120 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



taking, but commence again in the evening, if the 

 weather is mild. In the beginning of the month 

 we have generally met with most success in a warm 

 sunny day ; but to tell the most favourable weather 

 with anything like certainty is impossible, as the 

 trout are very capricious, and will sometimes take 

 readily during a hail- storm, while at other times, in 

 such a case, not a trout will rise. Towards the end 

 of the month we prefer a showery day with west 

 wind, or a thoroughly wet one if the weather is 

 warm. 



The best condition of water for capturing trout 

 is when there is just sufficient rain to raise the 

 water slightly, and make it of an amber colour. 

 When a large flood occurs, it scatters the trout too 

 much, and they become gorged with food, and do 

 not take so readily ; so that more trout can generally 

 be caught in a clear water than after a heavy flood. 

 If the water is only coloured or slightly swollen, 

 trout will be found in the same places as when it is 

 clear ; but when the water is large and dark- 

 coloured it is of no use fishing the streams, as they 

 are too rapid, and in the pools the t?out are all con- 

 gregated about the sides. In such circumstances, 

 therefore, the angler should not waste time fishing 

 the centre of the pool, but merely fish the sides ; 

 fishing the side he is on straight up and as close to 

 the edge as possible, and the opposite side partly 

 across and partly up as usual. The greatest number 

 will frequently be got on the thin side, but the 



