THE FLY-FISHERMAN'S AFTERMATH. 35 



Fly-fishing for dace is a mode of angling at once fascinating 

 and artistic. To achieve success in this branch of the " gentle art " 

 the rod-wielder must display a considerable amount of skill, for 

 although these sprightly fish often rise boldly, even recklessly, they 

 are always difficult to hook, since they seize upon and reject the 

 artificial fly with marvellous rapidity. Hence the percentage of 

 fish successfully hooked out of the total number " risen " is remark- 

 ably low. Sometimes, at sundown after a brilliant summer day, 

 though seemingly feeding with absolute abandon, these fish prove 

 singularly elusive, one after another being missed by the exasperated 

 angler. However, this by the way during one of these " hurri- 

 cane " rises, at the close of a gorgeous evening, the writer accom- 

 plished one of his best performances namely, the landing of twelve 

 dace in fourteen successive casts. 



Dace love most the fast currents over gravel-beds, and 

 throughout the summer months will be found chiefly on the streamy 

 shallows, scours, and at the edge of weed-patches, where they may 

 be taken by both the wet and dry-fly methods. 



The dry-fly affords the prettier sport, and generally proves 

 more efficacious than the wet-fly. However, the angler must use 

 his own discretion as to which of the two methods he may employ 

 to the greater advantage. It is often useful to effect a combination 

 of wet and dry-fly fishing ; the tail fly is rendered buoyant by the 

 application of a small quantity of paraffin, whilst the dropper is 

 allowed to sink below the surface of the water. 



Although, according to Linnaeus, the dace has been known to 

 grow to a foot and a half in length, it is seldom that it attains a 

 weight greater than i6oz. in fact, a dace exceeding the pound in 

 weight is a comparative rarity, whilst one of 8oz. is justly con- 

 sidered a good fish. Nevertheless, there are records of some 

 magnificent dace having been caught on rod and line, amongst 

 them ranking specimens of the exceptionally fine weights of i Ib. 

 8oz., i Ib. 6oz., i Ib. 4oz., and i Ib. sJoz., which have succumbed 

 to the prowess of skilled anglers. During September, 1909, an 

 extraordinary capture of dace was effected in the Rennet six fish 

 weighing altogether 5lb. 



