THE TROUT. 147 



and consequently you will not see your fish "rise." 

 Your hand must be as quick as your eye, I might say 

 your intuition, when your fly is taken; for unless hooked 

 your trout ejects fur and feathers in a moment of time. 

 Remember that early in the year trout generally lie in the 

 quietest part of the water, for though in early streams 

 they are " in season " in February and March, they have 

 not yet recovered their full strength after spawning. 



Two flies are quite enough to use, your " stretcher " or 

 tail fly, and one " drop " or " bob " fly. In rapid streams 

 try and learn to use the latter in spots where you cannot 

 get your former comfortably, or at least in a style to 

 attract fish. Often it is a most excellent plan to cast 

 your collar or tail fly on a stone in the river, and then by 

 gradually tightening your line let your " drop " fly 

 search the eddy at the back. 



Do not use a longer line than you can help, and do not 

 pay out line to reach a given spot unless absolutely 

 necessary ; rather wade or crawl nearer. 



When you see a fish rise, cast your fly as near as pos- 

 sible into the centre of the wavy circle. If that fails 

 cast a foot or two higher up the stream. So too, after a 

 fish has risen at your fly and missed it. 



A " wet " fly early in the season, a " dry " fly later 

 on. 



Need I say that it is of the utmost importance to throw 



" lightly," and to take care that your " stretcher " alights 



on the water before your " droppers " ? 



" Be mindful, aye, your fly to throw 

 Light as falls the flaky snow." 



The young aspirant to fly-fishing should practise assi- 

 duously and patiently, throwing his fly at a mark on a 



