64 Best Seasons for Fly-fishing. 



In fishing still pools the flies require the neatest and 

 most expert handling, in order to show them to the fish 

 in the most natural form. They should not be left 

 motionless after the cast, but be gently drawn towards 

 you, yet not so as to plough the surface, and this with 

 that kind of tremulous motion of the hand, which I before 

 mentioned, when coming over the spot where the fish 

 that you are casting for rose. Neither should they be 

 left long on the water, but be frequently recast, for in 

 such places fish generally rise immediately on the fall of 

 the flies. 



The best time for Fly-fishing is undoubtedly the fore- 

 noon, from eight till eleven, taking the season through, 

 and, next to this, the evening, from five till dark ; yet I 

 must say that in May-fly fishing I have found very 

 early morning a good time, as well as midday in the 

 brightest sun. If the day is at first bright and calm, and 

 then changes to cloudy without rain, but with a wind, 

 large fish will come out to feed, and your sport will most 

 likely be good. 



A word or two may not be amiss regarding the East- 

 wind, so much abused by Anglers. From practice I have 

 found that in spring, when rain is coming on with an 

 East- wind after a drought, fish rise well. I have seldom 

 known an East-wind in the height of summer, after or 

 during a long 'period of dry weather, bad for Fly-fishing, 

 more particularly when the water was very low and clear. 

 This wind blowing up ruffles our East-flowing streams and 

 pools, and thus gives an advantage to the Angler who fishes 

 up stream. Also in an East- wind there is generally a 

 paucity of natural flies on the water; and this also favours 

 the Angler, the feed lasting the whole of the day, and the 

 fish being, perhaps on that account, not so particular. 



In all streams much flogged by Anglers small flies 

 will be found to kill best, otherwise the larger the fly 



