296 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



fishing, by their iconoclastic though sensible opinions and 

 practices. 



Where fish are plentiful and in a " biting mood/' almost 

 any fly, be it never so rudely tied, and of the least possible 

 resemblance to any thing in the insect creation, will be 

 successful, even if clumsily cast ; on the contrary, there are 

 times when the best made flies, cast by the most skillful 

 artists, are necessary to induce a rise. Between these ex- 

 tremes must we look for rules for our general guidance, 

 and without occupying further space with arguments, pro 

 and con, it will be sufficient to say that there are certain 

 general rules which apply to the character of the fly to be 

 used at certain times, and which rules are the result of, and 

 founded upon, the experience and observations of fly-fish- 

 ers for many generations past. 



These rules, so far as they apply to Black Bass fly-fish- 

 ing, are few and simple : 



1. Flies should be small, rather than large, the average 

 Trout-fly being usually large enough. 



2. On bright days, and with clear, low, or fine water, 

 flies should be quite small, and of subdued, dark, or neu- 

 tral tints. 



3. For cloudy days, and high, turbid, or rough water, 

 larger and brighter flies should be used. 



4. For very dark days, or from sunset until dark, or on 

 moonlight evenings, gray or whitish flies, of good size, 

 should be employed. 



I shall not go into an entomological description of flies 

 and their counterfeits, for it is neither requisite nor advis- 

 able, so far as Bass flies are concerned. For those who 

 feel an interest in this subject, however, I can recommend, 

 cheerfully, the several fine works published in England on 



