Practical Dry-Fly Fishing 



If, then, the dry-fly angler seems pre- 

 pared to prove by experience the the- 

 ory that the trout mistakes his lures 

 for actual living insects, it may be 

 asked: How is it that at times he is 

 successful with floating flies that do not 

 resemble, at least in color, any known 

 insect? For the dry-fly, as well as the 

 wet, has its list of nondescripts or 

 fancy flies. The simplest explanation 

 may be that of the late H. G. McClel- 

 land, who believed it unnecessary to 

 hunt for any complicated scientific 

 theory. Why not merely say that the 

 trout, with its predatory instincts, sees 

 this small weak thing floating above it, 

 and, not fearing it, seizes it at a ven- 

 ture? But there occurs to me fully as 

 simple a theory and one that appears 

 at least as reasonable. Even the fancy 

 flies of the dry-fly angler are generally 

 the same size and shape as the living 



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