kr~
^-^
DRY-FLY FISHING.
D. Moul,
FRONTISPIECE.
de.
THE HALFORD DRY-FLY SERIES VOLUME
I.
DRY-FLY FISHING IN THEORY
AND PRACTICE
FREDERIC
M.
("DETACHED BADGER
"
OF
HALFORD "
THE FIELD")
author of " floating flies
and how to dress them
''
"making a fishery" AND " DRY-FLY
IN
ENTOMOLOGY
"
MEMORIAM
George Selwyn Marryat
FOURTH EDITION REVISED
LONDON VINTON &
9
New
CO. LIMITED Bridge Street, Ludgate Circus, E.C. 1902
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
DEDICATION OF FIRST EDITION. TO
GEORGE SELWYN MARRYAT. In the
Them," tion
last chapter of
entitled
" Hints
of this ivork these
If
is
"Floating Flies and
How
Dry-Fly Fishermen"
to
to
Dress
the produc-
foreshadowed.
pages meet with the approval of our brother anglers
;
if they contain anything that is likely to be useful, anything
that to
is
new, anything that
is
anything that
instructive, or
is
make dry-fly fishing a more charming or more engrossing
pursuit than
it
charm are due enough
to
days of
now
convey
is,
the
to
to
many years
the novelty, the instruction,
innumerable hints you have
me
at
different
ivhich
and
during the
times
the
good
been
many
we have spent together on
the
hanks of the Test.
As
a faint acknowledgment of all these obligations, and as
a mark of high esteem and deep affection, this humble effort perpetuate your teachings
is
to
dedicated to yon by
Your grateful Pupil,
FREDERIC November, 1888.
M.
HALFORD.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD (REVISED) EDITION. Memoriam George Selwyn Marryat.
In
On
the
14th
February,
of
Selwyn Marryat died aged
56.
To
ances, even to skill
at
George
Close, SaHsbury,
many friends and acquaintthose who had only heard of his his
and
as a fisherman
selfishness
The
1896,
on
the
his conspicuous
such an
bank,
river
unan-
nouncement was a source of the deepest regret not unmingled with astonishment that one so
young
in
ways,
his
vigorous, should
so
For
we had
my
seasons
consecu-
and scarcely a day
acquiring some knowledge,
or learnino- somethino;
the close
fifteen
spent a great proportion of
the fishing season together,
passed without
and
have been thus rapidly and
suddenly struck down. tive years
strong
active,
new from
we were
him.
Durino-
frequently staying
at
one another's houses, and when apart were
in
daily correspondence
on some point con-
nected with the sport, the insects
on which the
fish
methods of imitating them. be deemed an exaggeration
history of the
life
feed,
and the best
Hence for
me
it
may
not
to say that
PREFACE
untimely decease was as severe a shock as
his if
had
I
one of
lost
my
dearest and
nearest
relations.
"
Red Spinner,"
in
an obituary notice
in
the
Field of February 22nd, 1896, showed such appreciation of his character and conveyed these
impressions in such feeling terms that
tempted
to
quote two paragraphs
:
I
am
—
" Naturally, with his fame and popularity, he
had the run of the choicest streams, but he seldom cared to fill his basket, and I never met an
enthusiastic
much denied at
the
angler
But
waterside.
apparently
— as
he was
— who
impossible
tempt him, and
I
a
rising
fish
it
over
said angler
in
an
would always
position
have seen him, when an
angler had tried his best at a rising
given
so
himself the pleasure of fishing
in despair, quietly
had moved out of
fish,
and
wait until the
sight,
and then
address himself to the rising trout until he had it
in
been
the landing net. fishing,
—keeper, or
Wherever Marryat had
you would always meet someone proprietor, or visiting angler
—who
before he had been conversing with you for ten minutes about fishing would introduce the
name of Marryat as a model for imitation. The days with him by the river were always pleasant that
you
and always
instructive.
really appreciated the
If
he saw
knowledge he
had obtained, he would take endless trouble To the man, however, who to impart it.
PREFACE
who
fancied himself above everybody else, and
was
above accepting a hint from any
far
master was
the
creature,
maybe, a humorous ought
to
very
feel
living-
interposing,
silent,
remark sometimes that
have made the self-conceited
listener
small.''
"The evenings
after the fishing,
when dinner
being over and the tobacco burning, the
dis-
cussions turned upon not fishing alone, but a variety of
were,
subjects,
possible,
if
delightful than the days, for in
a busy and,
more
the course of
the early days, adventurous
in
life,
Marryat had picked up an astounding mass of information on
had
attacked
characterised
men
five
a
foro-et o
at
all
manner of
Natural
topics.
even abstruser questions of science, he
history,
with
the
he
did,
all
still
o
Houghton, when
a series
we
speeches
of
led
will
dear
the
at
nicrht
o
and there are four or
who probably
living
orreat
which
thoroughness
never
old
mill
Marryat on
and contentions
to
upon
what he called the teleology of the infinite.' A more agreeable companion, in short, there Marryat, never was than George Selwyn '
and
it
that
during
Houghton
those
Mr. Halford was introduced
Francis
when
was
F"rancis.
Marryat,
to
days
him by
This was about the time
who was
as
full
of spirits and
harmless jokes as a boy, seized the opportunity of
Francis
empty egg
being shells,
late
with
at
breakfast to place the
unbroken ends
PREFACE
Upwards,
before
Francis's
the explosion of laughter
covered the
little
upon him.
He knew
you
Marryat
are,
when
! '
the latter dis
had been played
trick that
and with a
author,
Loud was
plate.
once who was the
at
what a confounded
'
child
joined in the merriment."
Naturally gifted with a keen sight developed
by
continual
use,
possessed
marvellous
of
powers of perception and the faculty of bringing these powers to bear rapidly on any subject, it
was not surprising
have been
that he should
of resource and able without a moment's
full
hesitation
awkward
how
decide
to
a
fish
rising
an
in
At a
position should be attacked.
glance he could see the point from which the should
cast
where
his
should
fly
knowledge
His
common in
made, and
be
and
of
avoid
spot drag.
of
history
whether
all
bred
sub-imago, or imago stages, was
likely to
artificial
lithe,
active
sinew,
him
figure,
mass
a
to
tall,
and
working
fly
Grasping
in the air.
as—
to use his
own
ex-
"combine delicacy and accuracy
Ready
chuck."
knowledge
muscle
a grip like a vice, he put forth
his skill in casting, so
pression—
His
fish.
of
enabled him to keep his
his rod with
first
certain of the class
tempt the
backwards and forwards
the
life
insects,
so great as to render
all
to
precise
the waters or on the land, whether in the
larval, pupal,
of
land
the
rare
the
to
a
true
at
any time
sportsman,
to
or
in
impart to
find
PREFACE
a feeding
fish for
chance of sport
good
a the
to
attempt,
him, he
sacrificed his
crouch at his
side,
and
if
an
of
faults
Xlll.
correct
applaud
necessary
one,
indifierent
own
rejoicing-
more than the tyro himself to see his efforts crowned with success. Full of trite sayings, and brimming over with exuberant a child,
was "mens sana
it
Such was the man this
to
whom
book was dedicated, and one
revised
this
is
corpore sano."
in
the in
offered
spirits like
first
edition of
whose memory angling
the
to
public.
The
new
probability of a
edition of " Dry-
Fly Fishing" being published was often
and the
cussed between
us,
impressed upon
me most
dis-
Mr. Marryat
late
strenuously the desir-
making copious notes of errors requiring correction, or amendments tending to ability of
keep the general matter thoroughly up
and as
This advice was followed,
January, 1895, he carefully read
to date.
lately
my
all
as
notes
book and sent me a list of a few points which he thought might advantageously His words enclosing them be added to them. were: "I enclose notes of revise for 'Drywith the
—
Fly Fishing.' else,
and
I
I
don't think there
have read
it
all
is
any thing-
over again care-
fully."
After his death, and
when
of this edition was decided,
I
the
production
consulted two of
the best dry-fly fishermen of the day, Mr. N.
PREFACE
Lloyd and
Mr. W'.
friends each
reading notes
H.
undertook
through
arduous
the
task
book and making
the
any points
of
These good
Pope.
which
on
of full
they could
suggest improvements on the text of the older
My
editions.
them,
of
not
devoted to valuable
warmest thanks are due only
time
the
for
which
they have
but also for the
this labour of love,
hints
have not
I
to both
failed
to
incorporate in the present work,
A comparison of this with
the original edition
show that, althouoh the alterations in the general scheme have been few, the revision of will
minor points and matters of
most comprehensive.
After
success in dry-fly fishing
on
matters of
success or non-
greatly dependent
is
and
detail,
has been
detail
all,
my
object have been to give the
chief
aim and
modern angler
the benefit of any experience acquired during
the last ten years so as to bring this edition
thoroughly up to date.
Thus any
real
facture of rods tively treated,
improvements
the
manu-
and tackle have been exhausincluding the
well as the valuable
of Mr.
in
Hawksley
in
and
Lloyd
ferrule
as
practical suggestions
reference to testing rods.
The chapters respectively on How, Where and When to Cast, Studies of Fish Feeding, Circumstances affecting Sp07't and Evening Fishing
have been carefully and thoroughly revised. The early part of the chapter on Selection of Fly
view of experiments on the colour ques-
has, in tion,
part
been entirely re-written, and
in the
number of new patterns which tried
later
has been improved by the addition of a
it
and found
The
successful.
have
been
principles of
playing a hooked fish in weedy places have been considered
in
the
light
the
of
experiments
by Mr. Lloyd, and checked by further experiments on the and the part of the author and many friends chapter on Autopsy has been corrected and conducted
in the first instance
;
improved
The
in details.
chapter,
last
entitled
"The Manage-
ment of a Fishery," has been eliminated beI trust cause the subject has been worked out " exhaustively Making a Fishery," pubin lished in 1895 * by Mr. Horace Cox.
—
—
The hand-coloured
steel
engravings of the
eggs, larvae, nymphs, sub-imago and
imago of
and of the nymphs of the smaller
the May-fly
Ephemeridse, Caddis and Shrimp,
life-size,
are
included, but the lithographed plates of these insects
and crustaceans magnified have been
omitted.
This course has been adopted
two reasons
:
—
Firstly,
because the
life
for
history,
description and illustrations of the insects and their
metamorphoses have
treated in
*
as
"
been
more
full)'
Dry-Fly Entomology," published
Republished in 1902 by Messrs. Vinton & Co. (Ld.) III. of " The Halford Dry-Fly Series."
Volume
prp:face
&
1897 * by Messrs. Vinton
in
because
duce
Co.
;
secondly,
has been deemed desirable to pro-
it
original, with the
lower price than
a
edition at
this
view of bringing
means of the whole angling lithographic
stones
of
the
within the
it
The
fraternity.
plates
the
illustrating
"Casting," and the section of a trout in the chapter on "Autopsy," were unfortunately destroyed by a
and these have been repro-
fire,
duced from the original drawings by a photographic process. only remains for
It
tude to
my
to express
— to
grati-
Mr. N. Lloyd and Mr.
Pope, to whose work
alluded;
my
friends for the invaluable assistance
they have rendered
W. H.
me
Mr.
to
B.
I
have already
W. Smurthwaite
for his
admirable contribution on the colour question
and
last,
Spinner,"
my
other
of
but certainly
who has
not
least,
to
''
;
Red
read the proofs of this and
books, corrected
numerous errors
and composition, besides generally
style
improving and polishing the work.
It
would
be base ingratitude to omit the names of the publishers, I
Messrs. Vinton
can only say
it
is
&
Co., with
whom
a pleasure and a gratifica-
tion to be associated.
FREDERIC April "-''
A
of "
I si,
M.
HALFORD.
i8gg.
revised edition published in 1902 as
The Halford Dry-Fly
Series."
Volume
II.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
I.
The Dry-Fly Fisherman's Gear
CHAPTER
How
....
58
70
CHAPTER
IV.
to Cast
100
CHAPTER
When
i
HI.
TO Cast
Where
PAGE
U.
Floating Flies and Sunk Flies
CHAPTER
....
V.
to Cast
135
CHAPTER
VI.
Studies of Fish Feeding
CHAPTER
149
VII.
Circumstances Affecting Sport
....
168
XVIli.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
VIII. l-AGK
Selection of Fly
215
CHAPTER
IX.
Evening Fishing
273
CHAPTER
X.
Hooking, Playing, and Lani^ing
CHAPTER
292
XI.
AUTOP.SY
314
CHAPTER Trout or Grayling
....
XII. :!36
LIST OF PLATES.
Landing a Trout Plate
I.
II.
Frontispiece
Grip of the Rod
Over-handed Cast — Back
WARD Position III.
facing page T\
.
72,
-Over-handed Cast— Coming Forward
IV.
-Over-handed
WARD Position V.
VI.
-Downward Cui WARD Position -Under-handed
77
.
For 79
.
Cast
Backward Position VII.
VIII.
75
Cast — For
8i
.
Under-handed Cast Coming Forward
^3,
Under-handed Cast Forward Position
85
.
IX.— Sieeple Cast- Recover ing the Line
X.— Steeple Cast— Back war Position
XL— Steeple Forward XII.— Dry
MENT
87
i
89
Cast
— Coming
.
91
Switch— ComxMence
....
93
LIST OF I'LATES
XX.
I'LATE „
XIII.— Dry Switch— Finish. XIV.
Where
to
trative Plan „
„
„
facingpage 95
„
„
103
XV. -Mayfly Eggs, Larv^ and Nymph/K Coloured
„
„
245
Mayfly — Sub-imago Imago — Coloured
„
„
251
„
,,315
„
„
.
.
.
— —
XVI. XVII.
Autopsy
—
.
/
XVIII.— Autopsy —
I
T
j
and .
.
Longitudinal
Section of Trout
„
.
Cast— Illus-
.
.
Nymph/e of\ Ephemerid^,! Caddis
and|-
Shrimp — Coloured
.'
322
DRY-FLY FISHING. CHAPTER
I.
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR.
TDEFORE how
-*-^
attempting
to
a
teach
to fish with the floating
be desirable, as a preHminary
fly,
novice it
to
step,
may-
give
him some detailed information about the implements with which he
The
expected to work.
intention of this chapter
calmly and without
prejudice
cons of each branch
hopes of inducing anglers to
some
may be
of the
the
commence
of the best devised In
is
is
the
to discuss
pros
subject,
in
generation
rising
and the
of
their study with the aid
and most suitable gear.
instances even experienced
anglers
induced to abandon what they have
used for years, and substitute improvements
which
will
tend to render the pursuit of their
sport at once easier and
One
difficulty
fascinating.
occurs
to
the
to avoid making himself
and this is means of pufling the wares
author,
the
paramount
more
of any one or
2
DRY-FLY FISHING
more makers
to the detriment of others
unknown
although
may be
to him,
it
it.
because
only
is
describe
names
If
are mentioned
barely
is
it
as capable
and as honest
of producing first-rate work,
supplying
in
here,
possible
improvements made
the
who,
to
various
in
some those who have made
portions of the angler's gear without in instances
referring
to
these particular improvements their specialities.
Although the word "dry
" is
used as a qualify-
ing adjective to the expression "fly fisherman" in
the
of this chapter,
title
found that most,
if
not
all,
it
will,
hope, be
I
of the various kinds
of rods and tackle, as well as the reasons for
and against using them, force
the
to
votary
will
apply with equal
of the
sunk or wet-fly
style as to the disciple of the floating Single-
and
handed
rods.
The
and most important
first
Considered
is
the
two
of a
rod
angling fraternity
this question the
into
choice
schools,
those
viz.,
fly.
factor to
who
;
is
be
and on divided
advise
the
who
prefer
a single-handed one for dry-fly fishing.
The
use of a double-handed and those
advocates of that
with
and that
it
at
the
double-handed rod
they can the
allege
throw a longer
same time the
fly
is
line,
laid
as
lightly on the water as with the single-handed.
They
also lay stress
over a able
fish
to
on having more power
while playing
it,
and being better
keep a hooked trout from plunging
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR
3
headlong: into the nearest bed of weeds.
On
other hand
the
the
the
of
votaries
single-
handed rod deny that a longer line can be thrown with a double-handed. They also urge any fancied advantage due to greater power over the hooked fish is more than out-
that
disadvantage of having
balanced by the
to
Above
carry and wield a heavier implement.
they defend their preference on the ground
all,
of being
with greater delicacy
able
to
cast
and accuracy,
of
being
the
fine
gut
the
in
casting with ease
wind than
is
less
and of
of striking,
act
break
to
liable
a stronger adverse
against
possible with the best balanced
double-handed rod. Personally in
I
accord with those
handed
rod,
have
am, and
always
who swear by
and have
the single-
freely expressed
Some
opinion at different times.
quoted as a strong authority against
late
best friends,
Francis
opinions
have
friends
condemned this and some Those who have condemned it have
criticised
my
this
utterly
opinion.
of
been,
now, alas
Francis.
His
!
they have
all
known him
fly
one
no more, the
name and
have carried and ever
great weight with
me
must
his
carry
fishermen, whether
personally, or whether
they have merely read his charming and ever fresh
writings.
He
frequently discussed
this
question with the late Mr. Marryat and my-
DRY-FLY FISHING
4
self after
a hard
clay's
On
fishing together.
this
one subject we never could agree.
the
same time
strong advocates
Mr, Marryat
and
own
idea,
of our
At
albeit
I,
admitted
that his contention miorht be risfht as
to the
two points of casting further through being able to hold up a longer
line,
and not being
so liable to catch the long grass behind the
angler
and,
;
consequence of the greater
in
power of the double-handed
command over The late Mr, of tolerance
rod,
Francis, however, in that spirit
and
which ever charac-
justice
him and endeared him
terised
having more
a hooked hsh.
to all
who came
contact with him, conceded the point that
in
for delicate or accurate casting
and
with the wind,
a far greater degree against the wind,
in
the double-handed rod never had a chance with
In
the last published edition of
the
single.
"A
Book on Angling"
the
following
have
seen
yards
26
It
time
on
footnote
handed rod,* and the same
(the sixth), he inserted
page
cast
i6o:
with
a
also cast
that
with the same
line
I
was on the Old Barge
river at
'T
single-
length at
and
rod.
Winchester
this was effected with an glued cane rod used season after season, and not with a pole built specially to get out a long line anyhow, such as are used for making what are
* It
must be noted too that
ordinary
loft.
Gin.
called record casts at tournaments.
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR that that
my
was done,
being- the other operator,
rod and
line.
Marryat
friend Mr.
and
5
was with
it
his
have heard of even longer
I
casts than this." cast,
coupled
frequently
carried
This admission as to distance with
the
he
that
fact
a spare single-handed lo-foot rod for casting a comparatively short line to fish rising under
own
his
bank,
strength
the
we never
ment invariably was the same, ;
sententiae
tot
we had
"
and on
to agree to
the points
made
;
secondly,
materials,
positive
only
The
Quot homines,
angling subject
this
to select a single-handed are,
it
length
its
;
and
ro^-^akUi^""^
firstly,
may
not
open
split cane,
be
the would-be
to
the
thirdly,
With regard deemed too
be preferred.
an assertion to say that
three
namely,
"
consideration
for
style of action to
to
on
from which the rod should be
material
the
said
I
agree
differ.
Having determined rod,
As
could
and the conclusion of our argu-
subject,
this
diminishes
arguments.
of his
however,
before,
much
think very
I
are
there
purchaser,
whole cane, and greenheart.
action of a whole cane rod
is
to
my mind
far inferior to that of a orood greenheart.
The greenheart much heavier than well,
that
is
less expensive,
the glued cane.
and a satisfactory feature it
stands well
after
and not It
about
casts it
is
continual whipping.
Greenheart
DRY-FLY FISHING
6
Occasionally short
portion
stiffer
of the
a three-joint rod accident
this
of the butt.
The
lower or
the
rod.
As an example,
may
be predicted that
happen ferrule
either just
account
for
below
upper end
the
at
Sometimes a flaw
timber to
the
much
will
it
above the
or just
in
somewhat surprising way.
usually takes place in
fracture
in
a
in
has a knack of breaking off
it
be found
will
with
and,
it,
of the cheap rubbish sold to the unwary,
another probable cause of fracture at of the rod
is
this part
the weakness produced by ignor-
when boring
ance, or negligence,
the butt to
receive the tongue of the lower ferrule of the
or what the rod-maker calls the
middle
joint,
joint.
This boring should never be carried as
low as the end of the female ferrule on the butt,
otherwise
small
practical
a
weak
experiment
enable a purchaser to
when
place in
make
a greenheart rod broken in this
on the manufacturer.
discredit flaw,
the
boring
and there
ferrule,
is is
not
measuring
will
often,
way
however,
There
carried
no
reflects
no
is
below
the
apparently no cause
account for the accident.
may be
A
left.
sure of this point
Very
selecting his rod.
is
In
such a case
asserted that the angler himself
is
to it
to
blame.
He
has smashed his
primary desideratum
for
rod
by neglect of a
anyone who wishes
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR to
become a fisherman, namely,
has returned his it
waiting until
forced
it
his
rod
but
instead
from
released
is
of
the
backward motion, has prematurely
forward again in the mistaken notion
him
that such action will enable
No
He
patience.
from the water and sent
fly
swinging out behind him,
strain of the
7
to cast further.
timber can stand this double
strain,
and
hence the smash.
For those who only not care to rod,
go
select.
low a
It
is
is
and do
expense of the glued cane
to the
greenheart
fish occasionally,
pre-eminently the timber to
not safe to buy even this at too
price, as the
timber should be thoroughly
seasoned; the lengths intended to form each joint rent, not
sawn
;
and the
hard metal, properly
which matters of
fitted
add
detail
—
made
ferrules all
of
and each of
to the cost slightly,
but far more to the efficiency of the rod.
For the fisherman in
price
is
to
whom
the difference
not important, glued cane can be
most strongly recommended.
It is
superior in
every way, and well worth the difference cost.
It
casts
and
better
does the work with
less
angler and to the rod. cisely the
same
difference
casts
further,
in
and
labour both to the In
fact,
there
between a
is
pre-
split
cane
and a oreenheart rod as between a thorouo-hbred and an underbred horse.
when
called
upon
for
an extra
One answers effort,
the other
^'^e split cane rod.
DRY-FLY FISHING
8
There seems to be no Hmit to the responsive power of a first-class glued cane rod
shuts up.
efficient hands, so
in
long as the line can be
kept off the ground behind the fisherman.
The cane
action
rod
point to
of a properly constructed split true
is
When
butt.
bends
it
;
from
equally
returning,
it
recovers
quickly from the forward strain of lifting the and, instead of quivering as the weight
line,
of line
commences
direction,
to
bend
stiffen
prepared
The
of casting.
strain
the
seems
be sooner
to
if
to
more apparent
in
it
itself
a backward at
withstand
to
the
longer the line used
this characteristic.
is
as
once,
The
section of the built cane rod, whether penta-
gonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or what
double
built, is
is
styled
mechanically one of the strongest
possible. Manufacture '^^^"^ rods!
mcthod of manufacture the outside bark, which is the hardest, the most waterproof, and the most elastic portion of the material, is In the
used, while the interior of the cane, which
for
purposes
rod-making,
of
degree discarded. will
rods read,
sometimes, and worthless
friable
brittle,
soft,
is
is
to
a
great
Not many English anglers make their own
probably be inclined to ;
but
if
they do,
and read
book, entitled
I
can only advise them to
carefully, "
Mr. Henry
Fly Rods and
P. Wells"
Fly Tackle,"
published by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston,
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR
&
Searle
The
Rivington.
author
9
of
this
admirable work has studied and carried out himself every part of the process of rod-making
own
his
in
He
United States.
the
country,
probably seen much of the American method of manufacture, and evidently he is well able to appreciate the good and the bad
has
points of
it.
In
fact,
nearly
all
his advice
is
good as possible for the practical work of excepting, perhaps, the questhe rod-maker as
;
with which
of ferrules,
tion
will deal
remembered
must, however, be
It
I
later.
that to
buy
here or in America a glued cane rod at a low
must of necessity cause disappointment
figure
when he attempts to use it. impossible to make a good rod of this
the
to
is
It
angler
description excepting at a comparatively high price.
Just
successively
consider
manufacture.
First there
the
the cane.
is
has to be purchased,
to be selected,
it
to be seasoned,
and seasoning
which takes time.
On
is
is
required
— an
makinor
it
has
expericlass
of
experience which can
Having
your cane, and having seasoned for
has
the question of selec-
only be secured at some cost.
fit
It
an operation
tion the judgment of a thoroughly enced workman and expert in this
timber
of
details
it,
selected
the pieces
the sections of the rod have
to be rent out of
it
(rent,
not sawn).
Many
DRY-FLY FISHING
lo
made
of the cheap inferior rods sold here are
of
sawn sections
;
and
must be remembered
it
whereas the whole of the cane can be
that,
sawn
the requisite pieces, comparatively-
into
only a few sections
The
of each cane.
can be
for use
have
sections
sides to an angle of
on two
true
fit
to
out
split
be planed
60 degrees.
Six of these sections have to be accurately
and glued together to make each joint. They are securely bound with string and left until the glue is set absolutely hard, and it
fitted
takes
many months
for the glue in the interior
of the built sections to
When
set.
the action of each joint has to be
it
set,
is
tried,
and
the whole of the joints have to be put together
with temporary ferrules in order to judge what the action of the rod will be.
Some
if
say that with a
same experiment has to be must, however, be remembered that
wooden rod tried.
may
of our friends
It
this
wood rod
a solid
too
is
rigid,
necessary for the rod-maker to
where
too
it is
stiff
rod
down from
this
of value
of
the bark, the for
condemned
the
as
far
stiff,
as
because rod
paring
remove
will
only portion which
rod-making
the joints be too
the places
But with the glued-
impossible,
exterior
the it
is
mark
only
and pare these portions of
the joint or joints down.
up
is
it
;
it
that
hence
if
is
either of
must be promptly particular
rod
is
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR concerned.
Of
course
if
has a chance, and his chance defective joint sHghtly.
shortening
is
too limber he
is
it
is
If the
length, the sale value of the rod
prejudice
English sportsmen,
much
my
to shorten the result of this
unequal
to render the joints of
somewhat absurd
ii
is,
on
owing
the
impaired.
to a
of
part If
any of
amateur friends should try making glued-up
rods,
they would probably be astonished to
fmd how rod
is
orreat
an
effect
produced by cutting a very short piece
any one of the
off
judge how
easily, in
above-mentioned stiff
on the action of the
joints,
and he can thus
attempting to remedy the
fault,
the rod can be
made
so
as to be utterly useless.
Havino- tried the rod, and
made
action of whipping rods.
it
true
from end to end, and seen that the
is strong and well having also set up removed any superfluous glue from the surface, a considerable amount of time and labour has to be expended by the maker in whipping the rod with waxed silk at frequent intervals. On this point I do not agree with our American friends, who space their whippings too far apart. For years I have had all gluedup rods armed with whippings at intervals of
butt
;
about half an inch at the point to three-quarters of an inch at the butt. great
improvement,
as
This
is
to
my mind
a
tending not only to
increase the steely quality of the rod, but to
DRY-FLY FISHING
12
save
it
from a probable smash when
perative to strain
kill
im-
is
it
or cure by putting an undue
on a hooked
Besides,
fish.
an
it is
assist-
ance to the rod on the occasions when an extra long cast has to be made.
an admirable
It is
same way, but little and the
plan to whip greenheart rods in the as
increases the stiffness
it
spring very considerably. Varnish for split cane rods.
