150 PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



the Spring rains, plus the drainage of farm lands, usu- 

 ally roils the water. If one must have bass then most 

 success will be had if he will dangle an angle, baited 

 with worm, helgramite or craw, in the deep holes. 



As the season advances fly fishing improves but June 

 usually finds the bass busy with family affairs and they 

 should not be bothered even if the law permits. July 

 is usually a good month on all streams and on the 

 larger ones this month and August often produce best 

 of all and just when the lakes are yielding least. 

 Very low water, however, often drives the fish into 

 the holes on small streams during the " dog days." 



September, the month Eastern and Midwest trout 

 fishermen close up shop, is usually excellent except the 

 week of the equinoctial storm. October brown 

 October also yields well, and the seasons we have 

 " a late Fall " fishing continues good even well into 

 November. Local conditions also must be considered. 



The ideal fly fishing day is a dark, overcast one, 

 just before a rain, or better still, when it merely sug- 

 gests or threatens to rain and doesn't with enough 

 breeze to rufHe the surface of the water. Next best 

 is what the average person would call a "nice day " 

 when the sun shines, the sky is blue and friendly and 

 streamside posies and tree tops nod to fitful breezelets 

 that put a slight ripple on the stream. 



The best time of the day is undoubtedly the early 

 morning hours, from dawn until eight or nine o'clock 

 and from four in the afternoon until sundown or even 

 until after dark. During cloudy days the noon hours 



