FLY-FISHING FOR TROUT 79 



CHAPTER V 



FLY-FISHING FOR TROUT 



No one will question my opinion that fly-fishing 

 for trout is the very highest form of angling. It 

 may be defined as fishing with an artificial or 

 hand-made imitation of the natural flies and flying 

 insects (and in some cases of jumping and crawl- 

 ing creatures, as in the case of crickets, grasshop- 

 pers, and grubs). In its practice only the neatest 

 and finest of tackle is ordinarily used, the chief 

 reason for this being the absence of all handling 

 of living baits, and the necessity for skilful methods 

 in order to give the lure a semblance of what other 

 baits do or have possessed, but which this has not ; 

 namely, life and movement. 



In order that the fly may be cast lightly, as if 

 it fell accidentally on the water, it is necessary in 

 this form of fishing to use a rod possessing pli- 

 ancy, strength, and lightness — that is necessary if 

 you would be ranked as a true fly-fisherman. Of 

 course you can fish with a bean-pole, as for suck- 