EuoHsh makers were formerly ^
less successful
than the Americans in ihe varnish they used, but of late years the manufacturers of the best
English glued cane rods have remedied this
by abandoning the
fault
shellac
ing
suitable,
expensive,
and
am
I
from
varnish the
told
more
far
After a season
preparations.
inferior
surface
quick-drying
varnishes previously used, and adopt-
more
so,
brittle
the
of
action
on
cracks
usually
rod
;
or
the
damp
gradually works under the varnish, which then peels off in flakes, not only exposing the exterior
portion of the cane (which perhaps
not very important, as
it
is
is
almost watertight),
but also exposing the glue uniting the sections of cane, which must in
time
suffer
from the
action of continual moisture.
In
Mr. Wells'
book
full
instructions
are
given on every other detail of the manufacture of glued-up rods, but strange to relate he is to a small extent reticent as to the particular
form of varnish used.
He
calls
it
coach-body
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR varnish, and further on says,
Ouick
tine's
"I use 'Valen"
Levellinor Varnish.'
that different
I
means
one of
and
copal,
makers adopt
it
is
to
and weeks
dry,
the
best
must, how-
for carrying out repairs
they include revarnishing, as
days
different
English rod-
If
their customers
more time
ever, give if
this
purpose.
the
for
told
suspect that he
varnishes for this purpose.
varnishes
am
I
use
builders
carriase
13
it
takes several
become
to
really
hard.
Some urgmg
anglers prefer spliced to jointed rods, ,
r
.
1
r
•
1
as their reason tor this preference that
the action of a spliced rod
is
more uniform
throughout than that of an equally well-made rod in which the joints are connected by metal
Before the use of thin hard metal
ferrules.
for ferrules, soft
brass
grounds
when they were made of heavy there
might
but with
the
tubing,
for
this,
have
of metal ferrules the action with
balanced
and
well-finished
rod
been
modern form a properly is
uniform
throughout.
Besides the trouble of splicing each the rod
is
taken down, an
tion to the principle
thoroughly firm
is
that the splice
and sound
time
important objec-
unless
is
never
the
two
taper ends of the joint are cemented or glued together, piece.
and then the rod
There
is
is
practically in
always more or
less
one
tendency
SpUced and jointed rods.
DRY-FLY FISHING
14
a
in
splice
work
to
degree oi give
in
it
loose,
and a very small
utterly ruins the action of
For the underhanded or horizontal cast, which is the most usual one with the modern dry-fly fisherman, a spliced rod is most the rod.
no possible binding can secure
ineffective, as
the spliced ends this
when
the rod
Mr. Wells has
position.
exhaustively argued out
those
in
in
book,
his
The American Salmon Fisherman,"
entitled "
mechanical
the
disadvantages of the
practical
worked
is
who
disagree with
the study of pages
me
I
and
to
would commend
^^ Z1
2)1)
splice,
and
his valuable
i^
work. Ferrules.
Having determined
to
use ferrules,
confess myself unable on this
with Mr. Wells,
who
is
I
must
point to agree
an advocate for the
tongued
simple parallel fitting as against the
method followed
I
Nevertheless
in this country.
speak with great diffidence, believing that he
may
possibly be right,
experience
and that the unpleasant
have had when using rods
I
fitted
with the simple ferrule has been due to imperfections tions
in
accurately
of
female ferrule.
may be
sound.
in section
manufacture fitting
—
the
But mechanically If
the
and a perfect
length, there to
the
imperfec-
male to the his
ferrules fit
to
argument
are
circular
through the entire
may be no tendency
in
become separated from the other
one joint in
the act
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR of casting in
but rods of such character have not
;
my experience
been seen
however,
Honestly,
ness of his theory.
producing
action tiy
forward
the
fittings
cast,
have
and
slacken,
tend
anglers
to
the
hitcher
on
friction
of
must
from
joint
the
improvement tongued
the
select
ferrule.
strain is
made
is
and
ferrule,
together with the ordinary
arrangement.
of the
time
in
this
If
precaution
neglected the joints will in use gradually out
to
effect
similar
by the
line
must recommend our English
I
the joints
to tie
the
This, though slight at
some marked
Until
correct-
not remedied, sooner or later
if
in this detail,
the
in
cumulative, and
propel,
to
a
of the joints
is
country.
seems clear that any
tendency
a
must
in this
doubt
I
It
the line in the rings.
each
15
fitting,
until
at
last
the
is
work entire
thrown on the tongue, which, becom-
ing loose in the socket, gets broken off If,
however, anglers are willing to go to
some expense
to save themselves the trouble
of tying the joints
together, they can
do so
made by Messrs. Even with Hardy Brothers, of Alnwick. will at times show a tenthis fitting, joints dency to turn and unscrew when in use, and by using the screw
my
friend,
he
aptly
Mr. N. styles
which seems to
fitting
Lloyd,
has devised what
a "treble-grip rod
fulfil all
ferrule,"
the conditions required.
DRY-FLY FISHING
1
The "Lloyd," ferrule.
do better than
cannot
I
treble-gnp
quote ^
his
own
in
The
_
words
explanation,
in
pubHshed
as
Field of September 25th, 1897 " Probably the splice was
:
the
earliest
method of uniting the portions of a jointed rod, and by many it is still regarded as superior to any ferrule. It is not, however, fishermen
It
and the majority
suited to dry-fiy work,
well
of
some form of
prefer
ferrule.
not the purpose of this article to deal
is
with materials or with methods of attaching the metal to the
wood
or cane, but to consider
the question of suitable fastenings to prevent the joints
round or coming
twisting
Americans maintain that'plain dowels),
but
it
if
doubtful
is
It
whether
fit
'
'
come
suction
apart,
fittings
'
of dry-fly work.
test
questionable whether
also
is
ferrules (without
perfectly fitted, will not
would stand the severe
apart.
the
perfect
'
would not vanish under such severe wear.
The
old-fashioned ferrule^consisted of a slightly
which
conical upper ferrule,
one only
at
the top, the
the parts wore,
pushed further
idea
into^ the fatter.
inch
of their
the hollow
being
the former would
only fitted each other for of an
fitted
that, as
still
These
fit
if
ferrules
about a sixteenth
length,
which not only
threw an excessive strain on these parts, but necessitated tying or wire,
them together with thread
wound round
wire
loops
affixed
to
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR each
The
joint.
security of such an attach-
ment was always
To meet
and the manipula
doubtful,
tion of the thread not a "
17
these
little
troublesome.
much
difficulties,
has been exercised
in devising
ingenuity
metal
fittings,
which could be locked and unlocked at
and
should
same time absolutely coming apart. The Irish
the
at
prevent the joints ferrule
will,
had a screw inside the bottom of the
hollow ferrule, into which the other screwed, but as
was nothing
there
when screwed to gradually
tion
existed
the lock-fast jecting
claw,
up,
turn in
to
was for them The same objec-
the tendency in
fitting,
use.
bayonet
the
fitting
a
also
ferrule.
Many
with
collar
notch or screw, which turned on a the lower
and
;
in
which consisted of a pro-
sometimes
or
the joints
fix
a
worm on
other fittings have
been devised, which depend upon
slots
or holes cut in the hollow ferrule, but these
only
weakened
the
and
whole,
cannot
be
considered desirable. "
not
What
is
required
weaken the
ferrules,
and compact, but not shall lie closely,
is
and
a fitting which shall
which
damage
liable to
shall
be light
shall
;
which
be so simple as to
be easily fixed or released
in
the
dark.
It
must also be absolutely immovable from the time
it
the end
is
put together until of a day's fishing.
it
is
To
released at test
certain
DRY-FLY FISHING
i8
W
''liil
A-J
Fin.
I
FIG.2
FIG.5
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR
19
ideas formed with the above objects in view,
a rough ferrule was constructed.
This, after
some
slight modifications,
eventually took the
form
of the
which
illustration,
plained as follows or socket
fig.
:
Fig.
:
hook
steel
to
I
and
2
"As
show the
;
a
A
ex-
A
a
C,
;
fig.
;
stud
brass
B,
;
a
sliding
and B together.
joint before fixing.
3,
Figs. Fig. 3
joint fixed.
to the
home and B
A,
engage with
sleeve which holds
shows the
hollow ferrule
the
2,
complete joint
the
be
the solid ferrule
is
i
may
mode
of fixing,
fig.
is
i
pushed
when a
slight turn causes
The
joint cannot turn
further in the one direction,
and cannot draw
well
in fig. 2,
A
to engage.
out.
Like other lock
ever,
tnrn
back
fittings,
sufficiently
may, how-
it
disengage
to
A
work out. To prevent this the sleeve C is drawn down, and effectually holds A and B in position. Nothing can move until C is drawn up. To and
B,
release
when
the
the joint would
fitting
when a backward, draw separates the Messrs.
must
this
or
first
be done, turn
and
of Alnwick,
are
left-handed,
joints again."
Hardy
Brothers,
the patentees and manufacturers of this ferrule,
and it
in
I
can add that having used
it
and seen
use by Mr. Lloyd and other friends for
the last five years, in the
market.
I
think
it
is
the best fitting
DRY-FLY FISHING
20
male
If the
ferrules are
smeared with old
curd soap, clean mutton suet or tallow (but not vaseline), before putting the rod together, the joints will very seldom get
jammed.
If
they should, however, get so firmly fixed that
they cannot easily be taken apart, a few drops placed
of paraffin
rings.
time
find
and remedy the
fitting
Rod
in
will
ferrule
on the top of the female its
way
the
into
fault.
Rod Hngs may be either upright, for those who prefer them (and of all upright forms that known as the bridge is the best), or they may be of the ordinary loose pattern. The line
by some anglers said
is
through upright
freely
years
many
old-fashioned
is
is
that
when packed
German
steel,
same wire
in
of
its
to
becoming broken or
The
silver.
the
advan-
the case there
made
point ring should
revolving in an eye
made
of the
as the rings.
The winch
Winch
One
In either case they should be
injured.
of hard
although of late
and reverted
point,
loose ring.
less likelihood of rings
be of
more
pass
of our best dry-fly fishermen have
recanted on this
tages
rings,
to
fittings
should be of the ordinary
fittings.
and nothing further would require to be said on this subject if tackle-makers had realised what other trades have been compelled description,
to
do,
Every
namely, little
the
necessity
of
uniformity.
maker, however, seems to imagine
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR some distinction
that he has achieved
21
making
in
the scoop of his winch either extraordinarilylarge or particularly small, so that the ordinary
winch case
not admit of the
and
place,
on the rod
as fixed
fitting
will
reel
in the other will not
in the
one
being put
hold
in
steadily
it
without the trouble of packing with paper or
Hence, probably, Herr
some such substance.
Emil Weeger's invention, adopted by Messrs. Hardy, of a conical to take the scoop,
fitting at
the lower end
and a ring with considerable
ranore to secure the forward
end of
Some makers and some
it.
anglers are very
wroth at the idea of having a spear
end of the
rod.
playing the
made
too
Its
fish
disadvantao;e is
it
pointed
or
is
that
at the
when
uncomfortable, and
sharp might
possibly
But
injure the fisherman or his waterproof. if
it
is
and round
blunt
the
at
if
end there
immense advantage of being able to stand your rod up in the ground, so that there is
is
the
no likelihood of
by
its
being trampled on either
your fellow-fishermen,
yourself,
or
cattle
meadow. When spearing the rod, never jam it into the ground with a jerk, as on
the
this
and is
sets
the
especially,
likely
to
shakes the rod,
ferrules tight, if
it
happens
to strike a stone,
break the winch.
of the rod with both hands just
Take
the butt
above the
reel,
and press the spear steadily into the ground.
Spear,
DRY-FLY FISHING
22
The
old-fashioned loose spear gets
usually
or
lost
viates this, as the spear
when
the butt Length
and
Messrs.
Combined Spear and Butt-cap ob-
Hardy's
of rod.
the rod bag
in
mislaid,
the rod
is
is
securely packed in
not in use.
At the time when Mr. Francis published first edition of his Book on Angling, dryand fly fishing was comparatively unknown as the angler had only occasionally to make a cast, and never to keep his fly working backwards and forwards in the air to dry it, the
;
the exertion of wielding a comparatively long
rod was
Hence we
slight.
find that of
four single-handed rods spoken of
shortest 8
in.
;
was and he ii
7
ft.
in.,
himself
by him the
and the longest says
the
that
a
12
ft.
single-
handed rod " should not be less than 10 ft. or more than 13 ft. in length." I do not think that the argument that men in those days were more muscular or more hardy than we are at present
and that
I
is
worth serious consideration
;
prefer to impute this advice to the fact
the
then in
principles their
can
no trout-fisher longer than 11
of
infancy.
ft.,
dry-fly
In
the
require
and from
a
were
fishing
present
rod
day
anything
this to 9
ft.
6
in.
are the dimensions every practical rod-maker
or angler would recommend.
With an art
11 -foot
can cover a
fish
rod past at
masters
in
the
from 26 to 30 yards.
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR and with a short rod of 9
knows how
to use
can put a
it
in.,
one who
fly in
the teeth
6
ft.
23
of anything short of a positive hurricane.
In
connection with this question of length, further
remarks as
to the reel line
considered.
class of line,
on be
later
angler will
the
If
modern heavy
must
use
not
he must,
the
make
to
a long throw, have a somewhat longer rod.
The
and even
action of a rod must be true
in every direction from point to handle. There must be no weak place in it, and at the same
time no part which
unduly
stiff
The meaning
return quickly.
when
is
It
of this
should is,
that
trying the rod, by imitating the action
and forcing the point forwards, thus bending the rod, the point should recover and spring rapidly back to a straight line, and when of casting
there
it
should not vibrate, but quickly regain
point
its
means
of
and
rest,
remain
This
rigid.
that the elasticity of the whole rod
uniform and smart, the material of which built
is
thoroughly good, and the tapering pro-
portionately
For
it
is
two be
rather
same time
throughout
carried
dry-fly fishing
it
it
stiff is
not
its
length.
certainly should of the
than limber
;
but at the
recommended
to use a
thing like a barge pole, which cannot by any possibility cast lightly or with ease.
American here, are too
rods,
judging from what one sees
whippy
for
our insular ideas, and
Action
of
rod
DRY-FLY FISHING
24
seem generally rather
also
which
light
in
to render
is
it
present day
the point, difficult if
is
They
backbone. the
The
it is
rods.
a
fault the right
fashion
use a rod that
to
trying to the wrist, yet, considering
Steel-centred
of
effect
top heavy, and although this
slightly
are
not impossible
long line with them.
to recover a
of the
to lack
is
all
is
more
points,
way.
There have been from time to sportmg press, controversies as .
time, in the
.
who
to
can
claim to be the original inventor of the steel-
This
centred rod. readers
but
;
may
rouse the curiosity of
the point
if
considered as to
is
the possibility of the invention being of practical
to
use to the angling world, the conclusion
be arrived at probably
The
of ink and paper.
that
is
idea
waste
is
it
to
is
build
the
sections of the cane on a central core of steel, I
believe
it
is
also suo-o-ested to treat the oo
rods in the same way.
suggests
itself to
the idea of just
Mr. Wells,
Now
two well versed
steel.
in
He
is,
mechanics to
the union of two materials havino- such
suQforest
totally
in a rod.
his book, prophesied that the
rod of the future would be of
however,
the word steel
the casual reader as giving
what should be
in
wood
different
One must
action
as
steel
and timber.
itself far
bend and naturally recover more quickly than the other. For a
moment
consider the effect of rigidly fastening
naturally
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR The one
the two materials together.
25
with the
quicker action must of necessity tend to hurry
and
slower material,
the
one with
the
the
slower action must equally of necessity tend to the
retard
of
action
What must be
the
quicker
the effect
A
?
tendency to
and some inconveni-
disintegrate their union,
ence to the hand attempting to use
my
material.
So
it.
far,
remarks on steel-centred rods have been
based upon theory.
As
for
much.
I
practice,
makers in
in
personally say
have handled experimentally some
made by one
ten or twelve
has
cannot
I
of the best rod-
The
Kingdom.
the United
each case been considerably
in
price
excess
my
verdict
has invariably been most unfavourable.
They
and
of that of a glued cane rod,
have
not
better
cast
they have
;
not
cast
more accumore easily they have rately, than the ordinary split cane by the same maker. They are certainly more tiring to the wrist, and when killing a fish I do not think not cast
;
that
they give any real accession of power.
One
of the best of
wrote
me
lately
modern
dry-fly
on the subject
:
"
fishermen
With regard
to the utility of steel in rods, although
it
may
I have handled weapons with steel
be mechanically wrong, yet
some
useful
split
cane
centres which are capable of think,
however,
that
good work.
steel-centred
rods
I
do
DRY-FLY FISHING
26
not wear as well as the ordinary glued cane.
The former
cast well into the wind, but after
L
handling yours and
hanker
shall Model rods and their copies.
's
do not think
I
I
after steel in the future."
Every fly-fisherman
either has a pet rod, or
hag handled one belonging to a friend which
he thinks more nearly perfect than any he
When
possesses.
new one he
ordering a
is
naturally desirous of getting as nearly as pos-
a facsimile, and either sends his favourite
sible
rod or oets the loan of his friend's to serve as a If the
pattern.
good judge,
if
rod-maker
the workman's
master's judgment, and
his
taken by both, a
if
skill
every care
if
good
fairly
replica
a rough preliminary
trial in his
garden gives a result which seems he
casting
to,
and possibly
which case
forth
it
it
it
is
room or
satisfactory,
a rising
killing,
he
unfavourable,
is
describe
to
which
appears to it
to
fish
safe to predict that hence-
pression
Whether
it
rank as his best rod.
will
it
it,
to the practical test of
by any chance, however,
If
is
pro-
is
at the earliest opportunity, take
will,
the riverside and put
in
equal to
is
In due course the anpler receives
duced.
and
an exceptionally
is
rod-maker
the
is
so
rate
judge
could
from
the
original
differ
similar
not
with
the
the
first
im-
will
try
and
respects
in
from the pattern. that
even a
first-
the
copy
distinguish his
eyes
shut,
or
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR whether
new
the
does
rod
bear
not
smallest resemblance to the pattern is
it
as
good a
whether
or
it
fly
rod
material or workmanship, the result unsatisfactory,
be made,
can
as
and
fault
in
equally
is
concerned
all
the
whether
;
every possible
has
27
are
dis-
The maker must take it back, and, make another attempt, he is so bad a man of business as
appointed. if
the angler will wait,
unless
prefer
to
disobliging,
or,
perhaps, losing his
The
customer altogether.
fisherman,
not
if
too self-satisfied to conceive such a possibility,
have a glimmering of doubt as
will
power of discrimination
;
and
if,
to his
after
it
he
all,
decides to keep the rod, will never like
use
own nor
it
with pleasure or confidence.
The comparison
of two
called practical trial
rods
entirely
is
by what
is Comparing
dependent on
the degree to which the manipulator
gifted
is
with the power of detecting minute differences in
weight,
balance,
probably not one or anglers
could
stiffness,
in
a
and speed, and
hundred rod-makers
persuade
himself
that
he
could speak with certainty on such a question. It
has long
been
felt
that
data should
be laid down as
constituting
a
good
fly-rod,
some to
and
definite
the as
points
a
first
step the necessity arises for determining the
nature or combination of materials best for rod
making.
fitted
Manufacturers have had
re-
DRY-FLY FISHING
28
course to the advice of engineers, and have
presumably
down
laid
the lines on which the
made.
experiments should be
some
In
in-
stances the relative strength and weight of the
deemed the
materials have been
Now,
factors.
an
engineer's
strength of a material
breaking
and
strain,
is it
all- important
the
of
test
on the
rightly based
would not be out of
warn those experimenting on this basis the result must be to prove once more
place to that
what
already perfectly well known,
is
hollow steel
is,
in
proportion to
strongest substance known.
strength
is
to
viz.,
that
weight, the
its
Hence,
mere
if
be the crucial quality to be
considered, the best form and material for the fly rods must be a hollow steel America many types of tubular steel rods have been made, but these have not so
construction of In
tube.
found favour with anglers, either on
far
this or
the other side of the Atlantic.
In
Messrs.
1
889
Mcssrs.
Hardy's rod testing
ex-
rcport
made
specimen struction
by
an
lengths
of
rods
and materials.
uniformly 24 inches in
Hardy Brothers had a emment engmeer on of
each •16
inches.
of
the
and
in length,
glued-up hexagonal rods, side
triangular
;
in
the
coming
'32
inches
the case of
length
sections
Resilience, deflection,
vibrations before
con-
The specimens were
diameter for the round rods
the
different
of
being
number of
to rest with various
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR weights, as well
the
as
29
gravity and
specific
breaking weight, were duly considered.
The
conclusions arrived at were that double
built
glued cane, with steel centre, gave the best result,
by double
closely followed
cane without
single
steel,
much lower
built,
hickory
Then
giving too
round
built,
much
and
greenheart
was condemned as
steel
spring back, and continuing
the vibration too long. ful,
followed,
figures of merit, greenheart
Hollow
lancewood.
glued
glued cane
built
with and without steel centre. with
built
It
is,
however, doubt-
looking at the figures, whether the presence
of the steel centre in the glued cane rods was of any
beyond
great advantage
breaking weight.
It
may,
as proved that built cane
known, and that there
is
at least,
is
the
raising
be taken
the best material
considerable differ-
ence of opinion as to the policy of working a steel centre through the rod.
whose ^practical knowledoe c>
Mr. Hawksley, •'
of mechanics adds
much
to the
weight of his
fisherman, has from the
opinion as a
fly
insisted that,
for satisfactory
testing or
first
com-
means must be adopted by the results obtained are in no way
parison of rods,
which
dependent on the personal equation, or
ca-
pacity of the individual to differentiate.
He
originally
suggested
the
idea,
number of experiments, devised
and,
after
certain
a
tests,
j^^•
^awks-
ley s tests for ^°^^-
DRY -FLY FISHING
30
which point,
will,
ment of the
hoped, serve as a starting
is
it
and lead
to further study
subject.
each condition
be noted that
will
It
and develop-
determined by some accurate
is
means of measurement, weight, or time. The points by which rods of the same materials and construction can be compared are length, weight, balance, stiffness or plia-
and speed.
bility,
no
and can be
definition,
Balance of the
is
Length and weight require
shown by
best
centre
easily ascertained.
finding the position
of gravity, or
point
at
which
the rod will balance, and for convenience the
distance
of this
at the stiffness
be firmly held
point
from the butt should
For the purpose of arriving and speed of the rod, it must
be measured.
a horizontal position, with
in
butt in a vice,
its
and the length of the portion
projecting beyond the vice should be measured
—
this
being styled the length used.
To measure
stiffness,
must be supported mediate places
at
the rod
the
tip
and
a horizontal
in
the vice
in
at
inter-
position,
and
the height of the rod point from the ground exactly
marked
on
an
upright
supports being then removed length
jaws of
used,
the
the vice,
butt
the
The
staff.
throughout the
being
still
measurement
in
the
of
the
height of the rod point from the ground will
show
the deflection of the rod free,
i.e,,
with-
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR
31
out any weight suspended from the top ring.
A
weight of
i
oz. is
then hung on the point,
and the deflection again measured, and, as a final test of deflection, the measurement is once more taken with a weight of
When rod, is
it
an experienced *
he
advances
usually
2 ozs.
fisherman
fly '
complaint
a
opinion
the
is
that
that
own
use.
is
too
it
slow, because the tendency of everyone using
a
than
and return more rapidly
rod
is
the
natural pace of the
fly
to cast
a point on which
This
is
difference
of
rod.
considerable
manuopinion may well occur between facturer and the proposing purchaser, and both should welcome the simple and practical test of speed as devised by Mr. Hawksley. The rod is still held horizontally, and the operator stands with watch in hand close to the
the
place at which the Placinof
vice.
his
butt
is
fixed
on
forefino-er
in
so
it
vibratinor.
as
to
set
the
After a short time
that the pressure of the until
it
is
projecting it
will
the
rod a
the
short distance from the vice, he presses
on
down
portion
be found
hand can be relaxed
only sufficient to feel the vibrations,
which
will
rate.
The number
^^low
and
quick action
too slow or too quick for his
Generally the
tries
then continue at a fairly uniform of vibrations in one minute
are then counted and registered.
It is
perhaps
as well, certainly for a beginner, to take the
of rods.
DRY-FLY FISHING
32
average
say,
of,
three
experiments.
separate
After the number of vibrations free have been ascertained, those with
weights of
i
oz.
and
2 ozs. respectively are also taken.
may be
It
of interest
to
readers to have
the opportunity of seeing the recorded results
of
trials
conducted under these conditions with
two nearly
identical
Some
makers.
rods
made by
different
years since the late Mr. Deller
devoted considerable time to building a rod
much admired by
me, which was so
for late
Mr. Marryat that he called
less."
In
copy
it,
they have
which
"the Price-
1896 the rod was lent to a friend
who obtained permission to
it
the
and
Messrs.
Hardy
after exhaustive experiments,
succeeded
are, in
for
in
making
imitations,
the opinion of experts, as nearly
as possible identical.
The
original "Priceless"
and one of the copies sent to me have been tried by the Hawksley tests, and the results are as tabulated below
Rod
:
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR N.B.
— The
weight
without
taken
is
and the position of the centre of
spear,
measured from the
Some another
has
Evidently the
coming
to
a
given
of
ascertaining
moment when
exact
of rest.
of vibrations
but the
;
by observation
the vibrations cease
great as to render the experiment
The
foundation would, in
foregoing further
for
opinion of
the
the is
so
difficult for
a rod-maker, and practically impossible amateur.
to
vibrations
the greater the resilience of the rod difficulty
gravity-
state
number
the
less
been
number of
the
viz.,
test,
the
butt.
consideration
of a rod before
33
for
an
should serve as a
which
consideration,
many
thinking
fol-
lowers of the sport, tend to be of advantage
whose aim
to manufacturers
it
improve
to
is
the quality of the rods they make, and thereby give
greater satisfaction to
the
anglers
who
use them.
The
old pattern of reel has been superseded
by the modern type with the handle on the revolving plate, and has been further improved
by enlarging the diameter of the drum and decreasing plates.
more those
the
3
between
the
This enables a fisherman to rapidly,
who
and
is
of
especial
side
reel
in
service
to
are nervous of the effects of slack-
ing a hooked
Some
distance
anglers
fish.
lay
There must be a check. stress
on having a
silent
Reels
DRY-FLY FISHING
34
with no particular reason
one, but,
for
I
it,
prefer the old-fashioned noisy one, which gives
music on the
forth to the ears agrreeable
first
rush of a three-pounder. In connection with the check, tackle-makers
should pay more attention to
strength, or
other words, the resistance which line
being taken off
too strong
;
reel (and
no other
therefore,
As a when
style
in
offers to
it
rule the check^
is
striking from the
be
of striking can
considered satisfactory), one does occasionally leave a
fly
a fish which lighter action
in
As
the reel would have saved.
the result of
a rough-and-ready experiment
the
Marryat was
when
opinion
of
that
in
late
Mr.
casting
about 15 yards of the modern heavy line, if the hand is kept off the reel line, at each cast rod just one
or recovery of the
should be heard
as
Of
the
the
spoken
of
size
under
"
scoop
single click
is
only
the subject to again urge
all
Kingdom
in
the
United as
to
drawn
off.
have already
I
makers
thickness, reel
line
Rods," and
among themselves Materials for
the
revert
to
successful tackleto
agree
one uniform length,
and curve.
