96 Where to throw the May-fly. 



subject, says " that the fly is to be kept out of the main 

 current or his flies will come down too fast." I have not 

 yet discovered that a natural fly, riding on the stream, 

 however fast, was ever going at too great a speed for a 

 trout to take. And I maintain that there are few places 

 better, or even so good, in a low clear water, to angle in 

 with this fly, as the most rapid part of the stream ; but 

 then the fly should only be allowed to touch the water. 



In such places, at such times, and in such waters, the 

 largest trout are to be met with, which has been indu- 

 bitably tested, both in May -fly fishing and Trolling with 

 the Minnow. The sides of such streams are certainly to 

 be fished first ; but when a fish is hooked there, does he 

 not immediately make for the strong water ? If the sides 

 fail, then try the streams, even the roughest. This has 

 answered, too, in small Fly-fishing, and large fish have 

 been taken, especially with the black midge, the smallest 

 of our artificial flies. 



To prepare a tackle to fish the May-fly under the 

 water : Whip on a long-shanked green-drake hook, and 

 arm it at the end of the shank with a piece of bristle or fine 

 brass wire, on the end and top of the shank the remainder 

 of your stinting and line as before. Insert the point of 

 the hook in the throat of the fly, and run it out at the 

 tail ; then thrust the bristle or wire arming through the 

 head, bringing it out at the top, which will keep the fly 

 right on the hook, and prevent its being dragged off by 

 the water, or whipt off by casting. Throw your fly near 

 some hold, and pull it under water, or let it be carried 

 down by the stream as it winds along; and when 

 your line stops, strike straight up, as in worm-fishing. 



I have sometimes known this method succeed tolerably 

 well, especially in the early part of the season, when the 

 fly had not got well on to the water, for it then resembles 

 creeper-fishing ; and also, when the fish have been gorged 



