42 MINOR TACTICS OF THE CHALK STREAM 



No, here is a case in which the wet fly is clearly- 

 predicated, and it should be so dressed as to go 

 under without the least hesitation. The advan- 

 tage which the wet fly has is not that the trout is 

 taking the nymph in preference to the floating 

 dun, though he is probably doing that far more 

 than is apparent, but that, whereas a drag on the 

 surface is fatal and betrays the gut, an under- 

 water drag is not betraying, and the movement of 

 the fly caused by the drag may, in its beginning 

 at any rate, be even attractive to the trout, as 

 imparting motion suggesting life and volition to 

 an otherwise suspicious object. The drag also 

 serves to tighten instead of slackening the line, 

 so that a very small strike fixes the hook. 



When the trout takes a wet fly in such a position, 

 the surface indications are by no means obvious ; 

 but if the angler be on the alert to strike when 

 such indications come, it is wonderful how soon he 

 can pick up the knack, and what excellent fish 

 this method brings him. A strike which does 

 not touch the fish, being in the nature of an under- 

 water drawing of the fly, will often have no 

 scaring effect upon a feeding fish, where a strike 

 with a floating fly would send him headlong to 

 cover. 



It is difficult to pick among my recollections one 

 instance more illustrative than another of the 

 value of this method, but I will take an afternoon 

 in July, 1908. It was a cold day for the time of 



