TROUT HABITS; LURES AND USE 



are more abundant and the fish are feeding 

 vigorously. Other patterns than that simulat- 

 ing the fly on the water, cast and recast, may 

 create the impression that those flies are pass- 

 ing in large numbers. 



When the fish are gorged and apathetic, 

 "heretical" or fancy lures may seduce. An 

 over-abundant hatch of flies often is unfavor- 

 able for the angler, paradoxical as this may 

 seem. In the luxurious richness of the imme- 

 diate natural food supply the imitation of the 

 real fly is not good enough to be noticed it 

 simply is overwhelmingly outclassed; then it 

 barely is possible there may be a chance for 

 the outlandish, bizarre creation to attract at- 

 tention. 



The bodies of the artificials should empha- 

 size the. colors of the undersides and sides of the 

 natural flies imitated, as their backs are almost 

 invariably darker, and it is the bottom and 

 sides of a fly that the trout sees. 



Not a few anglers have claimed that the 

 color of the artificial fly is altogether imma- 

 terial, and that it is the form which is all- 

 important. We believe writers to be on solid 

 ground when they refer to the superior attrac- 

 tion of slimness and neatness in the artificials, 

 for most of them are too bulky; but when they 

 state unreservedly that the" color is inconse- 

 quent, it bids us pause; and they, too, would 

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