The materials of which reels are usually made in this country are brass, ebonite, or aluminium. The only point to be advanced in
favour of brass
The
is its
old-fashioned
rod
comparative cheapness.
makers
used
to
say
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR a heavy reel
that
served to balance
the
at
but most
it,
at last realised
that
only amounted
to
in
an
of
butt
effect
them have argument
of
that
suggested correcting their blunders
they
in balanc-
butt with a
its
rod
the
their
admission
ing the rod by loading
35
lump
of metal to the inconvenience and fatigue of the angler.
On
me on
with
differ
many
the other hand,
heavy metal
point,
this
first-rate
and prefer the
thinking that
reel,
anglers
it
gives an
impression of lightness in the point and steadi-
hand when castingf. Ebonite is not much lighter than aluminium and is certainly more brittle on this account probably the ness in the
;
be made of aluminium or
reel of the future will
one of
A
its
alloys.
This sounds
be made of pure
should
reel line
like
an axiom,
but unfortunately, in to the
mania
much
the rule, that
is
not
and
is
it
the present age,
silk, ^^ei
one
owing
for cheapness, adulteration is so
altogether
should be plaited
a pure silk line
find
to
an easy matter.
Then
it
solid.
There are three methods of plaiting lines plaiting them hollow plaiting on a core ;
In the
plaiting solid.
on a wire which proceeds.
a line
If
lines.
is
this
they are
is
cut
principle,
worked
off the
end of
can
be de-
it
Methods of '^^
;
withdrawn as the plaiting
a piece
made on
first
:
Hnes!"^
DRY-FLY FISHING
36
with
tected
knowing-
and the maker,
eye,
has attempted to substitute the
this,
a
second,
naked
the
which pro-
manufacture
of
class
duces a Hne not to any extent stronger than the
which
one
but
first,
glance pass muster for a solid line
he takes a core of
say, far
more
often
he
plaits
a
of line
class
is
tube
troubles,
plaited
solid
tion,
and
on
pure
of
and
if
that
solid
pure
Having your
This
silk.
every
in
one
silk lines,
am
I
far
from
told
that
square
in
sec-
to
plait
are
round ones either hollow or on a Dressing reel
but
only possible
lines is
to
core
this
when
especially
it
is
only anglers would
would be avoided.
home, all
;
upon having
of their
and
most unreliable and
way to be avoided insist
— that
silk occasionally,
of jute,
thin
a casual
at
will
silk line,
it
core.
must be dressed
lines
or
waterproofed
facturer,
and here again the manu-
;
desire
his
in
article,
and
to
of his
way
to use a
produce
of preparation.
He
it
produce a cheap
to
quickly, has
gone out
most unsatisfactory coats
it
class
with some sub-
stance consisting chiefly of varnish or shellac,
or gold brittle,
quired.
size,
any one of which soon becomes
and therefore
unfit for the
purpose
Then, again, he soaks the
a short time
in
this
preparation, and
line it
re-
for
takes
up on the external surface only a small quantity of the
dressing
;
when
the
dressing cracks,
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR the water
becomes
and
in
Hne
the
very soon
utterly rotten.
Such I
gets
yj
being
the
many
case,
ago
years
consulted one of the most practical tackle-
whom
makers with
one who
quainted,
have
I
been
ever
understood
ac-
business
his
thoroughly and was willing to discuss, experiment, and improve any point brought to his notice.
This was
Messrs.
Eaton
me
to
the
sold,
and
as
lines
the
&
Mr.
late
He
Deller.
the
agreed with
nature
unsatisfactory
he
hint
first
of
Deller,
of
the
gave
me
He told me that was a most valuable one. some years ago lines were dressed under the air-pump, and the
word
it
me
told
moment he used
was a revelation a
that
certain
ever since been dressed
he was prepared
ments on the
to try
He
me.
to
number of in
this
that
further
had
lines
way, and that
any necessary experi-
subject.
After trying various substances for dressing.
we
arrived at the conclusion that nothing but
pure boiled
oil
could be used
the line in the boiled
oil
;
that
by soaking
under the air-pump,
could
be dressed perfectly throughout.
effect
of soaking
the lines
The
the boiled
in
it
oil
under the exhausted receiver of the air-pump is
oil
to
draw
into
all
the
air
Boiled
oil
for
line dressing.
.
out,
and
every interstice of the
force
line.
the
When
our experiments had reached a certain pitch,
DRY-FLY FISHING
38
he made and sold a considerable number of dressed in this way.
lines
Unfortunately, to
my
great regret, he died before the conclusion
of
our experiments.
one who believed
He was
pre-eminently
the necessity of putting
in
thoroughly good material and thoroughly good into everything he turned out.
work
After
death
his
a very short time to
provements
considerable im-
effect
the details of line-dressing.
in
he
that
lines
my mind
dressed
has
that
to
tackle-maker in
publishing
ley s recipe for line dressing,
Immerse the containino" what <<
line
He in
own words
his
in
a
says
the
:
Pflass iar
'^
-^
called double
is
the
be doing a considerable
shall
I
at
cannot help
I
the angler himself or to
exact process he uses. Mr. Hawks-
to
and
waterproof,
perfectly
so
the same time so supple, that
service
are
so successful, so thoroughly smooth
throughout,
feeling
good
my^
Hawksley, and he was able within
friend Mr.
The
consulted
I
or vessel
boiled oil;*
place the vessel under the receiver of an air-
pump
;
exhaust until
all
air-bubbles are
drawn
do not remove the line until have broken and vanished. all the bubbles Take the line out of the oil draw it through to the surface
;
;
your '
fingers
It
or
piece
of
flannel
can be procured from Messrs.
and Quick, 12 and
They
a
usually call
it
14,
James
Street,
or
felt
Nay lor Brothers
Oxford Street,
W.
" Hawksley's Line-Dressing Oil."
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR lightly,
so as
Then wind on
to
superfluous
all
oil.
the line on a frame, as sketched
The
fig. 4.
remove
39
18 inches long,
frame, which should be about is
wood,
with
two
across
the
ends.
made
of two side-pieces of
pieces
of
There
thick
wire
iron
saw-gates cut
are
wooden sides of the One end of the line when covered
obliquely on one of the frame.
with the
first
coat of
oil
saw-gate marked No.
on are
in
then
placed
in
an
rubbed
off
line
heated
oven,
and
Fahrenheit,
The
about ten hours.
of the oven, and
and the
wound
The frame and
coils j-inch apart.
temperature of 150° for
i.
when
the
fastened in
is
line
cold,
is
all
line
to
a
baked
taken out
irregularities
thoroughly with very fine glass-
paper, care being taken not to abrade any of the
silky
fibres.
After
all
are rubbed off and
the
in size as possible,
is
it
the
line
irregularities
made
as equal
again put into the
under the air-pump, and the
air
again
oil,
ex-
DRY-FLY FISHING
40
The
hausted.
have broken,
when
line,
the air-bubbles
all
taken out, and again wound
is
on the frame, being fastened No.
and so on
2,
have a
so that
;
the
should
line
different point of contact with the iron
The
wires after each coat.
line
on the frame
heated for about ten hours
again
is
at the saw-gate
in
the
oven, repeating the operation as described ten
down
times, rubbing
and
When
cold.
after each coat
the
coat
fifth
is
baked
reached, use
is
finely-powdered pumice, dry, on a piece of hard felt
or flannel, instead of the glass-paper used
previously.
smooth
dull
The pumice powder will leave a surface. The last two coats will
not require to be rubbed down, and will give the line a finished, glazed appearance." dle^rflt'^^'^"
A
line
thus
dressed
only
requires
thoroughly rubbed over with red-deer
to fat,
be
and
the process to be occasionally repeated in the
course of a season's use, to be, to as near perfect as possible.
be procured, mutton stituted,
but
as deer
fat.
fat
If
my
deer
or vaseline
thinking,
fat
cannot
may be
sub-
neither of these will last as well
Two
lines
thus dressed for
me
by Mr. Hawksley have been in constant use for the last twelve years, and will, I trust serve
me
for
many more
seasons.
There can
therefore be no doubt as to their durability
;
but they have received every care and have invariably been
drawn
off the reels
and dried
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR and are
night,
at
away
a dry place during the winter.
in
The heavy
substance of the line must be rather in the
middle part
Fig.
must then taper
°^
fi^^f^""
for a fairly stiff rod,
;
heavy as shown (exact
as
and stored
loosely
coiled
41
size)
on
fig.
It
5.
s.
to as fine a point as the angler
dare use.
The
and
point,
if
I
measurement,
I
to finest
the
it
of
to
fix
an important r
upon an absolute
should say that from thickest
made
usually
with
a six-yard
amount to be cut ofT weak from use. As a matter it becomes economy, it is well to have a taper worked
When
on either end.
the tapered
been too much reduced of the
new
original
taper
in length,
can be cut
of the
impossible light line,
to
and
line
cast it
is
with
waxed
the whole off,
and a
against
the
silk.
that,
the wind better than
line.
light.
why glued cane
One rods
wooden ones
other things being equal,
a heavier
is
even easier to cast down-
of the reasons, perhaps, into
It
wind with a
wind with the heavy than with the cast
point has
tapered point spliced to the central parallel
portion
is
However,
allow a small
taper, to
as
had
is
should be five yards.
are
lines
taper r
of the
lensfth Q
they carry
Length of Xz.'^Qx.
DRY-FLY FISHING Gut
collars.
Gut
collars
gut procurable, but find
Even
it.
it
is
it,
attaching
shown "bend ;"
here
are
sailor's
the
me
to
at
Safe knots to be
7.
collar
— that that
veriest rubbish
offered
figures.
Fig.
in
always
not
6.
been
has
almost prohibitive
used
will
and some of the
produced
ever
best
the
of
not always easy to
a high price
Fig.
command
made
be
should
on
on
to the
fig.
6
reel -line
being
the
7 a figure-of-eight
fig.
'^yyyy^yy/yyyy/At'^y.^y'y-^^^^
Fig.
knot, fig.
8,
shown
to
me by
"Hi Regan's"
8.
Sir
Ford North
knot.
With
all
;
and these
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR knots, however,
necessary to break off a
is
it
43
short length of the reel-line almost each time
the cast
is
To
removed.
obviate this
have
I
of late years adopted the plan of whipping a strand of stout gut to the end of the
tying
line,
the end of the strand of gut into a loop and
looping on the cast.
The
length of the cast should vary from, \^^^^
say, four to three, or in very little
°^
rough weather, as
as two-and-a-half yards, the variation in
being necessary for variations
length
direction
in
and strength of the wind.
the
Glued
cane rods carry rather longer casts than those of greenheart, and in moderate weather
it
may
be taken that the cast should be approximately
A
the length of the rod. I
myself adopt,
good
plan,
and one
to knot up, say, three yards
is
of gut tapered from stout to the finest procur-
able undrawn, and also to keep a few points
made
of three fairly long strands of the fine
undrawn
gut.
A
few of these points and a
few lengths of gut, and possibly a spare should
be kept
layers of
felt
make
his
to
a wet
in
to enable the
or flannel, repairs
break takes place,
it
the fine point, which
on the spot is is
cast,
box between two
;
angler
as,
if
a
almost invariably in
the weakest place, and
with the wet box the angler has always reserve
gut soft and ready to
A
convenient
tie.
and portable
form of
wet
^^^
^'^^
^""^
DRY-FLY FISHING
44
box was suggested by Mr. Hawksley, and is, I believe, kept in stock by G. Holland, of Winchester. It is illustrated on fig. 9, It is, however, well to avoid leaving the gut too long in the wet box, as rots.
It is
said that gut
Fig.
in a
time
it
certainly
immersed
in
glycerine
in
9.
well-stoppered bottle will keep for years
without losing any of
strength.
its
After a fish has weeded, you should it
a rule to examine the gut
be frayed.
If
test
its
necessary break off and
tie
so,
Dry gut should be soaked until
quite
before
soft
strands together
;
and
knot illustrated on
fig.
I
it
;
will
make
probably
strength,
on a fresh
and
if
point.
lukewarm water
in
attempting to
tie
the
think that the double 10
is
Although not quite so neat
the safest to use. in
appearance as a
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR one
single
same way,
tied the
more
far
is
it
45
reliable.
As it
to the colour of the gut,
do not
I
like
too white, and, from the experience of
the streams
colour
the
which
have
I
some
that
think
I
fished,
must
staining gut.
all
do not care about
tackle-makers
been
have
affect,
designed
Fig. 10.
with the idea that the angler intended to pay
a
the Styx.
to
visit
A
blue-grey dye
slight
can be given to gut by immersing
in
a decoc-
logwood with a very small portion of .copperas or it can be dyed in the " slate " dye tion of
;
made by
Messrs.
Crawshaw.
the quality of the gut the
bleaching
Spain
;
cient
influence
but
I
with
treatment
It
with
the
it
said that
meets with
trade
have not to
in
suffi-
work any
this point.
have no intention of boring
much
is
much impaired by
fear that anglers
improvement on I
is
my
readers Eyed
theorising on the subject of hooks,
hooks,
DRY-FLY FISHING
46
as
has been ventilated times out of number
it
both
in the
angHng press and
pubHshed on the Flies
How
and
arguments
I
subject.
tage
in
whipped Turned-up and turned-
down
eyes,
my
the
if
turned-up
use
fear the case
I
of
my
hope-
hook
turned-down and the
Cholmondeley
Mr.
eye.
the com-
as to
prevails
merits of the
own
Pennell
-
particular
and has not altogether had the worst
He
turned-dowm hooks a to that time
I
me
asked
a
He
on them, and
for
his favourite
to
me
hooks selected by himself. flies
that
had been an advocate
turned-up in preference
my own
to give the
Knowing
fair trial.
turned-down eye, he sent
I
in
eyes to the fact that a '
'
of the aroument.
dress
is
old-fashioned
the
has argued the point from his
the
the
all
to a piece of gut.
parative
up
given
can find no possible advan-
I
diversity of opinion
view,
books
Floating
have not succeeded
I
readers,
cannot close
\
in "
can advance in favour of the use
In a word,
less.
in various
have
Them "
Dress
to
of eyed-hooks, and
convincing
I
number of
asked
to see
me
ta
whether
should not agree with him, that the turned-
down eye was and more
less likely to
likely to hold
it
miss a rising
fish,
when once hooked,
than the turned-up. I
tried these
could
same
in
experiments as carefully as
the spring of
1886.
I
I
dressed the
patterns on turned-up and turned-down
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR hooks.
I
47
placed them side by side in a box,
and when
the
The
alternately.
were
fish
result
no difference either in
used
rising
was
that
hooking
them
could find
I
holding
fish or
them when hooked. Both were as successful as usual and failed about as often as usual and I think that I may say that where these hooks were used
number
same
the
cisely
they killed pre-
alternately,
of
fish,
I
had,
when dressing the flies, a grave complaint to make respecting the inferior manner in which the turned-down hooks had however,
Fig. II.
been tempered. one-half of
think
I
those
sent
I
to
broke more than me.
This
is
no
argument against the shape or form of the hook, but a condemnation of the manner in
which the
details of
manufacture were carried
out.
The
original "
knot
Hall for attaching cast
is
knot,
flies
illustrated in fig.
which
is
recommended by^ Mr. on 1 1
;
eye-hooks to the
and Major Turle's
certainly far easier to
practically speaking, as secure is
shown
in figs. 12, 13,
14,
tie,
when once
15,
and
16.
and, tied,
Knots
for
eyed hooks.
DRY-FLY FISHING
48 Landing
net.
Where necessity.
fish
run
One
larore
with
a
a
landino-net
stout
ring,
is
a
either
of wood,
cane, metal, or whalebone, with a handle long enough to reach the iish in the
Fig. 12.
Fig. 13.
Fig. 15.
Fig.
water
and a turnover
ence of carrying,
maker has
his
own
is
to
16.
joint for
the conveni-
Every and many of them
be preferred.
pattern,
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR have points
their
in
favour.
I
think
49
it
is
perhaps a convenience to carry the net on a separate sHng that
it is
hung on the
under the
Fig.
A 1
right shoulder, so
left side.
17.
basket or bag to contain the 1
tackle,
Q
&c.,
.
fish
and
.
a
necessity. Bags, while not so comfortable as baskets, are in wet weather is
Bags and baskets.
DRY-FLY FISHING
50
damp and
specially liable to strike
cold against
body of the angler carrying them. Fish more in appearance when carried in a
the
also lose
bag than there
if
make
a basket, especially the under ones
in
a
A
many.
are seat
^g
carrying
^-q
a book.
in
away, the
the
as
the air
throuofh
flies,
will,
ever, flies
if
be packed
carefully put
them
is
of
as a rule,
restore
For the
flies
angler,
can be stood
them how-
A
venient.
up, is
pocket, with space for a pair of pliers, trated in fig.
The forcing or
sticking
more conconvenient form of box for the
into felt fastened to the bottom,
felt
much whips
half-dozen
who cares about the appearance of his when he first puts them on, a metal box
which the
in
may
they
first
to their original shape.
less
think, a convenience.
of flattening
fact
importance,
I
do not think,
I
will
more cumbersome and
is
sightly, but altogether, Fly-boxes.
which
basket
is illus-
17,
opinion has been freely expressed that the
points of hooks into and out of
flannel
liable
is
sometimes even
to
blunt
to
break
off
the
them, barbs.
and I
have often thought that the eye of the hook
seemed the Fi^ijox^^"^
purpose of fixing
to lend itself to the
flies in
place in the box.
Lately Messrs. C. Farlow and
have submitted
Eyed
Fly-box,"
to
me
which
the is
Co
(Limited)
patent
shown
in
"J.
R.
fig
18.
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR
One measuring
51
inches in length, 3 J- in width, and f in depth, contains eight rows of thirteen flies
each.
5 J-
There
a metal pin for each
is
projecting upwards, which
a covered spiral spring
round hole the
sprung back by
is
the
at
fly
and a
base,
the side of each block receives
in
To
eye of the hook.
a
fix
the
in
fly
Fig. 18.
box, it
is
press the eye
opposite
and secure the
To
take a
it
fly in fly
block, slipping
it
spring back into
hole,
the
hole,
an upright position.
draw
it
off the spring,
place.
away from the and the pin
The
inserted or withdrawn from the
the fingers, or what
when
back into the round
out,
its
the pin until
to
round
the
to
spring will force
down on
is
flies
box
will
can be
either
by
perhaps handier, by the
use of a pair of forceps.
The
"
Club
"
eyed fly-boxes recently brought
DR Y-FL y FISHING
52
"Club "Eyed out
bv Mcssrs. Hardv Brothers, of Alnwick, ^ -^
Fly-box.
.
satisfaction
dry-fly fishermen
A
.
.
have given
to
majority
the
who have used
of
them,
composed of three one a large double reservoir box <^\ inches long, '^\ inches wide by 2 inches deep, to hold set of these
boxes
about seventy dozen
is
:
flies
;
one Mayfly box 5f
inches long, 3^ inches wide by i^ inches deep
and one small pocket inches wide by
i
fly
;
box 5f inches long, 3^
inch deep, as
shown
in fig. 19.
Fig. 19.
The
boxes
essential feature of these
arrangement of the
flies
with waterproofed paper.
is
the
on wood bars covered
The paper
is
turned
over the top of the bar, so as to form, as were, a paper arch above the bar. of each
fly is
it is
The hook
pulled beyond the barb through
the walls of the arch, and for use
it
when a
fly is
simply torn from the paper.
required
When
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR the paper covering
is
worn
out,
53
bar
the
is
discarded and replaced by a spare bar, the cost of which
is
The
quite small.
bars are
all
of
uniform length, depth, and thickness, and are thus interchanofeable amono- the set of boxes.
Fig. 20.
The
illustration, fig. 20, is a cross section
of
AA
is
the box closed with
flies
the top of the box, which
B
is
in position. is
made
of mahogany.
the bar covered with waterproof paper,
Fig. 21.
which
carries the
flies.
them may be used larger apart.
flies
C
is
the
as
As many desired
bars can
be
or as few of
— that
spaced
the bolt which locks
all
is,
for
further
the bars
DRY-FLY FISHING
54
F
in position. 2
is
1
how
C
is
is
the bottom of the box.
Fig.
a side elevation of the interior, showing"
and held
the bars are received
the sliding bolt to which
D
operating stud B.
is
in position.
attached the
are the grooves which
receive the ends of the bars.
As
illustrated,
C is shown in position when remove a bar the stud E is pulled To
the sliding bolt locked.
about an eighth of an inch to the other side of the
slot.
bolt
C
B,
This of course moves the sliding
from the top of the paper covered bars
when they can be removed.
A
and a spring-balance
pair of scissors
weighing the a loop
almost necessities, and
fish are
end of the spring-
the
of string at
balance, to be passed under the
Waders.
for
gills,
will
be
found more convenient, and not disfigure the fish as much as the hook usually placed there. As wading is often necessary, and persistency
attempting
in
frequently leads in
matism and other that
the
without protection
it
later
middle
life
allied complaints,
inconvenience
of
I
ivaders
to rheu-
am
afraid
must be
Stockings are lighter, but with them
borne.
of course one cannot go in so deep as with trousers.
water,
In a gradually increasing depth of
when
nearly up
wading stockings,
it
is
to
the
top
of your
a good plan to hold
up the inner edges with the fingers of the The water-level will be felt on hand. left
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR the
and often save the angler from
fingers,
wading too
When
be
should
well to take short steps,
it is
on
whole weight
the
before
foot
far.
wading,
planting
55
advancing fairly
the
Brogues
other.
and
stout,
forward
the
wading on
for
gravel should have nails in the soles, but for
rock should have soles of
nothing
them,
so
is
For fastening
felt.
comfortable
plain
as
porpoise-hide laces, and nothing so objectionable as those straps and buckles which always
sooner or later get out of order, and under
which the
A
line
short
variable
a
is
liable to catch
when
in so Mackintosh
mackintosh must be carried climate
as
A
this.
method of carrying the waterproof it
fishing. and method of
convenient is
to fasten
on the top of the basket, folded a
longer than
Straps
may
the
breadth
be used for
of
this
the
trifle
basket- lid.
purpose, but two
stout strings of about the substance of blind-
cord are preferable to straps,
as,
after
thoroughly wetted the string
will
get
time,
being dry
and not remain sodden and messy
leather.
Besides,
there
are
no
buckles
in
like
to
come off and get lost, and if anything does go wrong with them they can be repaired or replaced easily and anywhere. Each string is passed through two openings in the lid of the creel, has a loop at one end and a knot
at the other.
They
are tied in a single
carrying.
DRY-FLY FISHING
56
bow, as shown
and one
in fig. 22,
pull at the
knotted end of each string releases the mackintosh. Material,
As
fit
fishing suit,
terials
dress
far as
is
concerned, woollen ma-
The form
be worn.
only should
of
costume should be such as to give the greatest possible freedom to
muscles, and
the
therefore be rather loose
in
fit
should
and of
elastic
Fig. 22.
material.
In colour
dark nor too
light,
it
should be neither too
so as not to present too
strong a contrast to the surroundings. I
had a fishing
suit
approached the describe
on a the
and
wool
when
The
it.
the
appearance
is
that
material
frame
stocking
unmilled
ideal
made which
unfelted,
is
and so
1
Latterly so
nearly
am tempted
to
hand-made, woven needles, that
the
entirely fibre
of
unbroken and perfectly straight
cloth to
is
finished.
what
is
It
is
generally
similar in
known
THE DRY-FLY FISHERMAN'S GEAR as "
The manufacturers
"stockinette."
Haddington," and
green
tint,
tweeds
is
of a
neutral
call
it
grey
not unlike the well-known " Lovat
in colour.
When sensible
it
57
returning from a day's fishing, every
man who
wishes to preserve his health
should change every particle of clothing which is
in the slightest
perspiration is
or rain,
available, a
tend
much
degree damp, whether from
to
warm the
the evening meal.
and,
if
such
a
luxury
bath before changing will
comfort and enjoyment of
58
CHAPTER
II.
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES. Definiiion of
sunk
flies.
T^HE ^
simplcst definition of the term ''float-
ing
fly "
the surface
is
— an
artificial
one fished below the
To
carry
the
with the wings up, side,
surface
definition
whether
floating- fly,
its
it
is
a
of
of a
sunk
the
07t
fly,"
water.
further,
trifle
cocked,
or fiat, that
an imitation
is
"
and that of the term
;
fished
fly
a
floating
i.e.,
lying on
is,
winged
insect,
either
emerging or emerged from the nymph
state,
on the surface of the stream, while the
sunk
fly is
said to be an imitation of the larva
nymph moving in the water, or of insect when water-logged or drowned. or
a winged
In principle the two methods of fishing are
With
totally distinct.
angler has in the fish, to is
first
the dry or floating
to this
work
in
to
exclusion
to a likely
fly,
or what
and
to cast
chance
other parts of the stream.
sunk or wet
of,
of any
technically called spot, the rise,
the
the
instance to find a rising-
note accurately the position
fish
fly
With
the
on the other hand, he casts
place,
whether he has or has not
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES seen a
(more frequently he has
rise there
59
not),
judgment should tend to tell him where, from his knowledge of the habits of the fish, they are most likely to be found and, in fact, his
or ready
in position
fishing
which
rise,"
wet-fly
water,"
the
" fishing
to the expression
in contradistinction
the
" fishing
termed
often
is
Thus
feed.
to
applied to the method of
is
the dry-fly fisherman.
In
of
treating^
advantap"es
the
over wet-fly
fishing-,
.
.
it
is
the
wet
the
They ter
/
.
in
adapted
rivers
require not only
to
its
use.
judgment of the charac-
of water frequented
food
of
of
not only
fish,
and genera
different species
of insects forming the
times
various
at
the day and season by feeding
knowledge of the
depre-
to
by the followers of
exhibited
skill
fly
avoid
desirable to
any expression which should tend ciate
drv-fly Comparative
of
"^ .
the
fish,
not
only a perception of the advantages of fishing
up-stream under one of in
fishing
addition to
their
flies
all
this,
of conditions
set
under
down-stream
great
others
skill
and allowing them
to drift
down
placing
in
accurately in the desired
;
and but,
position,
in a
natural
manner, and without any drag or check, over the precise spot they wish to far too
much presumption
knowledge and
skill
try.
There
is
of superior scientific
on the part of the modern
school of dry-fly fishermen, and
I
should
be
advantages of dry fly and
DRY-FLY FISHING
6o
the
wish
to
last
encourage
this
superiority,
or
the
a Hne tending to
write
to
assumption
erroneous depreciate
to
any
way
coupled
with
in
patience and perseverance,
of
an intuitive perception of the habits of the fish,
with said
requisite for a
the wet "
that
The
fly.
Francis Francis
late
the judicious
cation of dry,
performer
really first-rate
and
perfect
and mid-water
wet,
stamps the finished
fly-fisher
mark of efficiency." mind pre-eminently
This sentiment
with
characteristic of
and worthy of adoption by
his
appli-
fly-fishing
the
hall-
my
to
is
author,
its
admirers
in
later times.
Under
Favourable conditions for the dry fly.
