THE ART OF FISHING. 45 



though the finest ones are taken in the months of May and June. 

 They bite the best in March and April . 



You can hook trout in several ways. Some prefer fly fishing, and 

 this is the most interesting mode in summer. The rod to be used 

 should be light, and the line made of hair, or silk . The fly should 

 be placed on a length of gut, or a single light hair. Do not fish with 

 your back to the sun. Stand as far from the stream as circumstances 

 will allow. Always throw your line from you never whip it out. 

 Fly-fishing is only suitable for pleasant weather. The best time 

 of day is early in the morning or just at sunset. The line should 

 be about half as long again as the rod. It should be thrown up 

 stream, and let the fly gradually float down, and if possible fall 

 into the eddies where the fish are apt to retreat in case of alarm. Let 

 your line fall into the stream lightly and naturally, and when you 

 raise it, do so gently and by degrees. Only a small part of the line 

 is allowed to be in the water. The end, or leader, should, as before 

 stated, be a single light hair, if you can get one, as the trout is ex- 

 tremely shy and suspicious. If you stand on the bank of the 

 stream, throw your line as far up as possible, as you cannot expect 

 to catch a trout opposite or below where you are standing. If 

 bushes intervene between you and the stream, (which is all the bet- 

 ter,) do not rustle them or make a noise. 



The usual length of a rod for trouting is fourteen feet, though 

 longer or shorter ones may be used, according to fancy or conven- 

 ience. The bottom of the line, unless you have a light hair, should 

 be strong silk-worm gut. The size of the hook will depend upon 

 your flies. Nos. 4 and 5 are used for worms and beetles, and 7 to 9 

 for small flies. If the flies are too small, put two on the hook, as 

 these insects frequently fall into the water in couples. The largest 

 and best trout lie* in shallow water, faced up stream, or else they 

 lie near the surface. They are found on the south, or shady side 

 of the stream. It is necessary to be exceedingly cautious not to 

 show yourself, for if they see you they vanish for the day. Grass- 

 hoppers and other small field insects are frequently used with sue 

 cess when other baits fail. 



Worm-Pishing for trout is practiced with similar caution. Af- 

 ter a rain, when the water of tha brook is a little riley, you can 

 catch trout by this mode sometimes very rapidly. It is usually 

 practiced in the spring. A single split shot will generally be enough 

 to sink your line, unless the stream is deep and rapid. The rod 



