36 TIPS. 



flies in bright weather embellished with gaudy feathers. Take the 

 case of the March-brown on the Dee, and you have the principal 

 exception. On this occasion our fly materials must very closely 

 resemble nature. In our composition we are tied down to the element 

 of size, i.e., to making our pattern only one size larger than the living 

 insect, and we can only slightly enrich our make-believe with any 

 extra show of colour. These restrictions, one and all, are of less 

 moment in every other case, even including our imitation of the 

 monster stone fly for use on the Spey. But as these matters will be 

 dealt with presently, suffice it to say that salmon, side by side, rise to 

 March-browns as well as to many other natural flies. 



On some rivers we creep up in size to enormous patterns for 

 ordinary use, as on the Dee ; on other rivers we come gradually down 

 in size, as on the Lochy and Ness, and on all rivers the fish get 

 accustomed to the change and prefer it. 



We also gradually increase the decoration of flies for the same 

 sane reasons. The result is equally good, and as years roll on we 

 find the fish appreciate the most luxurious patterns, such as would 

 have frightened them to death had they been suddenly introduced. 

 If this is not educating the fish^an expression often ridiculed — what 

 is it ? Fancy the commotion a six-inch " Jock " would have created 

 fifty years ago! Surely the time has come for none to discredit the 

 fact that we teacli salmon to take the smartest flies — lures with spicy 

 wings, bodies unnaturally adorned, legs longer than living flies 

 possess, tails unconscionable but still tails — and why, in these 

 enlightened days, some people say these fish are not educated up to 

 this treatment, and that they mistake our gaudy flies for minnows, or 

 other live bait, Heaven only knows. 



