102 The American Scilmon-fisherman. 



run of the fish which frequent that water. But if these 

 principles are recognized and acted on, he has a definite 

 rule to direct him — something at all events much better 

 than mere random experiment. 



He then studies the stage and state of the water, the 

 character of the light, and its direction with reference to 

 the fish, which of course are always headed up stream, 

 He assumes that the fish lie near the bottom. He then 

 selects from among the files which experience has shown 

 to suit the fish of that water, one which in size and color 

 he judges would be visible for some distance, yet the 

 details of which he thinks will become apparent only 

 after the fish has progressed in its approach toward the 

 fly. With this he begins, using a larger fly in deep or 

 much troubled water, and a smaller one where it is 

 shallow or smoother, always striving for the golden 

 mean between visibility and obscurity, wherein lies 

 success. 



Should a fish rise, yet rise short, he attributes its action 

 to a definite cause; and, after a brief delay that its dis- 

 trust and disappointment may subside, oilers it a smaller 

 fly of the same kind. He has erred on the side of visi- 

 bility, and tries the smaller fly as necessarily more ob- 

 scure. Should that fail, he rests the fish again for the 

 same reason, and tries a fly one part of which — say the 

 body — is still more obscure. Or, to be more precise, as- 

 sume that the fish first rose to a Jock Scott. He tries it 

 the second time 'wdth a smaller fly of the same kind; and 

 that failing, resorts, perhaps, to a Black Dose, the wing 

 of which is as conspicuous as that of the other fly, while 

 the body and hackle are much less so. 



In short, he knows what he is trying to do, and, study- 



