ON SALMON FLIES. 65 



length or so from the fly, the same as is used in min- 

 now and worm fishing.* This is one of those con- 

 ceptions of which we feel certain without having put 

 it to clear proof. Whoever will try it I am con- 

 vinced will succeed. Large old salmon do not readily 

 take the fly in heavy or soiled water ; the main rea- 

 son is likely this, that they keep low in the water, 

 resting frequently, like other heavy old creatures. 

 This rest they take on the bottom rock or gravel, 

 and do not prowl in mid-depth as the grilse, being 

 young, sportively do. Hence, the grilse meeting 

 with your bright fly, see and seize it, while it is not 

 seen by the salmon below. By the time the water 

 has again fallen in to the low fishing size, the dull 

 flies, what we call the legitimate Tweed flies, are 

 again found bright enough, and mainly in request. 

 I have only twice in fifty-seven years seen something 



* We may mention a case favouring Younger's idea on this point. 

 Some years ago in the Tweed, a few miles from Kelso, an old and ex- 

 perienced salmon angler found in the early spring that the fish would 

 not rise, though he tried them with all sorts and sizes of flies ; and 

 it occurred to him that perhaps the salmon in dull and rough waters 

 might not be able to see his flies, or that they would not move or rise 

 from the coldness of the atmosphere. He therefore got the fisherman 

 to dress him a large fly, on the shank of which he had strapped small 

 beads, with hackles between. The weight of beads made the hook 

 sink deeply in the water, and the result was that the gentleman for 

 a week or so had first-rate sport, although anglers on other neigh- 

 bouring waters wero doing almost nothing. In summer waters, 

 however, this gentleman, like other anglers, sinks his fly by its own 

 weight and the manner in which he works his rod. [EDB.] 



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