Certain circumstances the dry fly has
.
in
every Stream great advantages over the wet,
and
rivers
in
where
not generally used
is
it
has the further advantage that, from the
being unaccustomed to see
natural
insect
anything but the
down
floating
them, they are unsuspicious
and take their
it
being
cocked
of the
over
artificial,
with such confidence as to render
hooked,
if
To
almost a certainty.
not
When
a
fish
is
capture,
their
define
the
stances specially suited to the dry difficult.
fish
fly
circumis
not
seen to be feeding
on the surface, when the angler can ascertain the
species
feeding,
of
insect
when he can
on which imitate
present this imitation to the
it,
fish
the
fish
is
when he can in
its
natural
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES
and following the course taken by
position
the
natural
out
all
when he can
and
insect,
these conditions at the
as to delude the
before
fish
being
of
picion
6i
fished
so
cast,
first
has any sus-
it
the
for,
carry
and
rising
hooking of the most wary trout or grayling is
almost a foregone conclusion.
must be remembered that the only
It
possi'
•'
ble
means of
medium
the
is
establishing
between the
nection
of
a satisfactory con-
and the fisherman
fish
A
sight.
sight
fish's
more highly developed than any other being
it
whether
questionable
hearing, or whether surface food
is
to
sufficient
point
to
guide
of sight
study
the fish should be
said,
other
the
;
bulgmg
hand,
in
fish
dis-
as
no
are to be seen, and fish
before it
has
for.
where
the
most
a
is
fact,
.
fore be inferred that
in
it
hooked before
any suspicion of being fished
On
any
natural and artificial
Hence keeping out
essential
sense,
has
it
is
power of smell with
its
criminating between the fiy.
*^^^.P\"g °"^ or sight.
it
or
rising
Favouiabie conditions for
may
there-
wet
fly.
are not takinp-
surface food, the conditions are favourable for
the use of the sunk
fly.
conditions the floating
fly
Even under is
these
sometimes more
efficacious than the wet.
Whatever advantag^es can be claimed ^ the
sunk
fly
elsewhere,
however,
streams and conditions of weather
there in
for Advantages dry
are
which
it
of
fly in still,
bright weather.
DRY-FLY FISHING
62
having the smallest
cannot be considered as
chance against the floating tions of weather,
and
hottest sun
would
the
days, with the
stillest
consider
most unpropitious, the
On
surface.
to condi-
when
in the clearest water,
fisher
wet-fly
on the
As
fly.
generally on
days to
gratifying to the angler's
conditions
the
are
fish
such
bump
the
fish
kill
is
of self-esteem
;
and most suspicious fish feeding under such conditions often seem guileless,
the
largest
fall
victims
the
to
the
of
art
dry-fly fisher-
man, and nowhere so freely and so frequently as in rivers where the sunk fly
habitually
is
used.
As
Chalk streams
the Streams
to
under
in
which the dry
circumstances
all
is
more
be
to
likely
fly
successful than the wet, those which rise from
springs filtered
and
chalk,
up through a substratum of which
in
water
the
is
of the clearest even after heavy rain in
which
the
and
rapid,
months
current
being
fully
usually
covered
the
in
streams
moderately
only
is
;
usually
summer
weeds, are
with
well
stocked with larvae of Ephemeridae, Trichoptera,
and other water-bred
pre-eminently
usually styled "chalk
said
there are
that
killing
— these
streams," and
days when
them the sunk
than the floating
fly
fly.
is
even
are
They
fitted for the floating fly.
are
clearest of
insects
in
it
is
the
found more
This may pos-
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES sibly be true,
but
many
in
63
years' experience
my
such days have not fallen to
lot,
and
I
should be inclined to consider them as happening ones, or the rare exceptions which
prove the
go
Perhaps the best proof of
rule.
to
this
may be deduced from the fact that every Hampshire fisherman who has persistently
rule
become more
studied the subject has gradually
convinced that the best policy to pursue
fully
simply to imitate Nature, and present the
is
imitation floating
and
most natural
the
in
position,
i
e.,
cocked.
In Derbyshire, a few years back, every one
many
used two, and flies
;
three, four, or
even more
every one fished down-stream, and fished
Now
the water.
hosts of anoflers have invaded
the districts, the trout and grayling are as shy
and wary as any the year,
result
?
more of the
district
fish
over rising
and what
in the country,
Day
after
day, and
anglers
successful
up-stream with floating only,
fish
and
it
in
flies
only on
is
is
year after the
and an
occasional blustering day that one of the old
school succeeds in getting a moderate bag.
The same
tale
can be told of
all
parts of the
country, where the local anglers, taught from
childhood to
fish
with sunk
fly,
laugh at the
possibility of a
bag being made with dry
As an example
of
this.
Many
fly.
years ago, in
Dorchester, one of the best dry-fly fishermen
H
DRY-FLY FISHING
of the day was seriously suspected, and even accused, of not fishing
ceeded fish
numbers of the
killing great
in
because he suc-
fair,
largest
on days when the natives with wet
could do no good at
At length
all.
fly
his pro-
ceedings were quietly but thoroughly watched
by one of the
local talent, with the result that
he who went to discover a fraud found that he had been policy.
He
angler
and
told
persuaded him to teach
a mistaken
for years following
went openly
him
the
all
to enrol
him the
to his talented brother
circumstances,
him among
his pupils,
and
art of dry-fly fishing,
at
length became himself a votary of this style
and a
proficient in
the wet
and ever
it,
and was able
fly,
after forswore
turn to teach
in
and
convert others to the more modern and more successful school of angling.
From
Spread of dry
in
north and south, from east and west, times
later
and when
chester,
there,
conquered the use of
the
their
killing
two
to
floating
fly
likely only
although they could very in
came
Winsaw, learned and
fly-fishermen
or
three
trout
yet soon preferred these comparatively results
the tion
the
and daily,
meagre
heavier bags taken elsewhere with
to
sunk all
;
succeed
fly.
over
spread
something
of
They the
dry-fly
dreadful
carried
country,
to
fishing
informa-
the
until
at
has
length
become
contemplate, because
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES the
in
where
rivers
never get a
rest,
tempted
tinually
is
it
practised
the fish
but day after day are con-
worse
to their destruction, or
perhaps, rendered more wary,
still,
65
more
shy,
and. more suspicious. It
urged that the bad features of
is
this
spread of dry-fly fishing do not end here, and the perpetual danger of taking-
that
surface-
food in time keeps the fish down, and even
makes abstention
from
hereditary instinct.
The
being
fish
gradually
floating
an
insects
fact of the free-rising
but
surely
killed
off",
and new generations being bred from those
on the bottom
which habitually
find their food
of the river,
advanced as an argument
is
demonstrate that each generation
to
less likely
one immediately preceding
to rise than the
The
is
it.
introduction of artificially fed trout into
the rivers
some with
credited by
is
still
further
increasing
their
tendency to prefer the com-
paratively
safe
shrimps,
larvae
the
to
surface food.
perilous
caddis,
snails,
experiment of
and
taking
All these arguments, however,
are based on the assumption that fish now-a-
more on the
days feed
larvae.
Crustaceans,
Mollusks, &c., which are found below surface,
and in
less
olden
on the floating insects than they did times.
experienced
In the opinion of the most
modern
conclusive evidence 5
authorities to
there
is
no
bear out this assump-
DR Y-FL V FISHING
66
Whether
tion.
free
the fish in a given river are
not
or
risers
mainly
is
due
comparative abundance or scarcity of in
some streams
it
to
the
fly,
but
seems quite the exception
for the larger trout to rise well at
any of the
duns, spinners, or other small floating insects,
even when present Dry-fly purists.
in great
numbers.
amono^ fishermen will J J o dry-fly not under any circumstances cast except over puHsts
T\i^
^
rising
entire
and
fish,
prefer
remain
to
day rather than attempt
the
idle
to persuade the
wary inhabitants of the stream to rise at an artificial fly, unless they have previously seen a natural one taken in the
same
As
position.
far as club, subscription or other heavily fished
waters are concerned, they are acting
proper
spirit of
stream, whether
the
in
a sportsman, as flogging the with
floating
or
sunk
flies,
does beyond doubt add to the natural shyness of the
fish.
If,
however, an angler on private
or exceptionally well stocked water sees a trout
or grayling
he
place,
cocked
fly
in position for
is
perhaps
over
it.
feeding in a likely
justified
By
in
floating
a
a likely place, such an
one as a bare gravel patch between weeds on a shallow is meant, or a point under the bank which every natural insect must be carried by the stream or wind, on either of which
to
there
is
almost invariably a
or ready to feed at the
first
fish either
hatch of
fly.
feeding
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES
A
mistake sometimes induloed
67
by anglers
in
•^
Ory-iiy in
rough or w
.
experience
of
is
votary of the dry
weather
and
;
to
commiserate
fly
in
the rainy
blustering or
seeking
friends
with
extenuate
to
want of sport frequently express
one's
opinion that
it
the
was "too rough or too wet for Why too rough or too wet?
the
dry
The
natural duns bred in the water are seldom
if
fly."
ever drowned
ever rough the weather
Ephemeridae
delicate
element, how-
in their native
may are
At times
be.
over and
whirled
over by sudden gusts, but they
the
float,
still
and
a rough day with a good curling ripple on the surface of the water floating
delivered,
makes the greatest
defeats the sunk
rough day
day, although
doubtedly
The
the
and
utterly
true difficulty on a
accurately,
it
when
and accurately
score,
not to float the
is
fly,
The
fly.
the rise and place
dry the
often the day
quite dry, cocked,
if
fly,
is
fly
but to spot
and on a rainy
undoubtedly hard work to when once dried, it is unmore deadly than the wet fly.
it
is
yet,
far
general use of paraffin for waterproofing
artificial
flies
has to a great degree counter
acted their tendency to absorb water, and thus
minimised the exertion of drying the
We
are often told that Mr.
Scotch in
fly-fisher,
can
kill
fly. ,
the great
any number of trout
a south-country stream, fishing in his
style,
and
is
prepared to
make
own
a match against
weather.
DRY-FLY FISHING
68
the best local man.
Southron
fiy-fishers
are
not in the habit of fishing matches and weighing
catches
in
on
system
is,
wedded
that
if
The
streams.
their
he
obstinate,
is
move
and
he returns
him,
with the dictum that there are very few the river,
in-
to his opinions that the stern
cannot
of facts
logic
invited to try his infallible
is
one of
variable result
so firmly
but occasionally one of
clubs,
at
these professors
or that the wind
is
fish in
wrong, or the
water too low, or some other plausible excuse.
on the other hand, he
If,
the
discovers
with
a true lover of
is
and not above learning, he quickly
art
that
the
method
his
over-fed
dainty,
not
is
fish
of
successful
a
chalk-
stream, and before long he becomes a convert to the dry-fly, and, hot,
in
bright
I
shrewdly suspect, uses
weather to advantage
in
it
his
native brooks.
A
dry-fly
to
the
must expect
fisher
abnormally large small
proportion
flies
he
uses,
of
to
rises,
even
if
Hampshire
when
school, forgetting that,
and on days
the sunk
his
excitement
from
will
bright,
hot,
fly is utterly
chalk-stream fisher will rise
success
argument
an unduly large proportion are missed,
yet in places, calm,
owing
and some of our
friends are apt to quote this as an
against the
miss an
and
hopeless, the
fish after fish,
and
be kept up by hopes of
morning
to
night.
On
one
FLOATING FLIES AND SUNK FLIES point
all
must agree,
viz.,
that
fishing
stream with fine gut and small floating
where every movement of the
fish,
its
69
upflies,
rise
and the turn and rise at the artificial, are plainly visible, is far more exciting, and requires in many respects more
at
any passing
skill,
natural,
than the fishing of the water as practised
by the wet-fly fisherman.
70
CHAPTER
HOW
CASTING
TO CAST.
may be
which
fly,
is
defined as placing the
at the
end of the
collar,
in
a desired manner, and at a
a desired spot, in
moment. There are at
III.
desired sMerof casting.
styles
of
which should be understood by the
casting, dry-fly
distinct
five
least
They
fisher.
handed or ordinary ward cut
;
thirdly,
are
cast
firstly,
the
secondly, the
;
over-
down-
the under-handed or hori-
the
fourthly,
zontal
cast
fifthly,
the dry switch.
;
—
steeple
Every
cast
;
and
dry-fly fisherman
should learn to cast in each of these styles with either hand.
be over-rated,
which
it
is
The importance of as there are many
difficult,
right-handed.
if
Besides,
comment.
is
cannot
positions in
not impossible, to cast the
rough day of being able to fishing with the other
this
advantage on a
rest
one hand while
too manifest to require
PLATE
I.
.!^^-^
F. Bahlmge,
Grit of the Rod.
del.
HOW
TO CAST
71
The beoinner must commence* by the
Perhaps the
cast.
acquire
it
even a
table,
using
is
ordinary over-handed
the
of these,
first
to place his
his wrist
way
easiest
so as to
and
learninsj Over-handed
for
him
to
elbow on a gate, or
commence
fore-arm
at
only.
once by
At the
commencement he must content himself with and
is
essential that
he should thoroughly master the
art of casting
a short length of
this
short
it
length before attempting anything
The
longer.
line,
rod should be grasped tightly in
thumb and The more forefinger, extended up the butt. usual plan is to grip the rod with the thumb up
the right hand, with the thumb, or
the butt
;
but
many experienced
men, notably the
late
dry-fly fisher-
Mr. Marryat, have used
thumb and forefinger for this purpose, claiming some advantage for this grip, as enabling them to direct the fly with greater precision than with the more usual method, the
illustrated in Plate
Holding the
*
Some
I.
fly in
the
left
hand, with a short
writers in the sporting papers are in the habit by alluding to " the
of indulging in a mild form of chaff
days before the invention of the steeple or other fancy It is well for the beginner to understand that casts." the only style of casting in reference to which there is any foundation for these presumably funny remarks is the dry switch, as none of the others are in any way novel, but have been practised from the earliest times
by wet as well as dry-fly fishermen.
DRY-FLY FISHING
72
wave the rod back in a curve, shaped somewhat like a horse-shoe, at the same time feeling- the weig"ht of the line with the tip of the rod, and letting go the fly. Wait until the weight of the short line say five yards just commences to bend the top of the rod backwards before making the length of line
out,
—
—
forward the
hand much In
dicular.
however,
noting,
cast,
farther
fact, this
is
carry
to
back than the perpen-
may be
taken as a golden
When
rule in all styles of casting.
of the line behind
not
the weight
only just sufficient to bend
the rod-top backwards, or in other words, the line
with
is
just felt behind, return
a slightly
Lower
increased
velocity
it
when
forwards
of swing.
the point of the rod as the line comes
forward, see that
is
it
extended at the level of
about one yard over the water, and then check the forward motion.
Carefully note the time
of casting, like music, counting forward.
It
vary but
little
will
i,
for short or
long casts
longer the cast the farther the line
backwards, forwards Explanation of the plates on casting.
Plate
the line
and
and
will also II.
back
2,
be found that the time
the
loop
will
but the
;
extend
w411
turning
—
over
it
be larger.
shows the position and shape of
when
the
hand has been carried back,
just before casting;
Plate III. illustrates
the appearance of the line
when
the hand has
been brought part of the way forwards
in the
HOW act of casting
;
TO CAST
and Plate IV. the form of the
and position of the hand when the forward
line
To
motion has been completed. of castinof
my
of
73
way
readers,
invite the careful attention
because they are not
fancied or fanciful illustrations
one wishing
may
would
I
these plates
to
in
any
of what any
prove his own particular theory
think he has seen, but are accurate draw-
ings of instantaneous photographs taken for the
purpose of illustrating
work
this
photographers, Messrs. Elliott artist,
ings,*
must tender
my
at the success of their
to the
hearty congratulations
work
in this direction.
would also particularly
I
and
Mr. Moul, who made the draw-
talented I
;
& Fry, and to the
call
the
reader's
attention to the fact that these plates, one all,
go
to destroy the theories
which have been
written from time immemorial in fly-fishing as
and
all
books on
to the form taken by the
line
Over and over again it has been written, You must wait until the line is extended in a straight line behind you behind the fisherman.
* It has been pointed out that I have unconsciously been unjust to Mr. Moul in the earlier editions of this
book.
From
Messrs.
Elliott
&
Fry's
instantaneous
photographs of the late Mr. Marryat casting, he accurately sketched the figure, rod and line, filling in backgrounds, the artistic merits of which are entirely due to him. In the present edition Mr. Moul's original drawings have been reproduced by a photographic process.
DRY-FLY FISHING
74
attempting
before
cannot occur
any
in
This
return.
to
style of casting with a line
of appreciable length, and
those early days there
it is
was no
only because
in
means
of
scientific
reproducing an accurate view that
was
started.
Its
continuation
theories which
enunciated, and give
theory
this
due
deem
simply copy, from what they authorities,
is
majority
the
unfortunately,
that,
position
to the fact
authors
of
to be
good
have been before
them a
stamp of
further
veracity without taking the trouble to ascertain for
themselves that they are anything but
fiction.
In the d7y sivitch the length of line from to
reel
fly
was about lo yards.
other casts about
and
in
that,
1
2
.
15 yards
to
connection with these
it
In
were used,
should be noted
from the transparent nature of the gut and
the increased velocity of the end of the
an exposure of even the
1
From
on the negatives. I
have forborne also be
line,
50th part of a second
failed to leave a definite trace of the
must
the
all
gut collar
a desire for accuracy
to supply this deficiency.
remembered
It
that the foreshort-
ening of the curves conveys an impression of a shorter line than The
ethics
casHng.
With
the
is
actually being used.
Ordinary
overhanded
cast,
in
arm will come wrist and fore-arm,
throwing a long line the upper into use in addition to the
as the angler will have to feel the line of the
backward
cast
through the arc of a larger
u
HOW The
circle.
TO CAST
75
required to propel various
force
lengrths of line without over-castino- or under-
casting (the
first
use of too much, and the
second too
little,
to extend), and only just extending the
power
varies
line,
meaning the
of these terms
every yard of
directly with
line
This instructive adaptation of the power
used.
to cast, of cause to effect, constitutes the secret
how
of
to cast well.
These
fundamental
apply
principles
with
equal force not only to dry-fly fishing and to wet-fly fishing, but to
the various methods
all
of casting enumerated in the foregoing pages.
The
essential points to study are,
exact appreciation
of the
force
in
fact,
an
be used,
to
and correct timing, and these are the ethics of
and elegant casting. It must always remembered that hearing- much sound proceed from a rod making a cast is an indi-
effective
be
cation of unnecessary force being used. late
Mr. Marryat
mean good
whistling line
'''
Mr.
Llo3'-d
said,
"
remarks
on
A
silent
rod and a
casting,"*
this
:
—
"
The
The
but he
late
Mr.
" Marryat used to say that the rod should be silent and " the line sing. I find, however, that the rod always '*
"
makes a
noise
if
held so that the rings are in front.
on the other hand, the rod is turned so that the " rings lie above or underneath there is no sound from " the rod, the line only being heard. Mr. Marryat often " fished thus, which would account for his mistaken '•
If,
idea."
DRY-FLY FISHING
76
added that when throwing against the wind a sHofht "whoosh'" of the rod It
may be
down
laid
as an
its fair
to
and forget
The
constant strain
subjected by such performers
is
must tend
to
maturely.
In over-handed casting, note parti-
impair
cularly that the
backwards a general
beoinners
far
forcing powers pre-
the fault in casting
rule, is in
its
hand should never be carried beyond the perpendicular. As not
Many men who
Cultivation of
good
into
to allow the rod to do
share of the work.
which a rod
axiom that nine
much energy
anglers out of ten put too their casting,
often heard.
is
o-iving- sufficient
made by
time behind.
can cast a great distance
style in
casting.
and throw a pixtty fly, do
manner enced
it
in so
awkward a
as to detract from the pleasure experi-
in
seeing their performance.
It
is
as
easy to cultivate a good style from the com-
mencement style
A
as
it
by lessons
is
after
difficult
to
cure an ugly
having once acquired
tyro can do no better than get a friend,
can
cast, to start
he can do at pupil
;
first
him
in the right road,
it.
who
which
by standing close behind the
and, grasping the hand holding the rod,
with his fore-arm lying close over his pupil's, the
same time
one, two, three," until his pupil
appears to
guide "
the
cast,
counting at
have acquired a good idea of the timing and motions.
He
should then stand clear of him
on the left-hand
side, criticising
each
cast,
im-
u
HOW
TO CAST
77
pressing upon him the necessity of giving plenty
of time between the casts, and explaining to
him what
motion of the rod caused
faults in the
the corresponding defect in the
After a few days should,
water
left
own
his
to
when he can
tired,
line.
which
water,
or,
if
not available, over a lawn, the tyro
is
be
can days,
of the
fall
practice,
made over
be
possible,
if
of this
devices
a
for
few
practise until his wrist
is
which time, however, he should be
at
cautioned always to stop and
After a
rest.
few weeks' interval, the teacher
may
look at
him, praise and encourage where possible, point
out
whether of
faults,
style or execution,
At
nip them in the bud.
night
vanced
he has
will
charming
made
the
fly,
water,
it
an easy stream,
in him, the killing of a fish
make him
a
life
votary of the
fly is
merely a repetition of the
in the afore-stated
method, only that
instead of being allowed to touch the
recovered in the
is
repeated
five
or six
the longer the to
at
sufficiently ad-
pursuit.
Drying the cast
hand
try his
to if
two
or
the end of a fort-
an apt pupil should be
where,
travel,
line,
air,
Note, too, that
times.
the
and the action
farther the
fly
and hence the more rapidly
Another
point
to
remark
when thoroughly
dried,
the
fly will
dried.
and
up water nearly so
fast
as a
is,
has it
is
that
not soak
half- dried
one.
Drying the
fly.
DRY-FLY FISHING
78
The Hy
as
to get water-logged,
allowed
be
not
therefore,
should,
takes a long time
it
and considerable exertion under these circumstances to dry Paraffin for
waterproofing
A
it
perfectly.
water-proofed by the
tly
^^^^s^^^
application
never gets thoroughly water-logged,
Some
and hence requires but little drying. modern writers affect to despise the they
that
alleging
bottle,
of
paraffin
increased
derive
pleasure from the increased labour of drying the
fly.
find there
I
is
and
sufficient labour
sufficient difficulty in
circumventing the present
of trout
and grayling, even with
o-eneration
the
advantage
over-handed
waterproofed
of a
cast,
it
may be
The
fly.
noted,
is
chiefly
useful for light or up-stream winds. Casting against or across wiind.
The downward cast
are
specially
the
across
wind.
and the under-handed
cut
useful
A
casting
for
into
who
fisherman
or
has
mastered these two methods of casting can, a
after detail,
little
perseverance himself
render
direction of the
wind so long as
with only moderate force.
unable to get the line out
ways when
it
is
of
to
the
blowing
If
he finds himself
in
either of these
casting against the wind, he should
try less force still
and attention
independent
and give more time behind.
unsuccessful,
he must
shorten
his
If
gut
by removing from it some few strands of the coarse end, and if the weather should collar
'^""^
*'W\
HOW
TO CAST
be very rough, and he his
he
wind,
into the
fly
unable to force
still
is
79
may
shorten the gut at the fine end.
still
further
It is
well to
note that in very rough weather a slight set
back of the
line
on the water
important, so long as
not so very
is
does not curl over on
it
itself
downward
In the
cut
the
fly ^
Downward returned cut.
is
by the ordinary over-handed motion.
when
of throwing,
act
angle
of
water,
it
arm
the
In the
attains
the
45 degrees with the level of the extended to full-lencrth forwards,
is
the knuckles turned downwards, and a drawinocircular cut in line
towards the body made as the
elbow being
the
delivered,
is
slightly
same moment, and the point of rod brought down to the level of the
raised at the
the
water.
This position
V.
a yard or so of line
If
by the
left
hand
is
illustrated is
in
Plate
pulled
down
above the
just
reel
as the
rod point reaches the level of the water, this action of drawing back the slack will be found useful
as
tending to insure the delivery of a
straight line. If
the
downward
whole of the late,
If
line is
cut
is
made
blown back
too soon, the
in coils.
a heavy splash on the water
is
time and force are quite right
remember no great extends
itself in
force
the
is
If too
the result.
— and again — the line
required
teeth of the
wind,
the
DRY-FLY FISHING
80
going out nearly straight, and the back
fly
motion of the cut or action of the
on
the
The
line
reel
result
of
pulling
hand
left
back.
slack
the
backward motion
the
is
not
in the ordi-
more than the check used The downward cut is a difficult nary cast. cast to describe, and a difficult cast to attain,
really
but
is
it
an invaluable one when especially
a strong wind,
against
throwing
when
the
high behind the angler, under which conditions it is at times impossible to use the
grass
is
next method, which
The under-handed
Under-handed cast
I
will
now
cast,
describe.
second
the
as
method of throwing against the wind
is
called,
only acquired after considerable practice and perseverance, but it is, as a general rule, to is
be preferred to should be used though, at the
the
over-handed
wherever
first
cast,
practicable.
and Al-
glance, in the case of one
accustomed to the ordinary over-handed cast, the action it may appear difficult to accomplish
and throwing under-handed, yet when once acquired no other method of casting direcdy against a moderate wind or at right angles to a strong wind is to be com-
of returning
pared to rod
is
it,
especially as the
motion of the
far less visible to the fish.
consists in keeping the rod in
zontal position,
and moving
it,
The
secret
a nearly hori-
whether return-
ing or throwing, in a line parallel to the surface of the water.
o
HOW while drying
If,
the rod
wind
the
time
sufficient
words,
other in
as
this,
the
apt
is
fly
to
and the
quickly,
the
fly
the
if
hand
is
adverse wind on
from going out it
If
raised,
the
on the
reel
fly.
fly
generally
is
The
likely
effect is a
to
decided
hand
almost impossible action
— the
hooked to a blade Hence, to make this
securely
water
is
necessary.
position of the line at the
the rod-point
back
is
VII.
the
is
carried
illustrated
in
VI.
Plate
moment when
VIII.
the
to
practice,
correct
;
that
Plate
in
rod-point
the
forward position
Continual friend
moment
the farthest point
to
travelled halfway through the arc
of a
is
which
in
line,
the horizontal position of the rod moving-
parallel to the
cast.
fly
If in returning the
of grass on the bank. cast,
of the
force
the act of casting the
If in
splash on the water.
—an
the act of
in
fish
unduly lowered, the
lowered
soon,
too
the desired direction, and
in
look at the
is
or
prevents the
line
highly-educated
is
in
made
is
position no
hand
behind,
off.
the
curled back
is
If
given
cast
back too
cracked off
every other style of casting,
in
casting the
the line
force
may be
also cracked
is
hand holding
returning, the action of
not
is
8i
the
fly,
when
raised
is
TO CAST
;
and
or finish
has
in Plate
of the
and the presence
faults
which are
fre-
quently invisible to the fisherman himself, are 6
DRY-FLY FISHING
82
the best, nay, the only means, of learning the
A
action.
heavy
fairly
preferable to a light one
reel
when
line
always
is
casting against
a strong adverse wind.
Although naturally preferable, the not a necessity, as the cast can in
a
on a lawn.
field or
It
river
is
be practised
must be borne
mind that the primary difficulty consists in overcoming the natural tendency to raise the and the next point hand holding the rod is to get over the severe cramp in the hand,
in
;
wrist,
and fore-arm, caused either by bring-
ing a
new
of
set
muscles
into
play,
or
by
straininof in a different direction to the accus-
tomed one those muscles
which have been
mode of useful when
hitherto used in the ordinary
This method
is
especially
casting.
casting
across wind to a fish feeding under the opposite
bank, or under overhanging boughs, not too low.
It
may
if
employed in fishing a place where the sfrowinor on the angrler's own bank. case
it
is
they are
also be advantageously trees are
In this
necessary to remember that the rod-
point should be, as far as possible, kept over the
water while drying the
fly,
and that the
line
should be returned over and delivered under the
rod-point.
Above
all,
note
where the
bushes or trees are situated, and avoid them.
