142 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



The angler should practice to drop his flies lightly on the 

 water and see that the line or leader does not strike first. 

 Keep out of sight of the fish always, and do not splash or 

 make more noise than is necessary. When a fish takes the 

 fly you must hook him quickly for he learns instantly that it 

 is not a real insect and drops it at once. Keep the line taut 

 so that you can hook the fish at the first move. By casting 

 down stream you will have little trouble of this kind. 



As to the flies, an old established rule is to use light and 

 bright colored flies on dark days and in the evening, and 

 dark or sombre flies for bright days. But there are times 

 when this doesn't hold out well. It is a common practice 

 to use two flies on a leader and if the fish does not take one 

 sometimes the other is more attractive. Some one of the fol- 

 lowing list will be found good on nearly every occasion : Pro- 

 fessor, Montreal, Coachman, Royal Coachman, Grizzly King, 

 Parmachenee Belle, Black Hackle, Gray Hackle, Brown 

 Hackle, Abbey, Ferguson, Ibis, Lord Baltimore, White Miller, 

 Seth Green, Oriole, Queen of the Water, Babcock, Governor 

 Alvord, and Silver Doctor. As before stated the brightest 

 flies are best for dull days and the more sombre ones take 

 best on bright days. They are tied on Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 

 hooks. Nos. 4 and 5 will be best on most occasions. Either 

 a looped or a long snelled fly will do for a tail fly, but the 

 long snelled kind is best for a dropper fly as it can be 

 attached without an additional snell, or length of gut. 



Some may hesitate to buy a fly rod and outfit, believing 

 that the same could not be used for any other kind of fishing, 

 but this is a mistake, for you can use any small, light spin- 

 ning bait or small casting spoon, though it is none too good 

 for the rod to use these much. You can also use salt pork 

 bait as mentioned elsewhere and this is a very effective bass 

 bait. It may be skittered over the surface or used under 

 water. 



