Mid-current Fishing successful. 99 



natural fly at the first rise, but they turn again, and very 

 seldom miss the second. Notice him closely, and, if he 

 miss your fly, do not strike ; he will turn again and rise 

 to it, and, if he does, will almost as certainly take it ; then 

 strike as quick as thought, and, nine times out of ten, he 

 will be hooked. 



Again, when you hook a fish with the May-fly it is 

 generally well fixed ; also, as strong tackle is used, and a 

 length of line that you can command, I advise you to 

 make short work with him. You are supposed to be 

 below him, he is thus pulled back over with the aid of the 

 stream, your landing-net is out, and you guide him by 

 your rod and line right into it, with very little loss of 

 time. Indeed, I have found fish killed faster with the 

 May-fly than by any other means, save the small-fly, and 

 for the above reasons. You will frequently lose your fly 

 if you strike and miss your fish ; but that must not deter 

 you from striking, as it is requisite to fix the hook. The 

 Writer just alluded to also asserts that " the May-fly is 

 most killing when the waters are large and dark-coloured." 

 This may be the case in Scotland, but it is the reverse 

 with us. It is not unfrequently the case that the lowest 

 and brightest waters and the sunniest days are the best 

 in such streams as the Wear, Tees, Swale, Ure, and 

 Wharfe. Again, he says " that the Angler will seldom 

 get a trout in the centre of the current." I affirm that 

 you will frequently get trout in the centre of the current, 

 and those of the largest kind ; therefore, I say, brother 

 Angler, miss not a throw in such places. 



Large fish are always found in strong, deep, rapid 

 streams. Of course, do not omit the edges and eddies, 

 always throwing above where you expect the fish to lie, 

 as the fly then rides naturally down and over him with 

 the stream. But never be so foolish as to adopt the plan 

 of putting " two or three May-flies on if they be small." 



