Chapter XX. 



WHY DO THE FISH RISE ? 



In describing a fishing trip, it is curious how 

 universal it has become to describe a rise of Duns — 

 mostly of the olive variety ; in fact, this has become 

 almost the classical method. Many writers give a 

 prominence, out of all proportion, to the Olive Dun in 

 particular, and the Ephemeridcz in general, as though 

 they were the only class of flies worthy the attention 

 of any honest angler. Conscious as I am of the merits 

 of a well-dressed small olive-coloured fly, I have a 

 notion that in a number of cases it is taken, not for a 

 Dun at all, but because it is a typical insect colour 

 and the general form suggests a fly. 



I have seen Olive Duns float over rising fish by 

 scores at times, and not a fin stir ; but immediately a 

 large Gnat comes along it is taken with avidity (and 

 this has happened, not once, but on many occasions) 

 and yet, few of the numerous writers on flies seem to 

 deem the Gnat tribes worthy of any but the most scant 

 notice, although these are roughly, six times as 

 numerous as the EphemeridcB. The Culicidcv, Chirono- 

 midcB, and Tipitlidce get on the waters in great 

 numbers at times and in a great variety of forms, sizes, 

 and colours. Of the first two named there are well 

 over two hundred varieties, commonly known as Gnats, 

 Midges or Mosquitoes ; and surely anglers would be 



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