122 ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY. 



ing little attention to the angler's lure, and they 

 may frequently be seen following, without making 

 any attempt to seize it. When they are in this 

 mood, which generally lasts till the beginning of 

 August, always use spiders, and reduce their size to 

 No. 12 or 13 ; a No. 14 midge may also be used 

 with advantage. This, to a certain extent, meets 

 their views, it being more suspicion of the nature 

 of the fly, th-.n want of inclination to seize it, which 

 makes them so nice. On such occasions also, the 

 angler should pass over the pools, and fish the 

 streams, as in them, owing to the roughness of the 

 water, the trout cannot so easily detect the artificial 

 nature of the flies. 



From the middle of June to the beginning of 

 August is the worst part of the whole season for 

 fly-fishing. In large rivers, such as Tweed, and all 

 slow-running streams, fly-fishing at least during 

 the day is not worth practising. At sunset, how- 

 ever, trout will rise freely, and continue to do so 

 all night, if the weather is favourable. A dry, 

 warm night, with little dew falling, will generally 

 be found most favourable ; if there is much dew ) 

 falling, or a thick mist rising from the water the , 

 surrounding country being free from it trout will ; 

 not take freely. At night they leave the streams 

 an^Tpool-heads, to cruise about among the pool-foots^ 

 and shallows, and it is in these places that the 

 angler should fish for them. Two flies will gene- 

 rally be found sufficient for night-fishing, and they 



