i8o THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



excellent opportunity of watching the fish and their 

 ways, and soon found that a breeze was the worst 

 thing you could have, and that the largest trout fed 

 as a rule only in the calm sheltered places where the 

 fly became settled on the surface." 



" The patterns of flies were at first a great trouble ; 

 there were no satisfactory ones to be bought, so I 

 have been forced to work out my own, and after many 

 failures I am fairly contented with the patterns I have 

 made and now use, but it has been ten years' work. 

 I started well with the green drake, having an 

 answerable hackle pattern, but it was two or three 

 years before I found that the trout seldom took the 

 green when the gray or spent drake was on. I tried 

 all the patterns of gray and spent drake that were on 

 the market, but none were satisfactory for lake work ; 

 those tied with hackle points were best, but would not 

 stand the work, and soon got limp, the wings broke 

 or got tucked into the bend of the hook, and they came 

 to pieces ; they were all tied with hackle points from 

 the neck. A better and stronger feather can be 

 obtained from the shoulder and back of an old cock." 



"The rod and tackle I recommend are not intended 

 for small fishing, but for waters where the trout will 

 average 3 lb., and go up to 7 or 8 lb. (and over)." 



" Spliced greenheart with plenty of wood left for 



strength at the splices, 10 ft. 



Rod. 6 in. to 1 1 ft. long ; it should 



not be too stiff, with easy play 

 down to the handle of the butt. The best material 



