

 fly ; so you can either make a wise selection or form a 

 collection. 



These fly spinners can be used in clear water, but I 

 prefer to work them when there is a suspicion of colour 



