CHANGING FLIES. 399 



as they struck me, and taken care to arrange them in such a way as might 

 give me the prospect of making the whole business clear, intelligible, and 

 easily remembered. 



Now of reflection. Side reflection differs materially from that kind 

 of light occasionally produced by white receding rocks high enough to 

 brighten up both sides of the river. If the particular reflector,* whatever 

 its nature be, leans towards the river, a direct glare is cast down close to 

 the mirror, as an elementary study of angles will show. The light, or 

 reflection, is confined to its own side of the river, and is very intense. 



This is what we choose to term " side reflection." 



Presenting the fly by any of the preceding methods of casting is a 

 hopeless procedure, mere waste of time, and injurious to sport. The 

 Angler must take up a position from which he can pay out the line 

 gradually in a direct line of the fish, and always avoiding sudden effort. As 

 sgon as the fly reaches, say, within two yards of the spot, it should be 

 held still for a minute, and then played for no more than another 

 minute. 



A degree of uncertainty usually exists with regard to the change fly, 

 for, although fish are extremely sensitive in these resorts and easily 

 frightened away, a second fly should be tried, if not a third. If, however, 

 we are informed by the gillie put to watch the movements of the fish that 

 an " inspection " has been made, our state of uncertainty is considerably 

 reduced. It is not the question of size that should bother us, for all 

 patterns must be very small (No. 6 being considered as the full size), but 

 rather the question of character, colour, and very likely the way the fly 

 should be worked. At all events, we come down immediately in tone, 

 even to using a black body, and we make a thorough change in the style 

 of wing, say, from a built wing to one composed entirely of toppings. 



The disposition of the fish to start or move again towards the fly 

 induces us to mount a pattern having two or three colours in the body, to 

 fish it deeper by the use of shot, and play it in a different manner 

 to that previously adopted. 



* N.B. Of course, in speaking of the reflection of an overhanging rock, I have two 

 refltrtors before me, e.y., the water and the rock. For clearneits I shall call the water 

 "mirror" and the object imaged on it the " reflector." 



