348 
FOREST AND STREAM 
and the dry fly, solely as such, I for one think 
there is no such distinction. As to the relative 
superiority of the wet or dry fly when they are 
fished by experienced exponents of each method 
of fishing it all depends, in my judgment, on the 
character of the waters fished and the attendant 
conditions of time, wind and weather. 
There is no occasion as a matter of fact for 
any angler to set up the claim that one method 
is superior to the other because in the large 
majority of cases they cannot both be applied 
with success on the same waters at the same 
time. 
\\ hat the wet fly anglers claim is not that the 
wet fly is superior to the dry fly but that the dry 
fl} is not superior to the wet. In other words 
they claim no superiority either way. 
They have been and are perfectly satisfied to 
live at peace with the dry fly men but they are 
not willing to remain silent under a fire of mis¬ 
statements and in many cases abuse. They have 
no bone to pick but they will not be picked upon 
themselves by the dry fly advocates without de¬ 
fending their position, first, last and at all times. 
The claim made by the wet fly anglers when 
attacked by the dry fly writers is, that the wet 
fly method of fly fishing is just as scientific and 
requires just as much skill and knowledge of 
the art of fly fishing as does the dry fly method. 
They do not claim “the earth and the fullness 
thereof but they do claim the right to the en¬ 
joyment of their sport just the same as the dry 
fly man and this without fear and without favor. 
Would it be asking too much on behalf of the 
wet fly men for information about where the 
trout waters are located which are spoken of 
in this manner. Remember it is positive informa¬ 
tion that is asked for, not hearsay. 
This large catch is the result of these waters 
being crowded full of trout, and when trout are 
surrounded on all sides by his many brothers, 
if he sees an object in the water which he thinks 
is food he. makes an immediate dash for it, so 
that he will get it before some other brother 
does! 
Looks Like a Good Dry Fly Proposition. 
The wet fly men would also like to know just 
one lake or stream in the State of Maine where 
the dry fly, fished as a dry fly, is used and 
catches “just as many, if not more” trout than 
the wet fly. The dry fly is used on some waters 
of Maine but it has not proved during its use 
in the last six years one-fifth part as success¬ 
ful as the wet fly. The dry fly has met with 
more success on Grand Lake Stream than any¬ 
where else but even there not more than half 
the time was it fished as a dry fly, dry. 
“Please pass the decanter, Mr. Wet Fly!” How 
nice this sounds among friends! What pleasure 
the wet and the dry might enjoy together if 
only the decanter could be passed between them 
under surroundings of goodfellowship. But now? 
Oh no, Mr. Dry Fly! Nothing doing after 
reading some of these lines which I now quote: 
The dry fly angler derives much of the pleas¬ 
ure of the pastime of angling from the con¬ 
centration of his mind and eye on the floating 
fly, also in the manner in which it should be 
placed upon the water, for the fly is always 
within his sight, placed upon the water as lightly 
as a feather, and then moving downstream in 
much the same manner as does a natural insect 
—while the wet fly fisherman splashes his fly 
into the water, it sinks and is often out of his 
sight, he moves it around with the action of 
the rod, very often pulling the fly upstream, 
contrary to natural insect action, most of the 
time does not know where his fly is, very much 
after the manner of fishing with bait, and very 
often does not see the trout at all, and only 
knows the trout has taken the fly when there is 
a sudden tension on the line. The dry fly meth¬ 
od of fishing is of the far superior order in re¬ 
gard to all these considerations, and hence the 
dry fly method increases largely the pleasure to 
be derived from the pastime of angling, while 
the results of capture by both wet and dry flies 
are about on an enual basis! 
The acceptance of these facts, followed by the 
proof of trial, will be a source of satisfaction, 
for all wise fishermen catch all ideas they can, 
and then increase their catch of fish! 
Acknowledged! 
Acknowledged! By whom? The author of 
the article? Of course! Certainly no self-re¬ 
specting wet fly angler would be hypocrite 
enough to subscribe to such a bunch of misstate¬ 
ments. The author’s attitude in regard to fly 
fishing as set forth in the portions of the article 
I have quoted, remind me of two old men in the 
country who had a difference, one said he was 
extremely desirous of being fair about the mat¬ 
ter and invited the other to his house for a 
discussion. The meeting took place at the ap¬ 
pointed time and as showing his fairness the 
host said: “Now let us discuss this matter im¬ 
partially and dispassionately! In the first place 
you don’t know a damn thing about it.” 
It seems, judging from the article in ques¬ 
tion that the wet fly angler has no mind and 
no eye and no ability, but on the contrary the 
dry fly angler, because he is a dry fly angler, is 
blessed with all these attributes and therefore 
assumes the divine right to render wisdom’s 
verdicts, ad libitum. 
It may be possible that perhaps a “higher 
court” will reverse the “lower” and say that 
while there may be a question as to the same 
equality of fishing ability on the part of the wet 
fly angler yet there seems to be sufficient evidence 
to warrant the conclusion that he at all events 
has some mind. 
While I will not at this time pass the decanter 
although I hope to do so before “my rod is laid 
away for ever,” I will differentially take off my 
hat to you, Mr. Dry Fly Writer, if you will 
kindly reconcile these two statements. 
-while the results of capture by both 
the_ wet and dry flies are about on an equal 
basis! 
_- while the wet fly fisherman splashes 
his fly into the water, it sinks and is often out 
of his sight, he moves it around with the action 
of the rod, very often pulling the fly upstream, 
contrary to natural insect action, most of the 
time does not know where his fly is, very much 
after the manner of fishing with bait, and very 
often does not see the trout at all, and only 
knows the trout has taken the fly when there is 
a sudden tension on the line. 
If wet fly fishing was carried on as here de¬ 
scribed, by the anglers who practice the wet fly 
t 
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