THE SENSE OF SIZE 31 



VIII 

 THE SENSE OF SIZE 



" The fuller the water the larger the fly " is a good general 

 working rule, and so it follows that where, as in the chalk 

 streams, the flow is steady and constant, there is seldom 

 any occasion to increase the size of the artificial fly above 

 the normal size of the natural. And on these streams one 

 is liable to find that the presentation of a fly above the 

 normal in size is apt to be resented, and many experienced 

 anglers advise a size smaller than the natural fly rather 

 than an imitation of equal size. What, then, is the ground 

 for the use of a fly larger than the natural upon rougher 

 and less constant streams ? The only one which suggests 

 itself is that a full water (once it clears enough for the 

 fly) stimulates the fish to such high spirits and such ex- 

 tremity of hunger, that the added size of the angler's lure, 

 so far from giving rise to suspicion (as it would in more 

 normal circumstances), becomes an added attraction in its 

 promise of satisfaction of an oppressively vigorous appetite. 

 The angler therefore may be sure that he will be wise to 

 pay attention to this matter of size, as it is one of which, 

 for good or for ill, the trout takes notice. It is a curious 

 point that the wet fly may be fished a size larger than the 

 dry representing the same insect. I record this as a 

 matter of experience without being able to give, off my 

 own bat, even a guess at a reason. A very skilful and 

 observant wet-fly angler of my acquaintance says that the 

 nymph and the creeper are larger than the winged insect. 



The conclusions which I venture to submit as the sum 

 of the foregoing arguments and inferences are that in flies 

 purporting or intended to imitate natural insects, size and 

 colour are the matters of consequence, and that, apart 



