CHAPTER XI 

 ETHICS OF THE WET FLY 



In dealing with this subject, I am conscious that 

 I start with a weight of opinion against me 

 among the fishermen of chalk streams. I have 

 known some of them say in a shocked tone, " But 

 that is wet- fly !" as if it were some high crime and 

 misdemeanour to use a wet fly upon a chalk 

 stream. To make my peace with such I want to 

 argue this question out, and test and see what it is 

 about the wet fly which has brought such discredit 

 upon it among the best sportsmen in the world. 



It is axiomatic with many that it is unsuccessful 

 upon chalk streams. That is not my opinion, 

 but in itself it is not an objection. If it were 

 unfairly successful it would be another story. 

 The object of fly-fishing, whether wet or dry, is 

 the catching of trout, not anyhow, but by means 

 refined, clean, delicate, artistic, and sportsmanlike 

 in the sense that they are fair to the quarry and 

 fair to the brother angler. There can be no doubt 

 that the dry fly honestly fulfils all these condi- 

 tions. Let us see where the wet fly fails. 



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