A
step to
save
the
one side or the other
fly
from
touching them
will ;
so,
often
look
CAST
//OIV TO
back it
when drying
at the line
touches in the
correct If
it
the
down
fly
and save a smash.
direction
attain
to
difficult
of
invari-
will
it
within your reach, so that
you can recover the Accuracy '
and
on the water.
fly
should be caught behind,
ably be low
see where
fly,
false cast or two,
first
putting the
before
83
under-handed than
the
in
more
however,
is,
Difficulty of attaining ac-
curacy with
under-handed
any other
in
the
and
rod-point,
travelling
in
This
of cast.
style
consequently
the arc
a
of
mastered the that
he
throwing
over-handed
not
a
fairly
which makes
the
difficulties,
has
it
only
fly,
ellipse
directed,
is
angler will find
acquired
long
the
art
of
manner the waving of the
line
unlikely for
rod to be visible to the
the
to
down on it, as in the cast. Having once
in a straight line
case of the
due
or
circle
across the point to which the fly
and not
is
fish,
a
in
that he has not
only at the same time practically rendered himself
independent of the direction and of the
force of the wind, so long as gale, but, strange to
cocked or floating with dealing with
land on
is
fly
short of a
fish
the water
wings up
in
their
important point
when
its
—a most
shy
is
relate, his fly will also in
the majority of instances
natural position
it
in
clear
streams.
It
suggested that the probable cause of the
being more often cocked with the under-
handed
cast
is
due
to
its
fallinof
the last few
cast.
DRY-FLY FISHING
84
inches by
own
its
weight, and being steadied
by the spHt wings, which Fine and
far
The
act as a parachute.
anghng books impress on
majority of
the fly-fisher the desirabiHty of following Cot-
maxim
ton's old to the
are
there
part
first
off."
As
considerable
dif-
"fine and far
to fish
ferences of opinion.
Some
use the finest of drawn gut for
still
the lower end of the collar, and the late Mr.
Marryat was advocate of
end of
to the
his life a consistent
There
this principle.
however,
is,
and ever-increasing school of
a large
fishermen
who
dry-fly
consider the use of drawn gut
altogether unnecessary, and hold that with the fine natural
are
gut
now
Personally
attained.
drawn gut
As
for
procurable the best results
some
originally
have
I
eschewed
years.
no
intended,
advice
better
could be given than the latter part of Cotton's
adage,
viz., to fish
" far off"
of the present age
to
is
;
but the tendency
give a wider
cation to these words than
their experienced
author meant them to convey. off" in the sense that
To
much
by crouching,
down,
is
to fish
an axiom
kneeling,
for
all
as pos-
out of the range of vision of a
trout,
" far
fish
you should, under
circumstances, keep yourself as sible
signifi-
rising
or even lying
the dry-fly fisher
;
but
"far off" in the sense that you should,
for preference, fix yourself in a position
where
HOW you have long cast
to
line
TO CAST
85
keep on throwing an unnecessarily
The
an absurdity.
is
reasonable
within
limits,
rising
and
hooking
greater
the
the probability of delivering the
and of
shorter the
fly
the
accurately
Get
fish.
By
as well within your distance as possible. this
meant
is
that
particular
is
length of line
which the angler finds by experience he can
manage
the
to
greatest advantage,
long to cast with
too
short that drying becomes a heavy
medium
distance
This
toil.
the length of cast to select
is
To most
wherever practicable. about ten to
not
i.e.,
and not so
comfort,
fifteen yards,
and
people is
it
it
is
frequently
possible to locate oneself at this distance from
the
fish.
Occasionally the position of a
tree, bush,
or
other natural obstruction, or the shape of the river bank, will necessitate your being closer to
your
fish
than you would desire, and making the
cast a short one, possibly only just the length
of the gut.
fisherman first,
In
a
placed at
is
because
short throw,
such
it
difficult
is
owing
position
the
dry-fly
some disadvantage to
make
a clean
to the invariable fault
one
makes of using too much power. To correct it is a good plan to put the left hand as well as the rio-ht to the rod
this excess of force,
(I
am
supposing
the
angler
to
be fishing
single-handed), grasping the rod tightly in the
Difficulty of
S
DRY-FLY FISHING
86
between
right hand, and, just holding the spear
the
thumb and
left
make the cast position. The effect
forefinger, to
with both hands in this
hand
merely to check the forward
of the
left
action,
and thus prevent the exertion of undue
is
force in the act of throwing.
A
second
the
direct
to
difficulty
with the short throw
when
especially
accurately,
fly
is
casting against the wind, and using the taper
form
of
recommended
line
Even
chapter.
with
previous
a
in
a short length
of gut,
the absence of weight in the fine end of the line
increases the difficulty,
and nothing but
continual practice will enable the tyro to over-
come is
One
this.
of the tests of a first-rate rod
capacity to cast a short or a long line
its
equally well. Conditions under which a long cast is
There .
are,
must either
necessary.
perhaps
is
places
cast a long line or
of getting
chaiice river
it
however,
,
fish
i
i
abandon one
—places
twenty-four
which one
in
»
s
in
which the
to
twenty-six
yards wide, the water deep and comparatively still
under
your
own
bank,
and
stream under the opposite one. place the
greater run of water,
a
strong
In
such a
and,
conse-
quently, the greater proportion of natural
down near
float
the
farther bank, and,
flies,
with
the wind across or nearly across from behind the
angler,
there.
The
every rising artificial
fly,
fish
will
too, in
be found
such a posi-
r::^^
TO CAST
I/O IV
87
The and without drag. well, long casts is one extra making these knack of which can be acquired without any great tion
fishes
and
difficulty,
on
fishing
simply
is
club
invaluable
subscription
or
enabling them to give a
fly to
those
to
waters,
as
which
rising fish
are passed by as impossible by the majority of their brother
members.
This throw, which been
has
cast,"
writers
on
submit,
failed
ciple of
it.
the
line,
is
frequently
the
subject
" steeple
the
called
referred
have,
I
to
convey accurately the prin-
to
Commencing
with quite
a short
hand holding the rod
right
but
;
venture to
ex-
is
tended nearly straight from the shoulder, and carried
the
fly
up almost perpendicularly so as well up into the
some high
air,
as
if
immediately behind the
obstacle
and hence the name of the
cast."
While drying the
fly
off the reel
allowed to of is
time
with the
pass through
must
be given
barely possible
the
is
behind
—
gradu-
hand, and
left
rings.
give too
to
" steeple
backwards and
forwards, the length of line required
drawn
lift
trying to clear
angler,
ally
to
in
Plenty fact,
it
The
much.
action of throwing should be a steady swing
without the
jerk, and little making the cast, so
slightest
should be exerted
in
allow the rod and weight of line
work.
After the
first
cast has
to
force
as to
do the
been made, the
Steeple
cast.
DRY-FLY FISHING
88
gathered
line is
in
with the
enough
until short
coils,
While drying the
the line
fly,
is
the
in
is
gradually liber-
hand, the action in
left
front being so timed as to let
rod
go a
where the
position
in loose
motion of the rod
ated, a coil at each forward
and paid out from the
hand
left
to return with ease.
coil
as the
cast
would
have been made, and thus allow the travel out in the air to the
but
line,
not
By
surface of the water.
are out the
fly is
full
to
sufficiently
let
IX. illustrates the
Plate
when
line
height,
and
the
hand
When
when
bring
If
at is
it
hand,
when
re-
brought down
throwing
down-wind in the air is
when making
point,
a
is
it
maximum
the
the direction of the wind
the rod
the coils
coils in
keep the point of the rod well up but
the
shows the form of
is
and Plate XI. as
forwards.
all
position
coverino; the line, Plate X.
the
touch
it
thoroughly dried.
cast, keep two or three them go when casting.
let
extent of the
the time
very long
and
to
fly
;
adverse, the
cast,
quite close to the water with a sort of modified
dozvnward
ait.
little
force
with
the
is
It
required
steeple
cast.
accomplished after a
throw into wind
to
The
little
of this style of throwing, to
distance
practice, is
who was
to
be
by means
quite astonishing
the fisherman himself, and
Marryat,
how
astonishing, again,
is
my
facile princeps
late friend in
long
BOJV TO CAST single
-
handed
achieved
days
calm
extraordinary
the
often
of
feat
casting"
an eleven-feet rod.
thirty yards with
The
on
casts,
89
switch
cast
is
amongst salmon and
one
it
example, that there
grown
a
to
On
standing.
is
the river, fifteen yards
middle of
a
it,
fish
is
most advantageous dried
fly,
an
as
because
opposite
the off,
of
side
or possibly in the
rising
and
;
it
may be
to g-ive such a fish a wellit
seldom sees such a thing
presented
artificial
considerable
bank on which
height, a few yards behind the
he
may
a wall or a closely
is
extending
hedge,
cast,
Say,
be of service to the dry-fly fisherman. for
Switch
trout fishermen for wet-
but there are cases in which
fly fishing,
use
general
in
and
properly,
consequently likely to be deluded by
it.
is
The
ordinary switch, as used by the wet-fly fisher, is
accomplished by drawing the
line
you on the water, and throwing the a kind of a
roll
making the in the
outwards
downward
of
sort
cast
the
the water
—
the
moment
water at the ;
hence
The
in fact,
fly
of
being
is
it
evident
that
be made with
wet. dry-fly
something
down
—
with
that the rod point
ordinary switch-cast must fly
fly
possibility
depending upon the
brought down
is
the
off^
cut
towards
like
fisherman this,
if
can
there
is
make
a
cast Dry
room up and
the stream, by turning his face in that
switch.
DRY-FLY FISHING
90
direction
and drying the
to the course of the river.
dry the
the air parallel
fly in
If
impossible to
it is
a direction parallel to the course
fly in
of the river, the task
may
be accomplished,
when standing on a high bank, by
especially
shortening the line considerably and drying a vertical direction, keeping
The
rod point.
in
in front of the
it
angler then takes the dry
fly
and thumb, and turnino- his face towards the stream, makes a false cast or between the
finofer
two with the point of the figure of
the
but
8,
thumb and
tion of the
At
finger.
when
rod,
hold of the
travels out
be taken
fly
the forward posi-
have been made, go,
let
is
and the
not
to
strike
the
line
Care must
the desired point.
to
between
fly
the cast would in the
ordinary course of events the
describing a
rod,
retaining the
still
obstacle
behind
with the point of the rod, or to entangle the line with
it
;
and
for this
of the rod should be
This cast
a
is
purpose the action
somewhat
difficult
you can accomplish
it
steepled.
one,
and whether
or not depends
much on
the nature and distance of the obstacle behind.
The
of
position
commencement Plate line,
XIII.
XII.,
after
A
slight
hand and
of the switch
and
just
the
the
letting
is
line
illustrated
position
of
go the
fly,
wind behind,
the
at
rod in
in
and Plate
as in the ordinary
switch, materially assists the angler,
and
it
is
u
HOIV TO CAST not easy to switch a dry
91
the teeth of a
fly in
strong adverse wind.
The
are
tant features
fisherman yield
— "One
in the
a
that
I
first-rate
give
his
most impor-
of the
making of a good
dry-fly
that he should stubbornly refuse
is
to
however
fish,
the conditions.
without trying
getting
in
difficulties
a rising
to
:
from
apposite
so
ipsissima verba
to
remarks
following
performer
the
fly
may be
adverse
So many men pass by them because the wind is
fish
too
rough, the drag impossible to negotiate, or the over-han^ino- bushes or trees
hang-up,
mind
&c.,
to present his fly naturally to
fish regardless
of
yet he
may
of killing a
ties
often
good
fish
an awkward
in
place,
be specially gratifying to his
Confidence
once established, he
to attaining
his
go unrewarded,
occasionally have the satisfaction
should
self-esteem.
may
his
each rising
Although
all difficulties.
patience and care
which
make up
him
Let
&c.
a certain
offer
in is
his
own
capabili-
on the royal road
rank as a skilled fisherman.
"Talking about
difficult casts,
below the bridge at
in
I
killed a fish
a curious way.
There was a high thick hedge and some rushes close to the left-hand bank looking downA fish was rising under the opposite stream. bank, and any attempt to get at right
it
with the
hand was impossible by reason of the
DRY-FLY FISHING
92
With my back nearly touching the hedge behind me I was not glaringly
obstructions.
visible to the fish, so it,
and extending offline, and
drew
When
thought
I
cover the
my
got nearly opposite to
I
my
left
let
the
I
12
rushes,
down-stream.
had enough
(about
fish
arm over the fly drift
line
yards),
out
to
stiffened
I
arm, and with a quick under-hand turn of
the wrist brought the rod point sharply for-
The
ward.
fly
came
and dry
clean
off the
water below, and pitched beautifully over the fish.
killed the trout at the
I
should think before
in
no wind Advantages of
it
that
cast,
never had seen an
There was
place.
for or ao-ainst
Wherever
second
and
artificial
practically
me." the
possible,
fisherman
dry-fly
casting
up-stream.
This
should cast up-stream. the
may be
taken as
fundamental principle, and often applies
with equal force to the sunk as to the floating fly.
The
that
it
is
reasons are so
many and
so obvious
only necessary to refer briefly to a
few of them.
When below
his
throwing up-stream fish
;
the
angler
and the position of the
is
fish
being with head up-stream, not only for the
mere mechanical out by the the angler is in the most
purpose of feeding, but
for the
process of breathing,
as
action of the
favourable sight,
gills,
position
or what
to
carried
keep
an old keeper
himself out of I
once knew
PLATE
XII.
D. Alonl,
Dry Switch — Commencement.
del.
HOW
fished
93
Where the flows evenly, the artificial fly, when from below, sails down in its natural call "
used to stream
TO CAST
wery priwate
like."
position without drag, following the direction
of the current,
and presenting
view of the trout or grayling
same way as the natural
the
much
the
When
the
in
insect.
has risen and taken the
fish
to
itself
mouth,
fly into its
the slightest raising of the hand, or better
home
firmly
my of
drives
fore-arm,
the
in
its
barb
the
jaw,
or,
of
still
hook
the
be precise,
to
in
experience more frequently into the side
its
lower jaw, which
what
is
from the position of the hook
I
should expect
in
a floating fly
when cocked.
When
a
large
fish
to it
be
able
once
way
farther from
to
it,
and serves
it,
to take
home, a place where
many more chances
in
and
and most
the best
is
to tire its
an
is
it
be below
commence workine
to
down-stream, which
expeditious it
at
hooked
is
advantage to the angler
its
favour
it
has
from
its
intimate daily knowledge of every weed, stone, post,
or
other impediment likely to
in cutting the
connection.
Where
possible to fish up-stream, the to
select
this
right
is
partly
assist it
is
it
im-
best direction
up and partly
across.
If
be impossible the cast must be made at angles
and again,
if
to the this
direction
of the stream,
be impracticable, across and
DRY-FLY FISHING
94
When
down.
slightly
throwing
the
across
stream attention must be paid to counteracting the
manner pointed
out in a subsequent chapter.
Casting across
the tendency to drag,
and
down
partially
called the half-drift,
is
attention
again,
here,
in
is
and
requisite to prevent
dragging by throwing a slack
lowering
line,
the hand, or even walking along the bank as
the
down on
floats
fly
down over
a rising fish
however, only to
is,
be adopted as a dejmier
7^essort,
frequently results in setting
it
Sometimes an wind
rendering
up
cast
extra
against
it
too
down. down-stream
strong
it
well-nigh
the
wind,
impossible
even with
under-handed cast or downward there
too,
sionally,
as
be blowing with almost hurricane
will
force,
Walking
the surface.
are
to
the
Occa-
cut.
owing
places where,
to natural obstructions, such as trees, bushes,
promontory just
or a jutting of
the
behind
line
but
alternative
down-stream
to
the drift
anoler,
man's own bank, or to pass
only,
or
is it
conditions,
the there
throw
or
to a fish risinof
Under such
in
under the it
range is
no
directly fisher-
by altogether.
and such conditions
advisable to drift to a feeding trout
grayling
;
although
in
gin-clear
water,
such as the Hampshire chalk-streams, a small
modicum pated
;
of success must at the best be antici-
and no
dry-fly fisherman,
even the most
f^
HOW
TO CAST
need be
experienced,
himself setting
down
95
astonished
and per-
fish after fish,
haps not succeeding
one
a single
rising
in
finding
at
during the whole day.
how
In considering to the fish,
it
to drift the floating fly
must be remembered that
in this,
as in any other style of casting, the dry fly
should, as near as possible, imitate the posi-
and motion of the natural by the action of the
tion
insect carried
down
cast should be
made
with the lenQth of line
correctly judged,
and the
so that
float
the
shall
it
and
nose
act of casting
fly
accurately placed,
over the
exactly
down
well
travel
below
as
the
line
fully
is
fish's
In
it.
hand should be well
the
extended, so as to be able to draw Just
The
current.
it
back.
extended over the
water and at a level of quite two yards above it,
the
some and
hand
must be carried
holdinof the rod
distance back so as to place
the
artificial
and floating— well slack line
sufficient
in
check the cast
— quite
front
dry,
of the
down
the
fly
fish,
without the slightest stoppage
It
well to
is
will
float
remember,
until
well
too, that
rod
rose.
as
two yards below where
This
is
point
past or
the
drag.
a fish will at
times drop or turn back and take the
much
with
on the water, so that by
lowering the hand and
gradually
cocked,
fish,
it
fly
as
previously
especially the case with the May-fly.
Drifting.
DRY-FLY FISHING
96
Having made the cast, and the fly having down below the fish without any re-
drifted
sponse
the form of a
in
necessary to return the
rise,
line,
and the
way
of accomplishing this in such a scare the fish
at best
is
is
it
very great.
evidently difficulty
as not to
some
In
places the whole length of line can be lifted
sideways clean over the bank, quite out of
But where
range of vision.
is
not pos-
the line must be gathered in very slowly
sible,
with the
left
hand (supposing the rod
held in the right), until the fish,
this
its
when
it
well
fly is
to
be
above the
can be slowly taken off the water,
keeping the rod-point down so that the angle of contact of the line with the water will be
very obtuse and not scare the
utmost
caution,
accomplish
the
however,
it
is
difficult
rousing
without
return
With
fish.
the to
the
wary quarry. In this style of casting, therefore, even more than in any other, precision and delicacy are necessary in suspicions of your
the
throw.
first
In club waters, which are so generally overfished,
it
is
a second again.
drift
If
provided
it
minutes,
it
fish
not as a rule worth while to
over a trout until
not taken at the
does not is
has risen
attempt, and
again within say five
generally as well to leave
and pass on
carefully
rise
first
it
make
to
spotting the
another, position,
the
keeping wide,
and possibly
HOW returning to give
A
day.
TO CAST
a further
it
97
however,
grayling,
later in the
trial
frequently
will
allow a careful and light fisherman, using fine
make
tackle, to it,
a second or even third cast over
and then perhaps
rise
a rest of a few minutes
meantime
it
another cast
The
the
if
fly
float
in
cially
drag,
is
efificacious,
what large
rise at
and fasten
but for what
it
is
is
Wickham,
The
hook. with
fishermen prefer
rally
in
;
it
to
of the reasons
successful
is
fact,
in
still,
it
is
7
current,
do
my own
such a case
the landrailor
i
No.
2
cast for them.
drifting
is
not gene-
that the horizontal cast
is
necessary to
I
many experienced
when throwing in cast directly down
often impossible, as
of the
some-
especially successful
any other
why
to a
in
of very great
on a No.
it,
half-drift
grayling
One
better
or,
winged variety of
will,
worth,
experience gives the preference to the
is
espe-
and cocked.
quite dry
fly if
not think a particular pattern ;
it
angler
the
Both trout and grayling
such a case, often
importance
as
Half-drift.
being less visible under such
fish
conditions.
it.
the water allowed to
windy weather,
rough,
above the
checked
well
is
down without
or two
across and partly down-
when on
descending, and
fiy
the
in
if
successful in securing
half-drift, partly
stream,
—especially
has taken a natural
may be
when, after
falsely,
and as the
fly
this
Reasons
for
is fucceTs of°"
way
the line
descends, to
""^"^S'
DRY-FLY FISHING
98
check the cast
same
the
in
But
direction.
with the under-handed or horizontal cast manifestly
must of necessity thing
to
difficult
effect
The
ellipse.
the
dition
the
to
fly-
semicircle or semi-
ordinary over-handed cast then
becomes
—that
the
round a curve some-
travel
the shape of a
in
as
this,
is
it
only
practicable
grave defect
of
style
this
in
ad-
In
one.
shadow of the upright rod and line are ever moving backwards and forwards immediately over the fish and in its direct cast
of
line it
the
whilst
vision,
and
angler
the
above
is
sometimes well within
also
sight
another and perhaps even more serious dis-
advantage a cocked
shown
fly
to
to this
:
made
as
minority of
cases over-
a
the
position,
and although
;
several
the
fly
it
amounts
it
and
it
may happen
that
remote contingencies of placing
accurately and
letting
is,
when throwing
in
this
it
one throw, and one throw only, must
the
drag,
only
effect
To sum up
hand.
namely, that although
almost indispensable,
is
before,
possible
be
present,
is
drift
lightly
down over
floating
on the water
the
in the vertical
fish
without
position or
same time succeeding in making the fish rise, may come off, yet in betting parlance it is any odds against landing
cocked
;
and
at the
the treble, or quadruple event.
Even
if all
the above difficulties have been
HOW
TO CAST
happily accomplished at the the fish rises and takes the
another
nose,
come
just
between
as
fly
;
it
reaches
The the
at
capacious jaws
attempt, and
first
difficulty occurs.
open-mouthed
its
99
has
fish
fly
its
is
it
;
barb
to force the
hook home it is necessary to strike promptly, and as the direction of the strike is of the
coincident with
mouth,
fish's
moment
of
aperture of the
the
fraud its
practised,
mouth and
succeed
angler does
moment,
it
is
sufficient force
and the
much line
fish is scratched.
extended
fly in its
straight
weight of the current on little
apparent
this
is
a
the very if
the
at the right
Too
little
just
force
least trifle too
mouth, and with the
down-stream and
the
surprising
how
it,
it is
force, with the assistance of the
leverage of the rod,
smash of
The
or,
;
to
will
easy to do so with
not
and no more.
leaves the
fly
Even
striking
in
it
eject
best and most natural imitation.
very
at the
closed on the
lips are
its
certainty open
line
must be achieved
it
that
discovering"
the
fine gut.
is
necessary to
make
a
Altogether, as before said,
the most difficult and disappointing cast
of any, and should never be adopted, except as
a
last
tried,
resource where
and
tried in vain.
all
others
have been
CHAPTER
IV.
WHERE TO
WITH as is
CAST.
modern angler it may be taken an axiom that his sport is not what the
popularly called hick, but varies directly as
his
judgment
added
;
and, as a corollary,
provided he
that,
observer, his
judgment
is
a keen
will
capacity
chapter
is
to try
and accurate
tempered by
The
execution.
may be
vary directly as his
experience, the result being of
it
object
and give, as
far as
of
his this
possible,
the experience of others to improve the judg-
ment of the beginner, and
to
convey useful
hints to the old fisherman.
No
point can be of greater importance than
a well-pfrounded knowledg-e of where
to cast
mind that this knowledge is not intuitive, but must be acquired by marking, learning, and continuously studying the relation of the fish and its food, and striv-
and
it
must be borne
ing as far as of it
is
practicable to take advantage
The modern
addicted
to
in
school
continual
changing merely
for the
are far too
change
of
fly,
much often
sake of changing, and
WHERE TO CAST imitations
trying"
of
loi
same
the
differing slightly in size, or in the
body, wings, or legs too often tion,
forgetting that the fault
;
in their
lies
own
lack of discrimina-
which causes them to impossible
or
likely
food to a of insect
fish
bottom of the
un-
select fish in
places,
or
offer
surface
feeding on larvae or other forms in
life
only
insect,
shade of the
the middle depths or on the
river.
At
same time it must form, and size, or, in
the
be admitted that colour,
other words, a fairly accurate imitation of the natural to
fly
on the water, should be more
likely
tempt a trout feeding on duns than some
monstrosity like
nothing
fancy pattern, which
in
a
nature, styled
can only appeal to
its
curiosity.
Places which should be selected by the dry^ '^
hsherman may be divided into three classes firstly, those which are affected by fish feeding freely, owing to a large proportion of fly
—
the natural
insects
being carried
to or past
them by the action of the stream or wind secondly, those where, owing to difficulties ;
inherent
to
the situation,
seldom presented position tion
the
artificial
fly
to the rising fish in the
and following the same rate and
of progress
as
the
living
fiy
;
is
same direc-
thirdly,
places where the inherent shyness of the fish is
decreased by frequent sight of
or by
some other abnormal
human
cause.
beings,
Class of phces to select.
DRY-FLY FISHING
I02
Qf
Ideal position a rising
the
first
of thcsc three classes
a trout
for
trout.
bank (and here perhaps
rising close to a
it
is
as well to note that grayling, as a rule, are not
found rising
in
such a position)
large one, which chooses for
its
is
generally a
feeding-ground
a spot where, almost off the sedges themselves,
from under a hollow bank, or from the boards of camp-shutting,
with
a
typical
minimum fish
to
can pick up a good meal
it
of
cast
effort
for
or
a
is
exertion.
trout
A
feeding
under the left-hand * bank of the river (looking up-stream), thereby giving the angler a right-
handed throw, with the rod over the water. The stream should be slow and steady, the wind blowing only
sufficiently to
on the
surface,
bank.
There should be a
and
in
make
a ripple
direction towards that fair
hatching, but not too much.
amount of
The
fish
fly
should
be lying near the top of the water taking every natural
be
coming over
The sun
should
and not too
bright.
it.
in the fisherman's face,
The
fisherman, of course, on
the
as
fly
fish,
should
the
same bank
be able to get within a
Properly speaking, the left-hand bank is that on Dry-fly the left hand when looking down-stream. fishermen, probably from their preference for casting and working up-stream, have always designated the banks from the opposite point of view, viz., looking up-''
To prevent possible confusion, it is well to note that the latter nomenclature has been adopted throughout this book. stream.
< o
o h iLl
X UJ
I
WHERE TO CAST
103
reasonable distance, so as to cast for
a comparatively short
On
yards.
fifteen
cated by the letters
ten
are
places
indi-
bank
opposite
usually able to see
you before you are
angle of 45° with
it,
at
is
an
or fairly within casting
In a wide stream, where the current
distance. is
to
a, a, a.
feeding upon the
fish
say from
with
the plan appended to this
XIV.) such
chapter (Plate
A
line,
it
slow and moderately even, with the strongest
part of
running close to the opposite bank
it
XIV.
(Plate
favourable
and fly
may be
this
b),
spot
the
if
a
keep low
angler will
the under-handed cast, as the natural
fish
drifts
there,
and the
if
down-stream, so long as
it
fortunately, however,
it
is
the wind light,
is
when
not to be despised
is
fishes
artificial
Even
and without drag. place
considered
is
well
dead
such a
found.
Un-
not often found in
practice.
At every turn of the river a number of points, close to
there are generally
the bank, to which
every floating object, animate or inanimate, carried
by the
heaviest
the
set of the current
and
and wind, and
easiest fish, as
a
rule,
take
up these enviable positions (Plate XIV. Subject to exception, to of,
is
c).
be hereafter treated
these are, as a rule, places where one should
cast.
It
must
when feeding
always close
to
be remembered the
bank a
that
trout
is
DRY-FLY FISHING
I04
generally less likely to be scared by a small mistake, and even less liable
the eye nearest to the bank
and probably watching it
the
at
notice
to
same time
as
intent on
is
between
edible morsels passing
for
it,
deep shade,
in
is
and the margin of the stream.
Every angler of experience has occasionally killed
a
blind of one eye rising
trout
under the bank, and
in
such a case
safely be predicted that the fish
close
may
it
rising with
is
the blind eye towards the middle of the stream
and the perfect one opposite the bank.
