PREFACE xi 



then, and sea -trout very often, take the 

 lures of which the images are here pre- 

 sented. At the same time, while adopting 

 the standard sizes of the lake flies for 

 these reasons and in deference to usage, I 

 cannot candidly conceal the belief, which is 

 more than theoretical, that even in a high 

 wind lures of smaller size succeed, ivith the 

 brown trout, just as well; nor ought I to 

 conceal the absolute certainty that in a 

 light wind, or in a calm,, lures of the smaller 

 size will be found infinitely better. Indeed, 

 when the wind is light, not only lake flies 

 smaller than the standard, but also some 

 of the stream flies, are often astonishingly 

 successful. 



Some may be surprised to see Wasps 

 figuring among the lake flies. Wasps, it 

 may be said, are not water insects. That 

 is true; but neither is the Alder, a favourite 

 on rivers, a water insect in the seyise that a 

 Stonefly is. Still, just as the trout in a 

 stream take Alders that are blown on the 

 ivater by high wind. Wasps sometimes fall 

 upon the lake, and theflsh rise at them. 



