THE PRAXIS OF SALMON ANGLING. 
are supposed to be just entering the 
pool, and it is advisable to cast imme- 
diately, as they are likely to take the fly. 
Salmon ascend the river at night, 
lying motionless by day; and, if un- 
molested, remain in the pool often for 
weeks until a rainfall raises the river, 
when they will take the fly; hence, 
suffer not the pool to be disquieted 
nor linger in inaction when the rain 
slackens ! 
It is said that salmon rest at head 
o’ tide, where the salt water dams up 
the fresh, awaiting the taste that 
down-pouring rain raising the river 
gives, ere ascending to the pools; 
wherefore, the best fishing follows the 
rain and brings fresh run fish from 
the sea. 
Carry all your knowledge to a 
strange river—it is but a closed book 
—and there begin anew, for only ob- 
servation and close study will avail; 
verily, years are required to master 
the mysteries of the river whose pools 
baffle and perplex the newcomer from 
day to day, setting at naught the les- 
sons of the day before. 
Study the eddies and currents of 
the pool, its shades, shadows and 
depths, that you may determine the 
sweep and movement of the fly, its 
color, appearance and movement all 
vitally important; for often salmon 
only rise to the fly at a given point. 
Hence it is necessary to be able so to 
cast that the fly shall sweep in arc 
over that point. 
You will learn that knowledge of 
even the shadows of cloud, mountain 
or tree may bring the successful solu- 
tion of the mystery of the pool; that 
at given time and circumstance, the 
cast from a given point, given direc- 
tion and of determined length will 
produce the only rise, though there 
be scores of salmon in the pool. 
Use bright flies on dark days, and 
dark flies on bright days. 
Query you the names and sizes of 
flies? Francis gives some names and 
Stewart a few more! 
_ No limits have been set to the freak- 
261 
ish fancy of the factory girl tying the 
flies, or the conscience of the dealer 
outfitting you! 
However, among many possessions, 
these I use, but recommend none: 
Normal water. Jock Scott, Wilkin- 
son, Silver Doctor, Grey Doctor, Dur- 
ham Ranger, Silver Grey, Butcher, 
Smith, tied in red and yellow, Dandy, 
Cock Robin, Dusty Miller, White 
Winged Admiral, Sir Herbert, sizes 
2 and 4. 
Low water. Black Dose, Curtis, 
Dark Fairy, Black Ranger, Dark Ad- 
miral, Fiery Brown, sizes 6, 8 and Io. 
Rising, moily or high water. Fancy 
free be your choice; rainbow-hued 
and huge barbed as a gaff, so they be 
sized 3-0, 5-O or 7-0. 
On deep, dark, rapid and rough 
waters employ a large, bright fly. On 
shallow, clear and bright waters, use 
a small, dark fly. 
Save yourself much labor and vexa- 
tion by thinking that a mere change of 
flies will tempt the fish to rise. 
Size of the fly has more to do with 
success in salmon angling than all 
the combinations of feather and tin- 
sel that fancy has devised. The 
proper size, once discovered, seldom 
varies on pool or river, except in 
freshets or rapidly falling water. 
When beginning to angle, carefully 
note the pattern, color and size, until 
you discover the successful fly; for 
pattern, however skill and art may 
have lent their aid, is least in import- 
ance and likewise value. It yields to 
color, which gives away to size, the 
most difficult to ascertain, since suc- 
cess usually follows as soon as the 
proper size is determined. 
The larger the collection of flies the 
angler has with him, the greater the 
chance that he will have the right 
fly, but far greater is the improbability 
of its being selected at the required 
moment, often entailing great loss of 
time, and likewise the salmon. 
Never attach a fly to the cast until 
you have tried the loop of the fly by 
strongly pulling, for if that be defec- 
