THE SIZES OF FLIES. 239 



say, of Jungle and Chatterer respectively. Should the water be ex- 

 ceptionally bright, all these distinctions may prove advantageous. 



On the first rise of water after rain a time when Salmon take well 

 if shewn the right thing my favourite is the " Thunder and Lightning." 

 But this fly is at its best when the body dressing measures no more than 

 one inch and a quarter. (I have never killed a Salmon with a very large 

 one.) It is, therefore, prudent sometimes to keep to the fly of which the 

 fish have previously taken most notice ; but it should be one size larger 

 for pools, and two or three sizes for fast-running streams, when fished 

 from the bank. As the waters rise, the fish in shelving pools fortunately 

 shift across stream, or unfortunately work their way up river. The 

 question of size on these occasions can be answered only by the local 

 gillie. I have often gone in one bound from a No. 1 hook to a No. 3-0, 

 and even to 4-0. On the Lochy, for instance, the water may rise as 

 much as four feet without an atom of mud appearing to stay proceedings ; 

 but one has to be more careful there in the matter of size. The last time 

 I visited the lower Beat, my friend J. C. H. captured five of these 

 wanderers with a nondescript fly in one spot. It was dressed on a No. 3-0 

 hook, and had a body of crimson Seal's fur, with a natural furnace 

 hackle along it, and Teal wings. Perhaps the river was five, or even six, 

 feet higher than usual. I dressed the fly afterwards in different sizes, 

 but never touched a fish with a single one of them, until the waters rose 

 as before, when the same pattern again killed excellently. Local fly- 

 dressers would do well to make a note of this. The pool was fairly open, 

 the current not swirly, but straight running. 



Close observation has proved that previous to a thunderstorm Salmon 

 take badly indeed, generally not at all. When the day is still and 

 oppressive, denoting " electricity in the air," fish are " down," and refuse 

 to rise at any fly. But when the grand crash comes the fun is sometimes 

 fast and furious, no matter what fly is used. A few good peals of 

 thunder, with its accompanying downpour of rain, speedily clear the 

 atmosphere, and Salmon, 'in common with animals, and even human 

 beings, are quickly influenced by the change. 



On the top of a flood, before the water clears, an orange body, having 

 a blue hackle over a black one at the throat, and a wing after the fashion 



