WHAT THE FISH SEES 



outside the window it causes miniature light ex- 

 plosions which are very visible at long distances. 

 It is these which warn the fish of the approach of 

 insect food and can scarcely fail to attract his 

 attention. 



With dry flies the Ught effects are even more 

 marked than with wet flies, because they rest on 

 the surface, and have every opporttmity of making 

 the meniscus rise about the hackle or feathers 

 due to the surface tension, and cause it to act 

 as a light condenser which will make brilliant spots 

 of light when seen from below. If the fly is moved 

 on the surface beyond the window it makes bril- 

 liant light flashes almost like explosions from the 

 point of view of the fish. This explains the great 

 effectiveness of Mr. La Branche's "bump cast" 

 where he makes the fly strike the water and make 

 several little jumps before it comes to rest, and 

 floats into the fish's window. I have often 

 watched him take many more trout than other 

 anglers largely because of his ability to make this 

 type of cast. In riffley water it is, of course, very 

 taking, because it attracts attention amid all the 

 disturbance when the fly might otherwise pass un- 

 seen. I have used this on salmon also with great 

 effect, and the method mentioned imder the head 



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