THE CHOICE OF FLIES 



attention, the fish rising, but returning without 

 taking the fly. 



I am inclined, to agree with Mr. Harris that bass 

 flies as sold by the dealers are far too large for 

 running water, and are better suited for the deep, 

 dark-colored water of lakes. The rule is not infal- 

 lible — that big flies catch the large fish; but after 

 dusk the large fly is more serviceable in that both 

 angler and fish see it more easily. 



Later, I carefuUy trimmed part of the flies with 

 my scissors, reducing the wings and tail nearly one 

 third, the change being a decided improvement in 

 the Ferguson, Cracker, and silver doctor of the 

 Orvis flies, and the silver doctor, Parmechenee 

 Belle, and grizzly king of the Abbey & Imbrie 

 flies. While casting for bass in what is known as 

 a bass pool, I landed a splendid brown trout, on the 

 Cracker, before reducing its size; but at twilight, 

 and on three diff'erent occasions, I hooked a fine 

 bass on the trimmed Ferguson in this same pool. 

 Twice he got away while out of the water, and once 

 he rubbed the hook off by nosing a rock in the 

 swirl of swift water. I tried him many times after, 

 and on every occasion he would leap out of the 

 water once, but never a second time. 



In short, after most careful study of this par- 

 ticular kind of water and locality, I am firmly con- 

 vinced that any fish — bass, trout, or even salmon 

 — will, nine times out of ten, go for the fly that 



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