CHAPTER IV 



CHOICE OF PATTERN 



The tyro is now equipped with rod, reel, line and 

 other tackle. He has learnt to cast accurately either 

 with, against, or across the wind. If my efforts have 

 been successful, he is fully armed with the knowledge 

 of the ethics of the sport. The next step is to help 

 him in his choice of the pattern of artificial fly which 

 is most likely to tempt a trout feeding and taking a 

 fair proportion of the natural insects floating down to 

 it on the surface of the stream. As a preparatory 

 stage he should arm himself with the little net made 

 for the purpose, and take from the surface a number 

 of the duns or spinners which are sailing down the 

 river. 



He should examine them carefully with the aid of 

 his magnifying-glass and determine their genus, and, 

 if possible, also the species. To assist him in this 

 work of identification he should refer to the second 

 part of this book, which treats of " The Fisher- 

 man's Entomology," and it will not be unprofit- 

 able for him to devote some time to the study of 

 the life history of the various insects described in 

 detail. 



If the angler has read the current literature on the 



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