It is
on
sometimes a deadly plan
to
the bank, and with a slight
movement persuade
it
to drop
on the water.
on short grass,
which the
in
place
the
fly
This succeeds best fly
does not usually
hung up sedges, however, are dangerous. If the hook should be caught up, take the line in your hand and draw gently, but do not
get
;
on any account try to extricate
it
by striking
or jerking with the rod-point. Hints for
re-
covering a
If the fly is
fly
hookcd up ,
whenhungup. or stonc
across
cannot get to
.
in
a sedge, bough, ^
the river, and it,
^
the
n nsnerman [
most anglers begin pulling
and jerking with the rod. Not only subjecting it to an unfair strain, but it
is is
this
the
method of recovering the fly intact. Take the line in your hand and draw it sway gently steadily is unsuccessful if this until it is free, or until you find the plan
least likely
;
WHERE TO CAST
In this extremity pull steadily
impracticable.
jerk
until
of instances
you
ivithout
105
you break
the majority
in
;
only lose the
will
strand or two of gut.
or a
fly,
If the fly is not actually
fastened into the sedges or bushes overhang-
ing the stream, the best plan the line until the
fly
hangs
just under the obstruction.
ing motion of the foot the
gather
to
is
in
of the water
free
When
the swing-
has
ceased and
line
at rest, holding the rod horizontally
fly is
towards
pointing
the
through the
line
steadily
rod
motionless and
jerk, until
obstruction,
the
draw the
keeping the
rings,
anything
avoiding
like
mounts up and glides over
fly
The same
the obstruction.
pursued when hung up
and the dryer the
fly
tactics
should be
a branch overhead,
in
more
the
certain
is
the
success of the experiment. often happens that to cast to a fish under
It
his
own
side
the angler
is
obliged from the
trend of the bank to place a portion of the line
on the ground.
As
the
fly floats
down, he
haunted by the fear of getting fixed grass,
and having
to clear the line. this
to scare his fish
At
first
by returning with a
he
in
is
the
by going up
tries to
slight jerk,
obviate
and each
time he finds this plan unsuccessful, as likely as not will attempt to remedy
it
by a sharper
jerk,
which only increases the probability of getting
hung
up.
After a long series of disappoint-
DRY-FLY FISHING
io6
ments he gradually becomes disinclined
to cast
to fish rising in such a position, although his
pronounces them favourably placed.
instinct
Brother anglers,
will
you take the advice of
one who has passed through
some
himself,
and
subject
has found that there
despair
after
When
?
these stages
all
study of the
careful
no cause
is
for
returning, raise the rod slowly,
smoothly, and without the semblance of a jerk,
and you
come
free.
however,
If,
grass, drop the rod,
the
thumb and
it
should hang in the
and taking the
fore-finger,
probably come
fly will
draw
A
it.
can thus
breaking off the it
later,
will often
fast fly
dis-
place with long grass
be safely fished, and
you should get
and the a slight
If not,
clear.
difficult
between
line
gently,
swaying motion with the hand
engage
generally
that the fly will
find
will
perchance,
if,
becomes a question of
it
on the chance of retrieving
or crawling
slowly up to the place,
keeping quite low, disentangling
it,
and coming
back with the same precautions to keep out of sight. Gravel patches
on a shallow.
On
a
wcll-kept
which
a
lair
uncut
in
i.i
r
shallow
— that
r
•
•
proportion oi
bars,
and
in
^
the
is,
one on
i-ir
weed
is
left
which bright patches
of clean ofravel alternate with banks of
weeds
— every
up
fish
feeding
station over the.
on
fly
will
take
open gravel spaces
XIV. d); and some
{see
its
Plate
of the cleverest fishermen
WHERE TO CAST a dry
occasionally float
fly
best-looking of such places
there
it
likely
must be
that
it.
tionable whether fishing
position.
a
is,
07i
spec
is
As
it
successful
is
not a mis-
fish
be seen
only in
small proportion of cases and tends to the
shy,
fish
fail
fish is
however, ques-
It
take on a dry-fly water unless a in
if
and ready and
in a position
provided for
treat
even they
if
advantage of any unexpected
take
to
on spec over the
knowing
to see a sign of a rise,
107
be avoided
should
it
a
make
by the
unselfish sportsman.
In
all
water, whether deep or shallow, with
^^^^f^^^"'^^^"
plenty of weeds scientifically cut so as to leave clear runs
between them, the feeding
mostly on the
tails
commences
the water
fish
lie
of the weed-patches, where to slacken,
and are partly
covered by the weeds or bank-edge, and such a position
rise
or
passer-by,
glide into the
with confidence to every
When
passing insect.
prudent
in
disturbed pricked,
by an imthey merely
depths of the weeds close to
them, and soon come on the feed again (such places are
shown
in
Plate
XIV.
e, e).
In an
open, bare piece of water denuded of shelter,
when alarmed they off for
will,
on the other hand,
twenty or thirty yards, starting
headlong rush any other
fish in
bolt
in their
the vicinity.
At the tail of a rough run, where the water commences to deepen and become smooth
Tail of a
rough run.
DRY-FLY FISHING
io8
(Plate XIV. /), where the fly, after being whirled over and over and swept down at a
great pace, recovers
its
and
equilibrium
and slowly down on the deep
calmly there
is
to be
tempted
a specially good
often
made and
the
the
if
fly floats
artificial
glide,
waiting
fish is
delicately
down
cocked.
cast
first
sails
In hot weather the hatch of fly in the middle
of the day
is
as a rule sparse
;
but
if
a time an occasional quiet ring or espied
fish
midday sun as
well as
smuts
glare
full
to
be large as
sometimes unsuspecting.
Crowds of
"
likely
and other small
insects
summer dancing and
in the
is
over-
there should be selected
preference to any feeding in the
of the
"
bubble
a shady nook or under an
in
hanging bank, a in
at such
may
be seen
flying just
above
the surface of the stream under the shade of
These
seem to cause fish considerable irritation, and good trout will creep gently up to the tail end of their ranks and lie on the look-out for any stray flies that Such a fish may often be fall on the water. rushes or withies.
killed
by a well-placed
taken a natural
eS's.
artificial just after
it
has
fly.
In large, deep eddies the best fish often rise
Fish rising in
^^^
flies
quietly their
in
curious
generally
with
heads directed apparently down-stream,
although this in
positions,
this case
is,
the
of course, only apparent, as flies
are
carried
round the
WHERE back-eddy
opposite
the
in
TO CAST
general run of the river.
109
eddy be large
If the
enough, and the position of the
make
to enable the angler to
rise
throwing up the eddy, place his over the
remains
line
produce any drag, the spot to
(Such
try.
XIV. prone
respect
spots where
while the reel-
in
which
fish
Plate
in
positions to
all
it
is
to
the
are naturally
second category, or
difficult to
place a
under the bouo-hs of trees
down
it
to feed.
With as
so that
fly
shown
foregoing are
be selected as those
and,
a favourable one
is
are
places
The
g.)
fish,
back-eddy so as not to
the
in
fish,
such as
a wide circuit
tip-stream in order to get below the
drifts accurately
the
direction to
to the water, or
to fish with
where
an under-handed
a left-handed under-handed
it
fly,
hano-ingr is
such close
only possible
cast, or
even with
or close
cast,
to
the knotted roots of trees or willows, a feeding fish
should never be passed over.
does not see an
position
it
over
cocked,
it
In such a
artificial fly floating-
without drag,
and delivered
without splash, half a dozen times in a season,
and when
it
does the result
is
a
rise, if
not a
kill.
up and down the stream and across from the hand {dry switch) in
Dry your cast
situations
fly
where there
behind, and
is
the water
a high bank, or bushes is
clear.
The
under-
Difficult
^
^'^^^
DRY' FLY FISHING
handed
cast
also useful
is
where there are
trees
behind with boughs not very low on the water.
Look back when drying the fly and see that the line when returned behind you works clear of bushes or trees.
If the
fly
should catch
it
is
sure to be low down, where you can
unhook
it
by hand.
Where you
feeding
a
in
difficult
see
a
fish
place under a bush you are not
unlikely to catch the gleam of a portion of a
gut collar hanging
danger to avoid
in
and
it,
some other fisherman's end of
it
may
to the patterns
Note the
bush.
the
collect the
remains of
The
collar.
fly at
the
often give you a useful hint as
used by the local talent
— a hint
they are not always willing to convey by word of mouth.
Again, you are out on a boisterous day, and
Advantages of selecting apparently unfavourable
the
places.
where the wind
first fish
you see rising in
is
is
in
every
a foul corner,
way
contrary.
Nineteen out of twenty fishermen pass such
But the twentieth, grate-
a fish as impossible. ful
his
for the chance, setting his teeth,
rod
three
and shortening the gut by two or
links,
cast, or
grasping
if
by means of
the
under-handed
that be impracticable, the
downward
cut,
gives the hungry trout a chance of which
it is
not slow to avail
Some days
again,
subscription water,
itself.
especially on a club or
you
will
notice that your
brother fishermen have started early so as to
WHERE TO CAST
iii
be before you, and have walked up the wind-
You
ward bank.
feeding
reflect that all the
that they, or possibly you, can reach are
fish
most
likely
get up
to
or spoiled before you
killed
You
them.
can
decide to walk up as
quickly as possible to get in front of them, and
then in
all
day long you and they are engaged
a breathless sort of race, one trying to get
above the get
little
other, with the result that
or no sport.
and the next time
throwing
up the iitto
see rising
This
is
a great mistake,
happens
try exactly the
Give them a good
opposite tactics. leisurely
it
alike
all
walk
start,
lee bank, cast a short line,
the wind, try
all
and
the fish you can
Do
under your own bank.
not be
work of casting against the wind, because this, as shown in a previous chapter, is not difficult when you know how it is to
afraid of the
be done.
I
prophesy that very
venture to
may
possibly at the end of the day you
find
more
yourself with a better bag, and generally
contented than any of them.
Also note
fish
windward bank,
rising
under the
especially
there, as the natural flies
edge
out
of
the
if
them and
They soon come on
and you can walk
in this glass
Fishermen looking
across will often walk over
down.
of the
the current sets
remain
wind.
lee
leisurely
set
the feed
up
this
them
again,
windward
bank and pick up a bag behind them.
There
Glass edge,
DRY-FLY FISHING
112
are is
usually two glass
across the stream
edges where the wind
—one
That on the windward
side
under each bank. is
the part protected
from the force of the wind by the height of the bank, and that on the lee side
by the back-eddy of wind thrown
off the lee
bank
the
counteracting the
blowing directly towards
The
Places usually anglers.^
^
produced
is
of
force
breeze
it.
third class of places to select, namely,
those in which the fish are rendered less shy
by some abnormal cause, are as a general rule neglected by the majority of anglers, as, for example, the extreme ends or limits of a water.
most fishermen are
the lower end,
If at
too impatient
to
get on,
perchance be farther
afield.
boundary, that generally the
fishery
advice
is,
be
in
places. in
any
of
is
As
to the
the
if
may
they
there,
upper
never reached
great
if
My
extent.
never neglect these positions, and
never leave rising others
opining that
feeding well
not
are
fish
far
what
As
one part
a
you
rule,
of
fish
if
the
to
go
fancy are
in
search
more
of
likely
the fish are taking well
water
they are taking
equally well in others, and vice versa.
If
you
are starting at the lower end do not be in a
hurry
;
wait there until the fish
begin
rising,
and try the fish there. On the other hand, if you are cold and want exercise to restore the circulation, walk briskly to the extreme
WHERE
TO CAST
113
upper end of the water, and there again wait for the rise,
and
fish
or
it.
In ^ portions of a river along which a public
become of human beings, and
footpath or roadway runs trout soon
accustomed
to the sight
^^^^ ^^^'"s near footpath ^"^
"^o^^s.
are as a consequence comparatively tolerant of
They are then not so scared when rising, are not
their intrusive curiosity.
and
easily scared,
long in
if
returning
to
their
feeding-
habitual
place to resume their interrupted meal.
A
fish risino^
a hatch
The
for.
F'sh rising
above hatch
very
is
sapient angler opines
down
hopeless, as the trout will bolt
is
it
<->
never very shy, and, besides,
is
seldom fished that
above a bridg^e or immediately J
throuoh the bridg^e or throuofh the hatch the
moment
it is
usually run
hooked.
down
remains there
If
have drowned leisure.
be a bridge,
does
shadow of the bridge
the
in
strain of the rod
and you can land
it
it
under, but not through, and
by the continued
until
it
An odd
fish
will
it
make a
at
you your
clean bolt
through a bridge, but even then by keeping a steady strain upon
it
from above, occasionally
gaining a few inches of
line,
by patience frequently succeed
Even is
if it
the angler in
drowning
smashes you, or comes unhooked,
perhaps better to have hooked and
fish
will
than never to have
lost
hooked one
all
it, it
your
day
long.
Never hold a
fish
hard when bolting through
or bridge.
1
DR Y-FL
14
I
'
an arch of a bridge. tendency
If
eased
is
it
work up
to
is
FISHING
the
after
and then perhaps you may coax the
dangerous
hatch,
if
In
locaHty.
a hooked
With a
below.
hatch-hole
leisure
stream wind,
it
what
or,
under-handed
a
the
it,
first,
the
in
under
go with a strong downfar
is
below and throw
go
possible
to
drift
of
rising
fish
a bridge or at the upper end of
above and
case
through
your
at
killed
fish
rush,
first
through point
rod can often be passed
and the
natural
away from
it
the
runs
fish
its
it,
either
where
better,
up with
the
cast.
In rough weather, in portions of the stream
which are usually smooth but are then
by strong gusts an odd
among
fish
waves
the
is
sometimes seen feeding sucking
or
in
dancing over the rippling surface. are well
generally travelling
above the
notice
Under silly
in
ruffled
and perhaps occa-
up by warm gleams of sun-
sionally lighted shine,
of wind,
rise,
;
in
that
the
flies
Such
fish
case throw
taking especial care to
which direction they are moving.
such
circumstances
they are
usually
and unsuspecting, and should never be
passed by without just one polite invitation
in
the shape of a floating dun perfectly dry and well cocked. Hatch-holes.
When stream
fish
it is
are
often
not
feeding
good policy
in
the
main
to explore hatch-
WHERE TO CAST under the walls
fish
times will take the
floated over
artificial
actively
engaged
sucking snails or other edibles off the walls
A
themselves.
dry
sedge
hackle
Dry-Fly Entomology
good is
first
Sometimes they are
them.
"
are fond of lying, ready
any food that may come down, and some-
for
in
In the eddies close in
or weir pools.
holes
115
")
(No.
69,
often tempt
will
a
trout in such a position, but perseverance
frequently necessary, as the
seen by the
when
fish
it
can only be
fly
looking upwards
is
and not feeding ravenously with its head down, and tail perhaps breaking the surface. Among^ fishermen the remark is often J J o dry-fly heard that a particular throw be successful, or that a place
is,
owing that
place
the
that with
fly
is
out of danger,
that throw or in
bound
The
drag.
to
exact meaning of this expression
only clear to a
a specified
fish rising in
practically speaking,
to the fact
not likely to
is
is,
however,
minority of anglers, and as
the main principle of dry-fly fishing and
the
success and want of success of the angler
dependent on
this
proper definition.
point,
When
dragging, the meaning
down
the stream in
the natural insect.
three different cial
fly
fly
that
said
is it
some degree
is
:
firstly,
to
be
travelling
differently to
This can occur
respects
travelling
is
a
is
worthy of a
is
it
in
one of
by the
more^ rapidly
than
artifi-
the
pefinition of dragging.
DRY-FLY FISHING
ii6
natural
secondly, by
;
than the natural
;
more slowly owing to its
travelling
its
and
thirdly,
drifting across the run of the stream, in each
case leaving a more or less perceptible ivake.
The
natural
insects
under normal conditions
emerge from the covering been enveloped
in
the
in
which they have
larva
nymph state float down at the
on the surface of the stream,
same pace
and follow the direcrun in which they happen
as the current,
tion of the particular
when they reach
to be
or
Hence
the surface.
every stream the probability of a shy a
or
trout
grayling rising at an
in
fish like
artificial
fly
taking a course opposed to that of the natural
one
is
rivers
remote
while
;
which are heavily fished
be deemed a certainty that bability will not come Natural fly dragging.
<=>
it.
may
in
almost
this
remote pro-
across
the current
natural fly to drag
and leave a wake, and when seldom take
it
or
off.
Wind blowino' stronorly q J may sometimes cause the fish
water
clear
in
this
happens the
This experience
derived
is
from streams which are heavily
fished,
would be
show whether
this
interesting, as tending to
shyness
is
of a prolonged
inherent in
fish
and
it
or the outcome
and advanced education,
to
know
whether the same thing occurs on waters where the fly-fisherman
The fly
is
conditions
drags owing
to
comparatively unknown.
under which the its
travelling
artificial
more rapidly
WHERE than the
natural
TO CAST
must now be con-
insects
and where
sidered,
117
means of
the
possible
Drag owing; to artificial travelling more rapidly
or counteracting such tendency in-
modifying" dicated.
The most
the angler
is
is
where he
usual
position
in
is
casting across or partially across
portion of the current point to which be
a case throwing
is
in the
ordinary line,
pressing against
down-stream,
less
it
fly.
In such
way and with
the strength of the the
reel
line
forces
pull
on the
fly,
across,
but at
the
causing a
more or same time making it dragging
swiftest
between him and the
directing his
is
a moderately straight
it
which
troubled by this form of dragging
and up the stream, and where the
current
than natural
travel at the pace of the
strongest part of the stream, or at a greater
pace than the natural
fly
under similar con-
ditions. Retarding or The most effectual means of obviating- preventing dragging. this is to make the cast in such a way that '-'
while the lie
in
and
fly
a direct
last
line,
and a portion of the in
yard of the gut collar
the remainder of the collar reel-line lie
on the water
a curve the convex side of which tends up
the stream.
The
strength of the current then
acting on the belly of the line and pressing
down-stream does not cause the before
it
fly
to
it
drag
has forced the convex side of the
curve into a straight
line, nor, if
the convexity
of the curve has been sufficiently pronounced,
DRY-FLY FISHING
ii8
until the fly is is
fish
course, the longer the cast
and
between
the
Of
rising.
greater
the
beyond the point where the disproportion
the
extreme rapidity of the current and that
at the
the sharper or
more
feeding-place of the
convex
fish,
To
curve requires to be.
this
deliver
the line in this curved state with an up-stream
wind
not altogether
is
but
easy,
can
it
be
accomplished by a modified downward cut and turning the wrist over and
down
moment
at the
reaches the surface of the
that the rod-point
water.
With a down-stream wind and an underhanded plish
cast
it
not at
is
In such a case
it.
it
accom-
difficult to
all
is
not necessary to
throw absolutely against the wind, but merely to cheat
If
slightly.
it
cast
the
direction of his
first
wind, he must
correct the
next, either
by using
is
angler finds the
too
much
into the
inaccuracy in the
less force,
by easing the
point of his rod in the act of delivery, or by
increasing the length of his gut collar.
If the
wind
fisher-
direction of the
man must a
short
fish,
the
fish.
when on
was
on the bank
below or even
level
with
and, to allow for the action of
the wind, the cast his object
up-stream the
take up his position
distance
the rising
is
to
must be made as though place the
fly
slightly below
With a down-stream wind, especially the
left
bank of the
river,
the
left-
WHERE TO CAST handed horizontal
when
fishing
where
this
cast
frequently
is
across stream,
but,
counteract
to
fails
(19
in
drag,
useful
positions
back-
a
handed under-handed cast made with the right hand and the line returned over the left shoulder
will
Some
often prove efficacious.
bank or an
natural obstruction on the
extremely long throw
may
handed
and on rare occasions,
cast difficult,
render the under-
may
the force of the down-stream wind
too,
be too great to be
overcome.
In
of
either
these cases the fisherman must place himself directly opposite to, or slightly above, the spot
where the
handed
fish is feeding.
cast
(or,
The
owing
necessary,
if
ordinary overthe
to
distance being very great), the steeple-cast used,
and with either of them a
ward cut
At
the
the
to
is
that the fly has travelled out
extent of the line the cast
ceptibly checked
with the
down-
incorporated.
moment
full
slight
last
and the
fly
is
remainder of the gut and a portion of the
fly
allow
to
come over
sufficiently taut
marked is
behind
in
to
reel-
As soon
it.
touches the water the hand
it
per-
lands on the water
yard of the gut straight, and the
line in curves or loosely
the
is
is
the fish before the line
cause a drag, and
a previous
chapter,
as
lowered to is
as re-
sometimes
it
necessary for the angler to walk, or perhaps
better, crawl, at the
direction as the fly
same pace and is
floating
down.
in the
same
DRY-FLY FISHING
I20
When
Throwing a
wide
a
across
throwiiio'
slack line.
stream
^
throughout which the current there
pecially
the
if
line
a
flowing evenly
slight
drag,
such
In
sinks.
described above
plan
the
be
frequently
will
is
a
of placing the
es-
case fly
with a convex side of the curve or belly of the line inclined
else that of
up-stream should be adopted, or
throwing a slack
line.
The mean-
ing to be attached to the expression throwing a slack line
is,
that the force to be used should
more than is needed to put the line out straight, and in making this cast the hand must be checked slightly, so that, as before, the fly and last yard of the gut are extended, while the upper part of the cast and a portion
be a
trifle
of the reel-line
To throw
water.
draw
lie
off
more
cover the
fish
in
curves or loosely on the
a slack line
line
it is
necessary to
than would be required to
with a straight cast
—how much
more depends on the pace of the stream, the strength of the wind and the relative positions Sometimes a patch of the angler and the fish. of
weed on
drag.
A
can
surface
the
lodging the reel-line on
it
be utilised by
so as to avoid the
probable drag under the fisherman's
own bank can
often be
prevented by letting
a good length of the reel-line rest on the bank after
making the
cast.
The advantages
of fishing with a slack line
are not fully recognised by the
modern
school.
WHERE TO CAST and
this,
I
believe,
owing
is
to their attaching
to the loss of time caused by
undue importance striking^
on a
time
infinitesimally small
is
i2i
slack
lono-
This
line.
and
many
in
is
of
loss
instances a positive benefit, as the majority of
fishermen, especially tion, as
younger genera-
of the
a rule miss their
fish
by striking too
soon and pulling the
fly
away before
or grayling has taken
it
fairly into its
the trout
mouth.
rise in ^o^ to fish graylinp-, more especially J J ^ o o' often smooth water a smooth place immediately above a swift run, above a quick and in such a position a straight cast made up-
Fish,
stream
from below lays the
hardest of the run, and the
comparatively slow glide
down by
it.
To
on the
reel line
being on the
fiy,
above,
is
dragged
avoid this drag, the place
must either be fished from above with the or from below with a
drift,
on the
line fish
before
run,
it
the
so that
commences
good
half-
deal of slack
fiy
is
below the
to drag.
Another favourite position
for
a rising fish
.
IS
a
the
sm.ail
eddy or a slow runnmg bay under
where most of the natural
bank,
carried ling,
ones,
get their food with as
show a preference
for
little
being inclined to
work
spots
into
as possible,
which the
action of the stream or wind carries the
where
it is
is
Both trout and gray-
by the stream.
especially large
fiy
fiy
and
almost stationary, or at most moves
very slowly.
If the
eddy
is
so strong that the
Fish rising in small
eddy
or slow run-
DRY-FLY FISHING
122
natural insects drift in the opposite direction to
the general run of the stream, the fish
with
lies
head down-stream, or rather down what
its
the
run
general
happens
a
in
stream
of the
and
;
very small space
this
if
almost
is
it
is
is
Where, a mere
slackening of the stream, the difficulty
may be
overcome by putting plenty of slack that no drag takes place until the fly
line,
impossible
to
fish
without drag.
it
however, instead of an eddy there
the
above the angler
directly
favourable
position
moment
that at the line
but
;
bered that the cast
stream
to
ging,
and
line.
continue
to
enough
travelled far
fly
Anglers,
and
uttermost,
its
in
the pace of the
commence drag-
to
dragging
until
has
it
produce slackness
to
from
is.
lands on the water
the fly
cause the
will
a
must be remem-
it
a straight one, that
is
extended
is
fish rising
apparently in
is
hence any slight inequality
the
past
is
fish.
With a strong up-stream wind, a
the
so
ignorance
or
in
want
of observation, are often surprised at findingdifficulty in rising fish in such,
the
remedy
is
simple.
keep the point of
the
when
as
casting,
and
To rod the
well fly
water drop the hand, and with so as to slacken the line and
a position, while
obviate the drag,
it
in
the
falls
air
on the
the rod-point,
remove the
strain,
which would otherwise cause a drag.
The
WHERE TO CAST foregoing are the positions
An
more
travels
ficial fly
when
which the
in
arti-
rapidly than the natural.
more slowly than the
artificial fly travels
natural
123
throwing^ *^
or
across,
partially
^
'
the stream in places where the upper
across,
portion of the gut
A
on an eddy.
degree prevent
never easy to
or
cast
the
reel-line
lies
slack line will to a certain this
fish,
have great hopes of
a
such
but
;
place
is
and the angler must not killing in
such a position,
except, perhaps, on a rough or rainy day, or in
water slightly coloured, or
late in the evening.
With a strong down-stream wind the fly
itself
is
occasionally
greater speed than
along
forced
more slowly than the natural, but in are much fished or where trout are educated
a
at
normal pace of the
the
In such a case the artificial
current.
natural
fly drifts
rivers that fairly well
do not find that they are very
I
prone to take even the natural when drifting than the
faster
stream.
attribute
I
this
to
the fact that under such conditions even the
wake on the water
natural fly leaves a slight
wherefore this
I
would venture the opinion that
action of the
artificial
considered as dragging able will
;
fly
in fact,
must not be it
is
question-
whether under such conditions the
fish
not at times take the imitation in prefer-
ence to the living
The
artificial
insect. fly
drifts
across the
natural
^^[fl^^J'S^gJ* '"s ™off slowly than natural fly.
DRY-FLY FISHING
124
Drag owing
to
set of the Stream
fly drifting
across natural set of stream.
stances
:
—
under the following- circum'='
_
Firstlv,
_
when
throwing'
across,
or
^
across and partially down, as soon as the line
commences
This particular form
tighten.
to
some cases be delayed until the fish by easing the hand and
of dragging" can in the
fly is
past
dropping the rod-point towards the water, or
sometimes by crawling
down-stream.
slowly
Secondly, in deep pools through which a number of irregular cross currents or eddies flow.
Such
places are, as a rule, disappointing, especially in
long
casts, as the line is subject to the action
of several of these currents, and, excepting in
rough weather or
late in the evening, or per-
haps when quite dark, should be avoided. however,
some more
fish
little
time
likely to
If,
cannot be found rising elsewhere,
may be devoted
to
what
is
far
be educating than catching them.
Thirdly, where the water at the head or any
commences
other part of a shallow
the stream usually divides
fan-shaped
a number of
into
and a natural
fly
would of
down the run on which it happened be when emerging from the nymph en-
course to
runs,
to widen,
drift
however, if there happen to be one or more of these runs between the angler and the place where the fish is rising, it is dragged across the
velope.
natural
In
the
case
flow of the
reasonably inferred,
of
the
current, will
artificial,
and,
it
may be
not be taken.
