158 FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. 



shows the centre steel bar of the hook, and the only 

 satisfactory way we know is to make the body with a 

 basis of tinsel, and over this wind a band of gut, 

 celluloid, indiarubber, mohair, or other material which 

 will allow the sheen of the tinsel to show through in 

 part, at any rate, suggesting transparence by means of 

 reflection. 



Flies with tinsel bodies are at times " most taking," 

 as also those which have high colour in them. A 

 finely dressed fly with turns of three hackles, red, 

 yellow, and green in colour, with yellow and red spines 

 for tails, and a gilt body, will on a brilliant hot day 

 kill in a surprising manner. On August 7th I tried 

 various flies of the Blue and Green-bottle variety, with 

 fair success ; they floated perfectly, and on hot days 

 are " great medicine," but as the fish began to come 

 short, and as the day became brighter and hotter, I 

 put up an " iridescent " fly, knowing its worth from 

 experience, and the result abundantly justified the 

 change. So long as the bright conditions held the 

 " iridescent " fry worked " like a charm," but when it came 

 on dull it ceased to be attractive, and a fly of sombre 

 colour became more seductive. 



It has been laid down in salmon fishing, " bright 

 day, bright fly ; dull day, dull fly," a rule which I have 

 found work out also with trout. Should the weather 

 turn thundery and dull a bright fly ceases to attract, 

 and a black, brown, or a ochreous one will do much 

 better. In a diary extending over some years I find 

 several entries to the effect "as the dav became dull 



