CHAPTER IX 



FISHING STILL WATER 



Often during the late season — ^after July 1st — 

 the salmon gather in large numbers in still-water 

 pools, or if it is very warm, in spring holes off the 

 main stream. At such times the regular wet-fly 

 fisherman passes them by in despair, as he is almost 

 sure to be unsuccessful if he tries to take them 

 with his regular tackle. 



For many years fish in these places have baffled 

 me and I have seen no way in which to take them 

 on a fly, but constant experimenting finally enabled 

 me to work out several ways of catching them, and 

 for the last three years I have had great sport in 

 just this kind of fishing. 



Naturally when the salmon are in perfectly still 

 water they are very shy and are easily alarmed by 

 any disturbance in the water whatever, so it is 

 absolutely necessary to fish for them with very 

 fine tackle. I find that I must use at least fifteen 

 feet of leader, and I have much better luck with 

 twenty feet. The last six to ten feet near the fly 

 must not exceed .010-inch diameter, and very often 



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