ARE TROUT CUNNING? 139 



cases larger than real insects, those of the 

 stream flies are as nearly as possible 

 of the same size as the insects which they 

 represent. Why should we have large 

 flies for rough water and small flies for 

 water that is calm ? The insects of 

 nature do not grow larger with the rising 

 of the wind and smaller as the storm 

 abates. They are of the same size in all 

 weathers. It is surprising how readily, 

 when they are disposed to feed, trout 

 see and seize a lure that one might think 

 lost in the tumult of windswept waters. 

 It is even more surprising how readily, 

 when in the same mood, the fish will rise 

 at a fly so large and gaudy that it seems 

 out of all proportion to a lake in calm 

 or to clear shallows in a stream. In 

 saying this I am, of course, assuming that 

 in both cases the fly is of natural size. 



Sometimes, I think, a trout may be 

 induced to take a fly by being offered it 

 over and over again. Well do I re- 

 member the incident which first suggested 

 this. It feU on the day of the first trout 