If in
WHERE TO CAST such a place
it is
125
wade and stand
practicable to
immediately below the rising
fish,
on the edge
of the very fan-run in which
it
is
feeding, well
and good the
there
;
fish.
again,
If,
and half
fish
is
every chance of getting
by standing well above the the
drifting,
without drag, there
it
killing.
however,
If,
fly
again a chance of
is
too deep to wade,
is
it
can be got past
and the distance from the bank
is
too a^reat
the second alternative above defined, the
for
place
is
A
safe.
practically impossible fish
and the
fish is
feeding just above where two or
more fan-shaped runs converge will at times take flies coming only from one of these runs, and the
artificial
from the one
in
should
which
it
therefore is
be fished
taking the natural
insects.
The the
general surroundings, the probability of
fly
dragging,
individual
fish
when
idiosyncrasies
of
the
feeding, should be care-
by the angler before making
fully studied initial
the
his
Success largely depends on the
cast.
degree of intelligence brought to bear on the subject
in
past master
preparing the attack. sits
down and
Hence
before risking his luck, while the tyro rushes in
the
thinks over his plans in,
moment he sees a rise and too fish down at the first cast, owing
hot haste, the
often sets his
to his impetuosity.
In indicatinof places which should, as a rule, " ^
Places to be avoided.
DRY-FLY FISHING
126
be avoided, idea
must be understood that the
it
generation, to assist
them
judging whether,
in
under ordinary conditions, a particular spot
At
men
time, in streams
are not often seen,
unknown
almost
feeding in a
fish
a killable one or not.
is
same
the
fly is
younger
to give hints, especially to the
is
where
and where the
—
fisher-
floating
where the edu-
in fact,
cation of the fish has not been carried to a high
standard
—the
such
in
silly
ones
and upset
places,
theories on the subject.
take
will occasionally
preconceived
all
In the
same way,
in
a gale of wind, with the surface lashed into
heavy waves, storms,
or
during heavy rain or
when
may,
places
or
even
nearly dark, these in
shyest
the
hail-
unlikely
of
chalk-
streams, be tried with success.
To
place where the
one
any
recapitulate briefly, a fish rising in
to
tempt.
drag
fly is likely to
Such places are
:
is
a
difficult
where the
strongest of the current is between the angler and the feeding place of the fish (Plate XIV. v)\ where throwing across a very wide stream, even where the current is uniform (the use of
the slack
-
line,
line up-stream,
the
bowed
cast with
or the half-drift,
belly of
will
or delay the drag in these positions)
;
prevent a small
eddy or bay (Plate XIV. w)\ deep eddying pools (with at
the
some exceptions)
;
head of a run (Plate
a smooth glide
XIV.
ji;)
;
or
WHERE TO CAST amongst the
fan -shaped runs
shown
impossible, as
in Plate
127
where wading
XIV.
is
jj/.
In summer-time there are on most shallows
portions covered with a close, compact growth
of quite short, bright green weeds, and for the
purpose of briefly referring to such places
may be terse
well to
cognomen
common
weed
{^Apiuin
celery
— the
was not aware of and
celery
celery beds.
It
is
keen powers of perception
have detected the resemblance
that he should this
Mr. Marryat's
late
them
for
of his
illustrative
of
borrow the
it
iimndatuirt)
more so
it)
it
is
belongs to the same genus
same name. Often and often
to,
as,
the
as (although he
known
closely allied
is
to
as the water
and
I
believe
the vegetable of
the
trout are apparently rising
well over these celery beds,
and inexperienced
anglers waste
time in trying to tempt them.
At
inability to
first
induces
which still
their
them
to
its
turn
another.
At
in
man makes
try is
get
even an
another pattern of
changed
for another,
offer fly,
and
length, in despair, the fisher-
cast after cast in rapid succession,
generally not even taking the trouble to dry fly, until, utterly worn out and with every muscle of his hand and arm aching severely, he abandons the attempt. In point of fact,
his
fish in
such a position are rarely,
duns or winged
flies
if
ever, taking-
of any sort, but are pick-
^^'^'^^ ^^^^'
D^y-FLY FISHING
128
ing up any
caddis, shrimps, snails,
little larvae,
or other mollusks drifting- off the weed.
This
continual
of
result
no theoretical
is
the
practical
experiment,
ob-
by minute examination, day
tained
and year
after
contents
of the
year,
day
after
of the
taken
both trout and grayling
stomachs of
Methinks the reader
under such conditions.
may
but
assertion,
with reason exclaim against the inconsis-
tency of advising him
avoid such places, and
the
in
in the
first
instance to
very next sen-
tence referrinof to an examination of the con-
stomachs of
tents of the
which,
in
mark how
this
must
True
their capture.
has been accomplished
When
nearly every case.
be found
—an examination
the natural course of events,
have been preceded by but
fish
no rising
could
fish
a more favourable situation,
in
;
in
the
plan adopted has been to put up either a gold-
ribbed hare's
(one
ear
of
the
known) or an orange
patterns
best
general
bumble
;
in
either case to fish quite dry, throwing only at lono- intervals,
and
from time to time, a
rise
altoo-ether restingr the fish until at length occasionally
has secured the trout or grayling.
What
the fish mistake the hare's ear or bumble for is
is
mere
nymph
The
hare's ear, possibly,
a dun just
emerging from the
conjecture.
taken
for
envelope,
tainly bear
some
and the bumble does faint
cer-
resemblance to one of
WHERE above remarks as beds
"
apply
129
The
shrimps.
fresh-water
orange-tinted
the
TO CAST
to fish feeding over " celery
degree to
in a lesser
fish rising
in
any part of the water, deep or shallow, swift or still, over heavy banks of submerged weed.
The
inexperienced dry-fly fisherman should
generally avoid places in which the stream
very
Such places are
swift.
reasons
firstly,
;
because
is
it
for
difficult,
is swift water,
two
not easy to time
the action of the hand so as to raise the rod
enough
just quickly
to
keep the
slack-line off
the water without dragging the fly
because
fish in
general rule feed but take
up
fly will
the most
in
position
their
hardest part of
just
a
portion,
above the
which case the
in
it,
rapid
as
artificial
drag.
There are nearly always diately
secondly,
;
a very swift run do not
fish
feeding imme-
below a wide plank bridge or wooden-
trunk carrier, and every fisherman passing by is
irresistibly
ments.
As
down,
creeps
position,
or
cast
cessful,
a
dries
two.
impelled natural
fly
How
kill
though
carefully,
fish in
may
be,
9
although
I
that from
really taking well
doubt
some
it,
as
is
suc-
such a place are
because they are so frequently tried for
to think
into
and takes a
very seldom he
and how rarely
easy to
study their move-
sequence he crouches
below them, gets
slowly his
to
and am yet
!
?
Is
Difficulty of fishing very
it
This
inclined
unexplained
DRY-FLY FISHING
I30
of light and shade either the gut,
effect
hook,
any
or
colour in the
little
imperfection
fly itself,
some way brought
in
is
the
of shape or
prominently to the notice of the
looking
fish,
upwards against the dead background of the bridge or carrier.
When
Fish in deep
Only rising moderately, fish
may
black-looking pools
in
deep,
as a general rule be
considered unpromising, although here, again,
may
an exception
no other rising
may
minutes
be made at dusk, when, can be descried,
fish
if
few
a
be profitably devoted to
often
At times, in such a place, a connumber of fish are rising in close proximity, and after a number of casts, or them.
siderable
until
the angler succeeds in catching one, he
in
doubt as to whether they are Salmonidae
is
or not.
If
dace, there
they are
he can secure one, and finds is
no occasion
all
dace
;
to
go
same time
the
at
is
it
a
on, as probably it
is
frequently the habit of anglers to pronounce fish
they cannot catch
be dace
—and
a trout stream
in
they certainly are so
catch that at times
it
is
to
difficult to
a convenient excuse
for not killing a big trout. Dace and trout.
An
example of
this
I
can give on a club
Two members
water well known on the Test. starting
quietly
in
the
under
Piscator No.
morning saw two the
i
shade
settled
down
of
an
fish
rising
old
to try them,
elm.
and
WHERE TO CAST companion walked
his
No.
Piscator
later
and with some
An
on.
emphasis
hour or so
Piscator No.
joined
i
131
exclaimed
at
2,
the
presence of this wretched vermin in a trout
he had wasted his valu-
stream, stating that able time
Piscator No.
dace.
tempt two big
in vainly trying to 2,
a somewhat incredulous
but experienced follower of the
craft,
made
a
mental note of the exact position of these two dace, to
and determined
them on
to
devote a few minutes
When
way home.
his
comparing
was rather disgusted to find that two trout weighing somewhere about seven pounds were the dace which he had bags, Piscator No.
failed to beguile
this to
show how
i
in the
morning.
difficult
to differentiate
is
it
mention
I
the rise of dace from that of trout, and
unsafe
to
is
it
be positive
number of
a rule, a
usually
not
abreast of each
fish rising
hunt one another,
but
how As
Trout feeding close together
other are dace.
ling,
in these cases.
so
as
also
decidedly as
do gray-
Dace
trout.
generally travel in shoals and feed in shoals,
while trout feeding are more often in position
one behind the other.
Sometimes
may be deep, will
seen
still
gfraylingf,
... rising in
pools.
As
and
larg-e grraylino- too, cwayiing risingindeep
...
close proximity in these
a
rule,
careful
scrutiny
enable the angler to distinguish them from
coarse
fish,
from the curious way
in
which
pools.
DRY-FLY FISHING
132
when breaking dorsal
and
fins,
at times,
moved by catching which
latter,
it
too, all
doubt
re-
is
of the adipose
sight
must be mentioned,
index present
mistakable
they show their
surface
the
in
fin,
is
an un-
members
of the
salmon family only. Favouraiiie corners c r bsnds.
A
comcr
or
.
beud into which the wind sets and into which every fly
up-stream,
directly
looks an inviting one.
floats,
ever, be
borne
scription water
in
mind
that
should, how-
It
on a club or sub-
no passing angler can
fail
catch sight of fish feeding in such a place if
;
to
and
they have been sedulously fished for only a
few minutes previously,
it
is
how and how
surprising
soon their suspicions are aroused, small a mistake will set the7n down.
argument applies water held
in
to
This same
any portion of a piece of
high repute by our brother fisher-
men, either as a taking place or as one containing an extraordinarily large it
is
to the fish
fish,
and
often the wiser policy to pass such places
At
by.
number of
more likely to add advanced education of the
best the angler
already far
is
When
than to the contents of his bag.
fishing for trout in hot, calm weather, portions
of the river in the ally in
at the
glare of the sun, especi-
mid-stream, should be avoided.
same
the largest to
full
time,
and
be found
in
it
But,
must be remembered that
freest rising grayling are usually
such places, and
this,
I
take
it.
WHERE TO CAST is
one of the
133
salient points of difference
between
the feeding places affected by the grayling and
by the
Shady backwaters should be
trout.
carefully looked over for a rise
days,
as
about
fond
bank
the
the level
of
shown
in
Plate
visible
to
the
XIV.
fish,
If
commencing
lazily
(and
thirty
much above is
Disadvantage of fishing from
is high bank.
such a place
the angler
2),
in.
more
and therefore placed at a it be just as the shadows lengthen in the evening
to
on the western bank,
when standing
raised
is
the river
disadvantage.
or
cruising
which may have drifted
flies
Wherever
five
of
hot, bright
such places, taking off the surface
in
any small
are
are
trout'
on
is
it
often impossible,
up, to approach within twenty-
yards
of
the
stream without
scaring every fish over which the fisherman's
shadow passes. If no fish can be found rising in a more favourable place, it is sometimes possible to get into position by crawling slowly to the bank on all-fours, taking especial care that the shadow is not thrown beyond the edge of the sedges on the side of the river nearest to you.
Above to move
all,
when
slowly.
stalking a fish do not forget
A
_
only more visible to the to
scare
it,
but
a
movement is not fish, and more likely
rapid
quick
footstep
causes
more motion of the bank, which communicates vibration to the water, and, with
it,
an intima-
tion to the fish of the angler's presence.
Precautions to be observed
when
stalking
DRY-FLY FISHING
134
Having being
stalked
into
position,
thoroughly dry,
and the down,
crouch
fly
throw
with the under-handed cast only, and be carenot to raise the point of the rod, nor to
ful
shadow across the rising fish, either when casting or when drying your fly, as
throw
its
neglect of this advice reveals the fisherman's
presence
to
the
well
these precautions,
a
over the
fly
it
fish
-
educated
may
With
fish.
be possible to
without setting
it
float
down
;
same time, it is astonishing how small a movement will scare it, a fact which but at the
be brought home to the fisherman
will usually
by the heavy furrow caused
in
the headlong
of the frightened trout to the innermost
flight
recesses of the nearest beds of weeds.
When wading which
sets
follow the tactics of the heron,
one foot down
and without splash
where
spot,
until
will
it
after the other slowly
it
stand
reaches a favourable
without moving a
moment for striking its prey The dry-fly fisherman should
muscle until the has
arrived.
select
what
he deems the favourable
from which to
cast,
place
wade out there and keep
quite motionless until the fish
is
rising well.
135
CHAPTER WHEN T
F
^
the
caught sight of
wave
reflected
natural
of his
probably
will
is
the
if
fish,
before
angler
or
rise,
it
the
accurately and fly
floats
drag or curl
position without
you
the
rod,
made, and
delicately
gut,
TO CAST.
throw over a rising
first
has
V.
in in
and possibly
its
the kill,
the most highly educated trout or grayling in the clearest water, while the slightest mistake will as
probably set the
on when cast
is
to wait ten
made than
not unlike a stag it,
and
able
find
it
shot
practical
in
is
;
it
is
made.
may pay
minutes before the
make
it
first
as soon as you
fish is in this
almost
an
will
its
impossibility.
wait for an hour until
certainly far better to
good with
The
position before using his
waiting than to wait after scaring. rule holds
It
respect good you may take hours to stalk
sportsman
and
depends
such a position that a favour-
the stag changes rifle,
to
A
are in position.
for the next
this success
this first cast is
you better
down
fish
But much of
half-hour.
fish.
kill
after
The same
DRY-FLY FISHING
136
To
fmfr'^fish^
put
theory
angler catches
first
problem
ing distance without Starting
own
his
to get within throw-
presence.
betraying his
so as not
well back,
fairly
yards below, and keeping
thirty
at
is
rising
fish
one under
choice
well (selecting for
bank), the
a
of
sight
suppose the
practice,
into
to
scare other
on
fish
your journey, crouch down as low as possible,
and creep
up,
the crouching position,
in
still
within about twelve yards of the place.
until If
your
it
in the
wind
fly
not quite
is
you should dry
before approaching.
air
gusty
is
dry,
When
the
up during a cat's-paw,
creep
get into position, wait during the succeeding calm, and cast
Let out
water.
ment
when
make
pains to
above
all,
the
it
in
your judg-
and take the oreatest
fish, first
cast
accurately,
but,
beware of waving your rod back-
wards and forwards flash of
sufficient
line
cover the
to
the next gust ruffles the
in
such a position that the
on the water
This
will
in vain for the
next
visible.
is
probably leave you waiting
rise of a fish that has prudently beaten a retreat
and departed
One more
to happier
piece of advice.
cautions and efforts tire
in
the
fail
to
same crouching
not stand upright and defined against the the trout.
hunting grounds.
Even
if
If all
your pre-
tempt the position,
fish,
re-
and do
expose yourself clearly
sky-line to the vision
you are unable
to
of
come
WHEN back
to
more
nothing
fisherman
passing
next
the
yourself you
later
it
TO CAST
surely
137
may
thus give
chance,
a
thorough
a
indicates
and
than consideration for others.
sportsman
Example,
they say,
is
better than precept.
A
nobleman residing within a comparatively short distance of the metropolis had kindly
me
granted
permission for
day
a
expect
much
advice
well-considered
the
sport, as the
a small
He
stream running through his park.
however,
in
added, not
to
owners of a number
of gardens extending to the edge of the water
on the opposite is
it
fishing,
with
be
to
by
side
feared, killing
worm
had always enjoyed abused
— the
—and,
privilege
of
every trout they could get
minnow.
or
Arriving on the scene of action early on a
June morning,
found the water pretty and
I
promising-looking, with trees of
all
sorts along
the banks, throwing out branches meeting over
the
In
stream.
the
whole length of a mile
there was only one open place in which
it
was
possible to fish with the usual return behind
To
the angler. at once.
On
that nearly
all
this spot the
cross-examining him,
one resident
appeared
in
the vicinity,
generally most successful, never fished
own expression, poking about among the trees with
there, but to use the keeper's
was
it
me
his lordship's friends patronised
this spot, but that
who was
keeper took
"allers
Efficacy of the
DRY-FLY FISHING
138
a
rod and
short
a
own
of his
partiklar fly
tying."
gradually worked On a prospecting" tour my way down to the bottom of the water, I
determined to
fish
ever a possible
was
fish
beautifully clear,
The
only
flies
up with a dry
it
The stream
and flowed
at a fair pace.
seemed
be iron blues,
was
visible
of which here and there
men was At
an occasional speci-
one close to the opposite
trout.
length
bank
was taken, then
The
to
down, not appreciated by the
floating
third.
another,
and then a
immediately under an
rose
fish
more than
overhanofino- bougrh of an alder not
a foot above the cast
in
I
putting
The
surface.
was a gold-ribbed
delight,
artificial
hare's ear,
was successful it
wher-
fly
rising.
and
to
my
attempt
at the first
about a foot above the
on the
fish's
nose.
In such a position a trout seldom sees a float-
ing
fly,
except the natural duns, and hence
was taken without
suspicion.
It
it
being im-
possible to raise the rod into a perpendicular position,
it
was some time
before
the
first
impetuous rush up-stream of the hooked
fish
could be checked, but at length the pressure of the rod, bent nearly double, turned
it,
and
eventually brought to the net a good-looking trout of
I
lb.
6 oz.
Continuing feeding
trout
up
-
stream,
under
and
trying
the shade of
every
the trees,
WHEN
fish
or
fly
while on each occasion that the
lost,
cast
was
gave
up
flies
139
was accurately placed the throw, the result was invariably that the rose at it, and was either killed, returned,
each time the first
TO CAST
way
any
in
rising.
A
bungled
my
finding that
left in
and eventually
trees,
first
trout
number
considerable
and strands of gut were
of the
the
the boughs
two
at
of
o'clock,
bag contained four brace of
charmed the eyes of an angler (weighing 11^ lbs.), and having returned as many more, I gave up fishing, as pretty trout
as ever
although the trout were the whole time seen,
no
fly
still
During
rising.
except iron blues was
and yet every one of the
hooked or
fish
killed took the gold-ribbed hare's ear,
which by
no stretch of the imagination could be deemed a good imitation of the bluish-tinged wings and purple body of the iron blue.
Another
illustration of the efficacy of the first
cast occurred
one September some years since
to a party of three
Our
on a Hampshire stream.
host, being desirous of trying the
portion of
his
water
until
upper
lunch-time, posted
Mr. H. and myself at the lower end, which held ling,
a good stock of both some being of great size.
trout It
and gray-
was a
sultry,
oppressive day, with a southerly wind, and to
one unaccustomed to these rivers the absence of
movement on
the surface of the water might
DRY-FLY FISHING
I40
have given the Idea that there were very few fish. My friend H. had a fancy for a narrow about
piece
hundred
three
yards
long, ex-
tending from a foot-bridge to a weir,
were
wandered aimlessly down
I
looking shallow at the
my
down, put
which
and leaving him
set a series of eel-traps,
there,
in
a taking-
to
Here
bottom.
rod together, and laid
sat
I
down
it
with the cast in the water to soak the gut. Presently
my
eyes
saw
I
a trout about 3 lbs. just under
busily
engaged
appeasing
in
his
appetite with that aggravating insect the smut or Jiskermaji s curse.
The bank being
grown with
I
sedges,
After rising
short with
it
ferent patterns to
was
I
pricked
invisible
three
overto
four
or
it.
dif-
and put an end
it,
my amusement. The
tags
wool,
previous day
with
a
bit
I
of
had dressed some red
scarlet
and with a desire of trying
proved pattern, knotted one
to
my
where a cart-track crossed the widest part of the shallow a times at hatching. after
the I
been
pale
the
fly
wetted,
the
imJust
cast.
river
of
in
the
fish rose several
watery duns which were
crawled
up
into
measuring the length of
liminary flick cast
instead
ibis
position, line
and
by a pre-
meadow, at the first landed right, and never having over the
of
There was a quiet
course rise,
floated
admirably.
and down-stream the
WHEN hooked
Hke a
went
fish
TO CAST
141
and
shot,
good fight succumbed, a grayHng, 2 lbs. Thinking it would be friendly to give the tip as to the killing
fly,
a
after i
oz.
H.
started to walk
I
going a hundred yards saw the
up, but before
head and shoulders of a big
out of water
fish
in
the centre of a deep but rather rapidly running
horseshoe turn
the river.
in
behind the bank,
waited another
I
sure of the exact spot, and
again
the
fly
was
grayling (one of
Crouching down
2
rightly lb.
9 oz.)
make
rise to
the
first
placed,
and
at
was landed
cast
the after
a orrand rush.
Meanwhile H. could not get a single chance, but at my request put up one of the red tags. Each time he tried a But it was of no avail. fresh fish the
and the
rately,
and
fish
fish after fish
no
to
all
cast did not
first
went down.
were thus
purpose,
as,
come
off"
accu-
Fly after
fly
tried in turn, but
although a
first-rate
performer usually, he seemed on that day to be out
Ex
in his
21710
The
judgment respecting the
first cast.
disce omnes.
first
throw, no doubt,
if
properly made,
Difficulty of
judging length
will often kill the
most educated
true sportsman gives
a
performance when
often does
the
hand
it
come
comparative if
fish,
and every
due admiration it
off?
novice,
comes
How
But how
off
easy
or even
to such
it
the
is
for
skilled
out of form, to misjudge the length of
of Une required to cover a lisingfish.
DRY-FLY FISHING
142
any
to cover his fish in
line required
and especially when
under the shade of
rising
rushes or withies, where the light
most de-
is
Hence, as the smallest excess of
ceptive. is
position,
down,
certain to set the fish
gradually
is
it
line
becoming more the policy of modern anglers such a length for the
to let out
will place the
some distance
and correct the length
fish
Many it
fly
first
at the next attempt.
anglers will be disposed to urge that
a matter of comparative indifference
is
them as to when they throw to a and that the only important point is throw,
No
right
extent,
words,
other
in
or,
accurately.
in
doubt they their
especially in the
the all
Yet
a right and a wrong subject
lowing up the more
To
question.
object
is
it
and
the
shy
moment
is
the
there
fish
to throw,
and
consideration
by
are desirous of
fol-
scientific
portion of the
a mere pot-hunter, whose only
to kill
given time,
to a certain
are,
with
who
dry-fly fishermen
fly
delicacy combined,
worthy of
is
the
cast over a fish,
first
object.
essential
whei'e they
place
to
to
rising fish,
contention,
question of accuracy and
is
cast as
short of the
will
as
many
fish as
he can
in
not be an interesting study
a ;
his tactics are
simply to keep on throwing over
every feeding
fish
night
;
he can see from morning to
and although he imagines he
larger bag,
it is
will
one of the many cases
in
get a
which
WHEN
TO CAST
very eagerness defeats
liis
143
and certainly
itself,
he does not derive the same satisfaction from
more un-
the pastime as the less jealous and
selfish fisherman who is worthy to be styled a sportsman. With a trout poised close to the surface of the water, and merely opening its mouth
slightly
suck
to
in
each
passing
ever, in such a position
out of six or seven
flies
is
it
fly,
it
is
When, how-
scarcely possible to be wrong.
only taking one
floating
down, the
least
sometimes even the mere gleam of
splash, or
the gut, will
be enough to set
down, and
it
the further from the bank the position of the
more gut-shy it seems to be. Hence the axiom Never fish a trout with duns in mid-stream when you can find one rising under fish the
*'
:
the bank."
With a
trout,
the best policy
make your
in too great a hurry to
and
not
perfectly
and
to
dry
throw too fly,
not to be
is
first
Cast
frequently.
cocked,
with
cast,
a
greatest care
accuracy, twice, or at most thrice, and then
rest
the fish for three or four minutes, or
least
until
it
has again
risen
a natural
at
then throw once or twice more.
is
sometimes
useful, as a
one lighter or darker, or a
ibund
successful,
fly
on
change
to
may
be
size smaller,
although
it
is
;
second
If this
attempt proves unavailing a study of the the water
at
to
a
great
DRY-FLY FISHING
144
degree doubtful whether the trout are so par-
mere shade of
ticular as to a
other hand,
same
of the
and
much
alike in colour, form,
size.
^
rl!r" cast
the
hatching at the same time,
flies,
are to our eyes very
"°' *°
On
colour.
must be admitted that a number
it
point which
With
trout
when not to should be remembered
to
it
throw
most
they are
as
that,
inseparably connected with
when
the question of
throw.
is
is
they
scared,
easily
should be cast over less frequently and rested
more to
select
natural
fly,
the
over
cast
to
moderately well
with
A
than grayling.
often
when in
fly
just
is it
a
be
sionally
A
shy
good
a
Ronalds puts
it,
still,
imitation
by "casting into
The
disturbance
little
splash
made by
it
the cast, which
under other circumstances would This plan
is
set
it
down.
specially successful with smutting
as they usually
come
moving slowly along, suck of these aggravating
go down
fish in
caused by the act of rising seems to
itself
cover any
fish,
or
has risen at the natural
it
the ring of the rising fish."
has
down
calm day, can occa-
by
tempted
immediately after insect, or, as
hot,
taken a
ruminate,
to
possibly enjoy the flavour.
smooth water, on a
has
it
frequently go
mouth
its
only
rising
fish
after
will
bad moment
to digest
little
them.
to the surface, in
some
six or
and
seven
wretches, and then
WHEN As a
TO CAST
previously remarked,
a
small slack bay or eddy
to tempt,
owing
travelling
down
by the
or
trout
a
is
in Fish
risiug-
difficult fish bay.
to the artificial fly
generally
the stream, and beinof drap'eed
line outside,
stationary,
145
while the natural
a place of this description a or spinners very
almost
is
up with the eddy.
drifts
much
in
manner above
the
Coming
described with curses.
duns
takes
fish
In
to the surface,
and moving with barely perceptible motion just under water,
it
clears off every fly in the
down
eddy, and then goes
Should a sudden gust blow
hatch. in
to await
bay or a
fresli
the
all
flies
the eddy off the water, the observant angler
will
often
succeed
deluding
in
placing- the artificial just in the
times even the in the
eddy
is
fish will,
when
the
bay
its
thus exhausted,
or some-
;
stock of food
come
outside or
on the edge of the run, where the cast simple one, and the
When
moment
fishing a slow-running stream,
the
as
it
wisdom of
friend
Marryat
floats.
this in
A
good
presence.
the later part of the May-fly, at
when
a
it
is
a
the water
illustration
course occurred to
my
is
propitious.
sensible plan to leave your fly on
as long
by
fish
It
my
of
late
was during
Newton
Stacey,
the fish were taking- the spent gnat.
In
a stagnant bay of a small side stream a quiet rise
had been
seen.
Across the neck of
bay a plank was extended 10
this
to serve as a bridge
rising in
DRY-FLY FISHING
146
when
Without
up the stream.
walking
moment's
Mr.
hesitation,
Marryat
cast
spent gnat over the plank into this
and waited
some minutes, when
for
little
a his
bay,
his patience
was rewarded by a bold rise. The moment the fish was hooked, the keeper, at his request, slid the plank away, and the trout a good one, nearly 3 lbs. was dragged out into the stream and there killed. Not one in a hundred anglers would have waited so long for the rise, and the smallest movement of the rod would have produced a drag on the fly, and infallibly
—
—
scared this wary old stager.
