TIPS. 33 



Catches it is necessnn- to mend the east, in the absence of which 

 manitnivre tiie hsh are more inrhned to follow the fly than to jump at 

 it. 



Four toppings over a " dress " of not more than six-eighths of 

 an inch seem to do most damage in average places. But in low 

 water — oven then the fl)- is played quickly across it — the smallest 

 hooks are used. 



To approach the second situation, namely, when the sun's 

 magnetic beam is seen no more, it would seem almost superfluous, 

 after what has already been said of our system, to urge the necessity 

 of mounting quiet looking patterns — that is to say, those not 

 decorated with bright, showy feathers. 



On the Dee, for instance, we constantly hear it said, " the Gordon* 

 time is coming," and this implies that the day is drawing to a close. 

 But we must not overlook the fact that, in the evening, when the 

 waters cease to sparkle, first there comes a flood of rosy light. 

 Accordingly, the Cordon, disfigured by the substitution of a dark blue 

 hackle at the throat for the light one, which the Dee fish so dearly 

 love, is reserved for duty later in the evening. And is there any fly 

 that kills in those waters so well at night time as the dark blue 

 Gordon ? In my experience, none. 



The principle of this toning down holds good on most rivers, in 

 fact on all where the bright fly system is generally practised on bright 

 days. 



Referring again to the deep stretch shaded by Scotch firs, it must 

 not be taken for granted that a four-inch fly would be dt- rigiieur 

 elsewhere, far from it. The example is merely given to illustrate 

 the practice under such circumstances and conditions. On other 



C2 



