64 ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 



fairly got into the stream and lost all power of re- 

 sisting. A feeble motion of the wings or legs would 

 be the only attempt at escape which a live fly in 

 such a case could make. What then must be the 

 astonishment of the trout, when they see the tiny 

 insect which they are accustomed to seize as it is 

 carried by the current towards them, crossing the 

 stream with the strength and agility of an otter 1 

 Is it not much more natural to throw the flies up 

 and let them come gently down as any peal insect 

 would do ] 



In addition to drawing their flies across the 

 stream, some anglers practise what is called playing 

 their flies, which is done by a jerking motion of 

 the wrist, which imparts a similar motion to the 

 fly. Their object in doing this is to create an 

 appearance of life, and thus render their flies more 

 attractive. An appearance of life is certainly a 

 great temptation to a trout, but it may be much 

 better accomplished by dressing the flies of soft 

 materials, which- the water can agitate, and thus 

 create a natural motion of the legs or wings of the 

 fly, than by dragging them by jumps of a foot at a 

 time across and up a roaring stream. Trout are 

 not accustomed to see small insects making such 

 gigantic efforts at escape, and therefore it is calculated 

 to awaken their suspicions. 



We believe that all fly-fishers fishing down must 

 have noticed, that apart from the moment of alight- 

 ing, they get more rises for the first few yards of 



