76 SALMON -ANGLING. 



the smallest salmon-hook. An excellent fly for some light 

 summer waters is a ptarmigan wing, dull yellow, or dark 

 green body, and a hackle half black and half red. This is 

 first-rate for large sea-trout. In the Echaig, a blue jay- 

 wing is a standing favourite, both with salmon and 

 sea-trout, in every state of the river ; and even in full 

 flood they refuse a lighter wing. A dark mottled pheasant 

 tail for wing, red body, and gold tinsel, is also a choice fly 

 for the grilse and salmon of that water. 



The salmon almost always keep the channel* or deep 

 parts of a river ; so, if it is fordable, you will often have 

 to change from one side to the other, as the heaviest 

 stream alters its course. In small waters this is not 

 difficult, but in great rivers one is frequently obliged to 

 make choice of a side. This requires judgment, as much 

 of the day's sport depends on securing that one which 

 combined circumstances render the most desirable at the 

 time. 



Trolling with par is a most deadly method, the bait 

 being so gaudy, but it is ruinous to fly-fishing. If a par 

 has been trailed over a salmon, there is little chance of its 

 rising to the fly for some time, perhaps not even for that 

 day. The Scotch peasantry have invented a substitute 

 for the Thames trolling-rod. I had one made by a 



* This rule does not hold good with trout. Often the weather-side 

 of a stream, even when shallow, is the surest find for them, because the 

 flies and other insects, being drifted across, are collected on the opposite 

 bank. In lochs, they would be devoured almost as soon as their 

 voyage had begun ; therefore the contrary rule obtains. 