Do
not cast to a shy
of the sun is
there
if
fish in
are
the bright glare
pre-eminently a case where the practice of
patience by waiting until the sun
clouded over When
is
is
temporarily
often rewarded by success.
With grayling
to cast
over grayling
when
the question of
.
.
IS
This
clouds about.
not SO important as with trout.
when
he lormer,
on surface food, usually
feeding
mid-Stream and deep down
even on the curious
1
to cast
orravel
at
the
in
the
lie
water,
in
or
Those
bottom.
lozenge-shaped eyes are designed for
looking upwards, and from a depth of two and
a half to three feet can distinguish the insect rise
floating
almost
on
water.
perpendicularly
prone
to
words, miss the
fly,
they are
the
to
rise falsely,
tiniest
As
grayling-
the
surface,
or,
in
other
either natural or artificial.
WHEN
TO CAST
147
When, however, they do secure it, they slowly over and go vertically down to previous position, and
over often show their
turn their
the motion of turning
in
laro^e dorsal fins
and
tails
above water, thus making that unmistakable rise so well
them.
for
known
to all in the habit of fishing
When
they are thus going clown
head-foremost
your
select for placing
fly
much deeper
as a rule so
lie
moment to They over them.
evidently not the
is
water that
in the
they are less easily scared than trout,
will
stand
being thrown over much more frequently, and require less resting.
Fish often
rise best at
the hatch of a particular
fly
of
on any day, and
by many authorities are
the reasons adduced
—
commencement
the
because they, like other living things,
first,
more hungry and keen at the commencesecondly, because they ment of their meal
are
;
have not the colour the
and
hatch,
pattern of
are
artificial.
one on which there
and
this
in
voted
in
in
is
edition
the
early
the earliest not
critical
The
colour
portion of as
to
question
the is
great diversity of opinion,
considerable part
" .Selection of Fly," to
is
de-
Chapter VIII.,
of
what
space
I
hope
is
an ex-
haustive study of the subject from every point
of view.
Another
point
worth
noticing
is,
that
it
generally happens with a good hatch that the
DRY-FLY FISHING
148
Ephemeridse come down seven
then there
;
is
in
droves of six or
a small space or break,
then another drove, followed by another break,
and so every
on.
fly
In
trying
a
of such a hatch the
can hardly be wrongly chosen fish
taking
fish
nearly
moment to but when ;
are only taking moderately,
it
is
cast
the
a good
plan to watch for the drove coming down, and
throw a thoroughly cocked dry so that insects.
when
floating
down
it
fly in
the break,
heads the natural
149
CHAPTER
VI.
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING.
DRY-FLY
A -^^^
keep
to
fisherman requires at
his
and
at full tension,
him the
to betray to
him
sensitive
on
disturbance
Hence, sistibly flv
and
excitement,
he
smallest
the
of
surface
is
water.
often
irre-
impelled to waste his time in drying his floatino-
it
over what, after
turn out to be a rising fish in
superlatively
sound or
faintest
the
his
in
fish.
often likely to
is
makes him
rise
the
to
feeding
locale of a
as straining- every nerve to
astray,
hear or see the
water likely
in the
This very state of tension lead
every
to note systematically
movement
circumstance or
times
all
senses of hearing and sight
winged
\ past
insects juaste?',
—that
all,
is,
does not
one sucking
on the surface of the stream. however,
who has
often spoilt
a favourable day by this useless hunt after the impossible, will rise to is
to
as well
sure that the
which he intends devotino-
a real one. his
make
As
satisfaction
may
a
first
that
it
point, is
a
apparent
his attention
he establishes fish,
and
be, a rat sitting close to the
not,
edge
DRV-FLV FISHING
I50
in
some
a bay out of sight and feeding on
the various forms of v^egetable food
or a dabchick diving under w^ater
of
affects.
it
when scared
by the angler's approach, and then just putting its
beak above water a few yards higher up or
down very
the stream to take a fresh breath, giving
much
apparent
the appearance of a
rise is
If this
rise.
seen twice or more times
succession in exactly the
same place
in
almost
it is
certain to be a fish, as the dabchick generally
swims or dives
up or down, and repeats
either
An
the apparent rise elsewhere.
such as a floating
stick
obstruction,
and kept
carried to
against the bank by the current, or a bobbing
rush only just reaching to the top of the water,
eddy turning over
or a curling
produce very much Minnowing '"^ tTout.^
Having determined -caused by a
because that bubbles, food.
It
fish,
fish is
is
it
may
stone, frequently
the effect of
it
the
that
is
a rising
movement
is
from certain that
far
making waves, or
rising at or feeding
be bulging,
fish.
tailing,
rings, or
on surface simdting or
minnowing or the commotion may be brought Of the symptoms about by two fish fighting. ;
indicating bulging, tailing, or smutting treat in a later portion of this chapter.
I
will
When
minnowing, trout usually make a quick dart through the water, and the fry are often seen leaping
to
escape their
open jaws.
fighting, they generally rush
headlong
When at
each
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING
151
Other several times in rapid succession, until
stronger has
the
driven 1 1
when
grayling
spawning,
off
its
well to note that, except
vantage-ground.
is
weaker
the
rarely
indulge
in
pugilistic encounters.
Being certain that the
movement
the
in
Spotting the rise.
water
that of a
is
on
flies,
the
rise,
and of a
fish,
the angler's next difficulty or to place
the bank this
may
a
it,
particularly
flower, or a
under
generally be accomplished
by fixing the eye on some opposite to
to spot
is
When
position.
its
feeding
fish
object
striking
such as an extra high spear or patch
bright
of
brown hollow place
sedge,
or
a
ground,
in the
remembering, however, that the ring made by the rise must naturally drift down-stream, so that the rise
is
almost invariably placed below
actual position.
its
This inaccuracy of judgment
owing the
is
increased
to the sense of hearing usually giving
first
warning
In the space
to the angler.
of time occupied by the sound travelling to
the fisherman's ear, in addition to the
moment
which must elapse between hearing and seeing, the
mark
farther also a
of
of the rise
down than one would well-known
hearino-
is
accurately the ceeds.
carried
is
some distance expect.
It
scientific fact that the
most place
unreliable
for
locatino
whence the sound
When, however,
is
sense
pro-
the rise takes place
DRY-FLY FISHING
152
\\\
mid-Stream
less
is
it
easy to place
as. in
it,
addition to the difficulties above referred
to,
the only guide to assist the angler in deter-
mining the precise spot
generally speaking,
is,
some
the apparent distance and direction from
rough
on the surface,
run or break
changing and moving 1 ravelling
Sometimes a
itself
a
object.
rising fish
is
accurately
marked
down, and a good cast made over the place
The
same fish is three or four yards higher up, and the angler, in response to it, either crawls up or lengthens his line the required distance, and without
covers
A
result.
the
yards
still
goose
steps,
yards.
the fish
may,
until
no
result.
again
seen
some
in
the
trout
This wildbe
instances,
by successive
has,
moved as much as forty or even fifty At length no more rises are seen,
place where
the
was observed, tinuing
its
will
is,
that the
Looking back, however,
down.
It
is
higher up the stream.
and the natural inference set
with
having travelled three or four
fly,
chase
repeated,
later
of the
rise
again
rise
last
few minutes
taking a
next
it
movement
first
may
fish
is
to
the
of the
fish
be seen steadily con-
interrupted meal there in safety.
be generally found that such a
fish
has a defined track, and a short preliminary study
will
wanderings.
show
To
the
angler the limits of
follow
it
to
the
top
its
will
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING usually result in
being scared on
its
the fish just as
lower limit of
moves upwards from the
it
beat,
its
yard at least above a most tantalising well
sions,
and
shy,
many
the
therefore advisable to cast for
is
it
return
its
angler on
journey by the sight of the bank, and
153
and place the
A traveller
it.
fly
a
however,
is,
usually of large dimen-
fish,
good condition very often as not, has been hooked and
fed,
as
in
;
times before, so as to be quite alive to
The
the dangers of the position.
not advised to waste
much
hooked
few
the
at
first
and
altogether,
fisherman
and
time,
is
not
leave
to
casts,
if
it
more unsuspecting prey
find a
elsewhere. It is
not an unusual occurrence to see a trout
working bank,
up-stream
slowly
occasionally on
rising
sucking
in
noticed,
before
a
fly
here
making a
and do not throw feed
to
one
in
its
until
place.
sauntering up to
whetting
and
its
If
this
is
patiently,
has settled down
The
fish
habitual salle
taking
the
journey, and
cast wait
appetite with
dinner,
its
there.
it
as a sort of kors d'ceuvre,
commence
under
close
Fish travelling while rising.
simply
is
a
7?ianger,
a passing
and its
will
own
insect
presently particular
seat at a favourite corner.
When
a fish has setded
particular spot, fish
will,
at
it
is
times,
down
to feed in
said to be in position.
come up-stream a
a
A
short
^" p°''' ^jf^J"
DRY-FLY FISHING
154
distance
each
take
to
natural
frequently drops slowly back
tail
more
but
fly,
with
first,
its
nose close to the fluttering insect, before either taking or refusing to
original
its
these
in either case
returning
well
to notice
position.
It
accordingly
well
either
close
place
above
or
the
fly
compara-
where the
place
the
to
is
and
peculiarities,
little
tively
it,
fish
is
lying.
How
to pre-
sent a
fly to
rising fish.
A pTOpos of a
,
to a
_
,
rismg
whcrc ,
to placc the fly relatively .
,
fish
a question on
is
•
i
i
which con-
Some
siderable diversity of opinion prevails. authorities
a yard
and others that
feet,
on
or
recommend the angler to drop it more above, some suggest two
to
its
nose.
it
depends
It
character of the water rapid
a
yard
not
is
should be put right
;
chiefly
where
thus,
it
too much, but
moderate current eighteen inches, or outside two in
slow water, a
fly
dropped neatly and
perhaps because noting the
A
cast
fisherman
has
it
and
who
the
very
with
a
at the fish
lightly
often successful,
is
it
is
With a shy
feet, is sufficient.
three inches in front of
on
opportunity of
less
criticising imperfections.
is
an
not
should
delicate
performer
his fish
so as not to
make
accurate
and
well
above
a splash
or any
cast
other defect too apparent.
As
regards grayling, the
be [placed well
fly
should generally
above them, as they usually
lie
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING deep down
in
surface
each
for
the
for missing- the
fly
155
and come
water
the
to
hence their propensity
;
natural
well as
as
insect
its
imitation. It
questionable whether
is
over
the
comes
because
back,
fish's
good
ev^er
is
it
policy to cast so that the gut
straight
been
has
it
noted that under such conditions a trout miss
often
the
point of the act
of
Besides,
food
surface
touching
its
there
and one
the fish
well on
is
the
risk
of
fly
falls,
and
the
in the
fly,
the
under
possible be cast side,
if
lifting
the
it
gut
this will
it.
rising
fish
is
back as the
infallibly scare
A
and with
gut,
risincr.
through
artificial
will
to
the
bank
should
if
from the bank or shady
mid-stream on a bright day
in
from the side from which the shadow of the cast
is
not thrown over
When
^
distance,
it
any degree
is
ol
it.
up or clown from any oreat
lookino-
^J^
difficult
to
accuracy.
quick glance at the
sible
with
taking a
Possibly
bank, noting some strik-
same time measuring
may
it,
and
mentally the assist,
but
under such circumstances
accurately.
a rise
locate
ing object apparently opposite to
from the margin,
.
.
it
at the
distance is
impos-
to spot the rise
In such a case the angler should
crouch down, well away from the water's edge, and, taking advantage of any shelter to keep
i^iffic^Kv of spotting a rise ffom a distance,
DRY-FLY FISHING
156
out of the extended
rancre
trout's
sharp eyes, creep up
nearly
as
he
can
and wait patiently
he has, as
until
got
judge,
second
for a
of the
of vision
into
position,
rise.
Natural
man
impatience often impels an active-minded to
hsh
the place
he
on
keeps
hopes of
tempting
his quarry.
One
of two results will certainly
he
keeps throwing below the
either
;
and
placed
fly
case
usually drags.
it
more Definition of
}
,-j
to
is
too far
in
which
fish
down
above,
This sets the
next half-hour, besides addino- a
little
already advanced education.
its
soeakino" of i <->
tailing,
in
himself by his useless exertion,
tires
or his
for the
mmnowing,
and then
flogging,
fish
bulging and
right,
all
persistently
ensue
rising,
persuading himself that he has
spec,
oil
rises,
it
may/ be
passing, i i o that the expression
the act of a fish taking
is
flies
explained, in i >
used to describe
on the surface of
whether Ephemerida;,
the water,
imago or the imago
in
the sub-
Trichoptera, or
flies
hatched on land, such as the cow-dung,
red
ant, is
A
&c.
taking caddis, shrimp, or snails
said to be tailing, from
intervals in
fish
state,
the
nymph^e
its
appearing at
tail
above water, when the head
weeds it
is
;
when described
on
feedinof
as
motion through the water
;
bulging,
is
buried
larvse
from
or its
and when taking
" curses,'" or other tiny Diptera,
it
is
spoken of
as smutting. Estimating sizeoffish from the rise.
Nothinpf ^
is
more agoravatingr "<^ ^^
to an
enthu-
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDIMG siastic
angler than,
(57
after patiently casting- for
half an hour over a feeding- trout or grayling,
when hooked,
to find,
that
his
painted
fancy
impossible
to
form
In
it.
a wretched
is
it
fingerling instead of the noble
three-pounder
some cases
it
any estimate of the
of the fish from observation of the
rise,
is
size
but in
other cases experience enables a fisherman to arrive at a fairly
or position
good estimate from the nature
of the
size
sound made,
an important factor
is
or
This power of estimat-
other circumstances. ing
the
rise,
in
the com-
number of men fishing same stream on the same day and under The most careful, the same conditions.
parative success of a
the the
most experienced, and the most observing, however, at times quite out
on
in their
are,
judgment
this point.
The rise is
means of judging
best
size
from the
probably derived from the sound pro-
duced by the act of breaking the surface when taking a
and the comparative weights may
fiy,
be said roughly
to
be arranged
harmony, the heaviest bass,
and
smallest
fish
the
in
a scale of
being the lowest
hiohest
treble
;
the
intermediate notes indicating the intermediate sizes.
In applying this test of sound,
however, be remembered that
it
is
it
must,
only applic-
able to the case of a fish remaining stationary
and sucking
in
the
fly
passing over the spot
DRY-FLY FISHING
158
where
it is
The
lying.
and dashing
case of a fish following
a passing
at
fly
produces some
confusion in the scale.
The volume
of sound
to a considerable
is
extent dependent on the relative size of the
A
insects themselves. sufficiently
lips
shyer the
fish
the
to
show
widely
less
take
to
it
and experience tends
fly,
only separates
fish
enable
to
its
in
the
that
the
opens
it
its
mouth, so that with a small insect the sound is
comparatively
louder
majority
of
it
instances
rise
and
in
the
in
made when taking
is
or nymphse, and not duns or spinners.
larvcE
and
splashing
never a likely one,
is
A
A
proportion.
in
day-time
Fish well on
and with a larger one
faint,
fish rising is
frequently
is
well on the
feed
likely to take the artificial the first time
comes over
floating
it,
and cocked.
On
the
other hand, having seen a trout rise only once,
and waited for a
for say five minutes, without result,
second
rise,
the angler may,
if
the exact
position has been spotted, throw carefully and at longish intervals
or
more
and Quiet
rises.
A
;
ineffectual
and perhaps, casts, the
after a
fish
is
dozen
tempted
killed.
large trout ofteu takes with a quiet suck
close under the bank,
instead of the
ring
making a mere bubble
so
generally looked
This bubble floating down indication
to
is
often
the fisherman of there
the
for. first
being a
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING feeding
at all
fish
;
and
this case
in
159
well
is
it
to Mait and watch for a rise five or six yards
above in
to,
aorainst
where
the
under,
fact
was
bubble
seen,
the overhanging
a standing- rush or
bit of
close
bank, or
weed or
stick
A
stranded against the edge of the stream. rise of
this description
movement
looks like the too
inexperienced anglers
;
a careless indifference
or placing the pricking,
or
fly.
slow-running water
of a minnow, and
is
unworthy of notice by
passed as
often
in
or is
if
thrown
displayed
to at
At such times the
hooking of the
fish
revelation in the shape of a heavy
is
all.
drying
in
scaring,
quite
a
wave made
by a trout of two or three pounds when dashing
away from
No amount
the bank.
drying the
fly
and placing
it
of care in
accurately and
is thrown away. jumping out of the water is certainly not rising but what causes fish to take these sudden leaps is more or less a matter of con-
lightly in
A
such a position
trout
:
jecture.
Some
authorities say that
it
by the Salmonidse with the object of flat
is
done
falling-
on the surface of the water, and stunnino-
or killing a parasite with which their skin infested.
A
is
quick rush through the water and
a break of the surface
is
often caused
by pike
or large trout chasing and striking at minnow, dace, or trout likely to
fry.
be taken
This for a
is.
however, hardly
rise
by any but the
Trout jump-
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
6c
merest tyro,
sound being
the
and frequently,
minnows or
the
too,
seen leaping out of the water
vours
elude
to
are
fry
their endea-
in
hungry
the
unmistakable
jaws
of
their
pursuer. Fishdarting rapidly to surface when ris-
^t times both
rapidly to the surface,
away
dart
oTaylino; and o o will dart ^ take a fly, and as rapidly
trout
This
again.
an undoubted
is
rise,
but not a hopeful one for the fisherman.
shy
a
either
not
fish,
likely
forgive
to
worse
slightest mistake or bungle, or,
It is
the
still,
it is
which, in the very act of
the case of a
fish
taking the
has caught sight of the angler
fly,
and beaten a headlong
Sometimes a in
fish
retreat.
rising steadily
mid-stream, will show
then fin
dorsal
its
and
is
it
its
head above water,
at times
such
In
tail.
whether
and
fin,
a
even
its
try
case,
a trout or a grayling.
not unlikely that
and slowly
If
adipose
and see a gray-
be tempted.
will
ling,
it
The
shape, colour, and size of the dorsal
is
will often
enable the fisherman to
of the species
the
tail
is
it
make
fin
sure
and on the rare occasions when
;
the difference
visible,
between the
forked one of a grayling and the straight or slightly
convex outline of a
marked as
however, the rise
sign,
is
be
to
fish
a trout,
it
easily
is
distinguishable.
making the head and
may be
and an indication
nymphee near the
trout's tail
surface.
so If,
tail
considered as a bad that
it
is
feeding on
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING slow water a quick
deep,
In
surface
is
'^'^^'^^
^^>^|^°^
generally further indicated
is
by a quick succession of
number out
on the part of a
rises
of the shoal comparatively close
Many
together.
Hampshire
fond of selecting a
fish
fishermen
though, as a general
are
just showing the point
above water when
nose
its
on the
flip
usually the rise of roach or dace, the
presence of which
of
i6i
rule, this is
Al-
rising.
a good sign,
yet occasionally trout bulging at larvae give this
below the not
is
make
angler
the
;
hence
quite sure that the fish
is
is
it
well to
taking winged
the water.
Large cJ fly
directly
is
where the movement up-stream
fish,
distinctly visible
flies off
the
when
especially
idea,
and take
as a rule, rise slowly
fish,
•'
come quickly again with
to the
equal
friend writes
"
:
ones more often
while small
quietly,
I
and dash down
surface
On
speed.
this
was watching a
point
2 lbs.
rising in a hatch hole the other day.
a
trout
There
was a gentle current coming through the hatch, and the fish was lying about nine inches below the surface.
I
noticed that
movement when quite
the
three-quarters
fly
it
of a
smaller trout of about i^ it
and
began
its
upward
yard from lbs.
it.
A
lying just below
about the same depth did
not
stir
was nearly twelve inches from nose, and was therefore much quicker in its
until its
at
it
intended to take was
the
fly
movements."
Comparison
of
rise of large
^"^^ ^maii
f^sfi.
DRY-FLY FISHING
162
Splashing rises.
A
is considered by good fish feeding on sedge or other large flies. Although this opinion is occasionally borne out by facts, it is not by any means a safe one to follow, as the largest and best conditioned fish frequently
splashing rise at night
many a
sure indication of a
take the adult Trichoptera as quietly and with
commotion as when risinof at small Ephemeridse in the middle of the day. We have all wasted the few and precious moments as
little
of a fish,
maddening and when
were small.
rise
in
trying
successful,
If sizable,
splashing
for
finding
they
that
an autopsy has often
shown few if any sedges, and a considerable number of shrimps, snails, or other moUusks, and
both
of
larvae
Ephemeridae
and
Tri-
choptera. I
remember one evening
1815, with
my
at the
excellent friend "
end of May,
Red Spinner "
;
the fish rose badly during the day-time, but in
the evening, just before dusk, every trout and
seemed madly on the feed, splashing continually, and apparently taking
grayling
in
the river
sedge-flies in
which
fish
the stream
all
to
directions.
select,
seemed
I
after fish
managed
and
difificulty
fly
to secure
was
as the whole surface of
to be in a literal boil.
some time we both fish
The
tried,
after
and fly,
tried in
and
one trout of 2f
a large "artful dodger."
For vain,
at length lbs.
with
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING
On
our quarters
arriving at
163
opened
I
this
wondering what the autopsy would show,
fish,
and,
mirabile
food
three
of
consist
to
found
dictu,
undigested
the or
Mayfly
four
nymphae, three large dark sedges, and at least thirty fresh-water snails.
1
am
told that these
mollusks are in the habit of coming near the surface of the water in the days as well as the
evenings during hot weather. well for others
note
to
the
would be
It
contents
of the
stomachs of trout killed under such conditions,
was an exceptional circumor whether one may generally infer that
see whether
to
stance, fish
it
splashing noisily during their evening meal
are partaking of this heterogeneous diet. "
I
tell
you,
sir,
the trout were rising
the place, and although
book,
I
could
not
Season
taking."
find after
every
tried
I
out what
season
over
all
fly in
my
they were
we hear
this
formula repeated over and over again by tyros, or even
trouble
by old hands who have not taken the to
study the
discussed a fond, fish
in
ously,
while
it is
subject
thoroughly.
If
generally found that the
stream have been feeding ravenploughing the water in all directions the
following
the
food,
but
scarcely
ever
being actually seen to take a dun floating on the surface.
On
such a day the dilettante usually returns
with empty creel, deploring his
ill
fortune at
°^
^"J'^^'^°"^
DRY-FLY FISHING
i64
being unable to determine the particular form
and
colour
of
more
haps
greedy
the
fly
The more
affecting.
votary
earnest,
already discovered the
of
were
trout
and
experienced, the
per-
art
has
of hoping to be
futility
even moderately successful under these condi-
He knows
tions.
apparent
only
too
rises are bulges,
and
winoed duns
suckino- in the
the
the
surface,
are
fish
well
the
that
that, instead of
down on
floatino-
engaged
busily
in
chasing and securing the Ephemeridse in the
nymph
before they have emerged from
state,
the shuck.
At times the
indications of this preference
immature
for the fly in the
The
able.
fish
state are unmistak-
have taken up
their positions
on shallows, usually over or immediately below " celery beds,"
a
and are feeding under water
in
space of a yard or more on either side of
their
They may be seen
stations.
and forwards
rapidly backwards
and
to the
left,
and
after
to
darting
the right
each mouthful return-
ing to their original positions, their precipitate
movements throuoh
the water
causino- these
continual disturbances of the surface,
the expression bulging
As
Various
methods
of
dealing with bulging fish.
a
rule,
is
whence
derived.
they take under water, but a
here and there
will follow its
face,
and only succeed
very
moment
it
in
emerges
prey to the sur-
catching in
fish
the
it
at
the
sub-imago
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING
Some
dress.
recommend
authorities
when
of a large sunk
fly
but personally
have never found
I
One
of any assistance.
165
the use
trying bulging
fish,
advice
this
cause has, however, to
a certain extent operated against the chance of
having confidence
success, viz., that not
use of a large
when
artificial
on a small natural,
I
have
are feeding
fish
tried
in
it
much
hearted way, and without
in the
faith
a halfthe
in
experiment.
On
rare occasions one hears of a brace or /-
two
1
•
1
bulgmg
01
1 -
•
1
grayhng havmg been
trout or
1
by a comparative novice with wet-fly
killed
dragging, or fished down-stream positively seen
;
and
I
such a thing occur.
have
Possibly
these tactics might be adopted with advantage
on private streams which are seldom
fished,
but on club or subscription waters, where the fish
are highly educated, they are not likely to
prove of much borne
mind
in
tempting
notice,
it is
It
should, however, be
that a bulging fish
and looking out a
avail.
for food,
morsel
and
drifting
if
is
by any chance
past
attracts
slightly
humble, fish,
showy
pattern, such as
Hence,
an orange
floated occasionally over the
may be
successful,
cast
so
as
to
feeding
but only occasionally,
and by giving the trout or grayling a each
its
not unlikely to acid this to previous
items in the midday or evening meal. a
feeding
restore
rest after
confidence, which
Patterns for bulging fish.
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
66
may have been shaken by
the gleam of the
any error of judgment
gut, or
the preceding
in
throw.
One
of the
best
bulging
for
flies
the gold-ribbed hares ear, and
Put side by
not far to seek.
fish
is
the reason
is
under a
side,
microscope with a low-power (say a
nymph
4-in.) objective, a
meridse and an It will at
or
of one of the Epheof the above pattern.
once be noted that there are arranged
on
pairs
in
artificial
3-in.
abdomen
the
nymph
of the
a
These are
appendages.
"their function
segments of the
foremost
number
of fin-like
and
called branchiae,
is
considered to be the change
of carbonic acid, introduced into the air contained within the tracheal system from the fluid
which serves as solution
the
in
blood,
for
oxygen held
surrounding
water."*
short hairs of the fur picked out of the artificial bear a strong
these branchiae.
a
bulging
fish
change your later
again,
on,
love.
fly,
At times
If
in
the
in
The body
resemblance to
unable to get a look from
after a
few attempts, do not
but change your perhaps, trout
return
fish,
and then,
to
your old
bulge at shrimps,
snail,
caddis, as well as larvae and nymphse, but more frequently when feeding on them they are
and
tailing.
"'-
" Dry-FJy Entomology,"
p. 41.
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING
167
that
some
anglers are invariably able to get sport
among
It
has been darkly
rumoured
and that the plan adopted is to cast up-stream with a good-sized sunk fly put bulging
fish,
The
directly above.
the trout
is
movement
slightest
of
answered by a quick and somewhat
violent strike, the effect of this action being to
some
drive the hook into fish,
part of the moving-
but probably not into
mouth.
its
I
am
inclined to doubt the possibility of accomplish-
ing this with a single hook, although
been vouched
for
by fishermen of
ence and unimpeachable veracity. it
it
has
ripe experi-
Be
this as
may, there are no words strong enough to
express the contempt which a true sportsman
should
feel for a
to such a strategy. for
every
who would descend
pot-hunter
must
It
spoil a water,
and
ten must be pricked,
fish killed at least
scratched, or rendered shy,
and any
so-called
fisherman detected in such an act should be
boycotted by
all
true lovers of fly-fishing.
when feeding on
Fish,
larvae
and nymphae,
at
times
rise
without moving about
quietly,
from place to place.
It
is
almost impossible
under these circumstances to apparent from bond fide
rises,
distinpfuish
the
except by watch-
ing the surface of the water with the view of
seeing whether the winged duns floating on the stream are being- taken.
One
such
case
is
Fish rising quietly
.
brought prominently to
taking
when
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
68
my
when on
mind,
August eveningunder the bank until it a
a trout rose steadily
was
nearly
on
kept
For an hour or more
dark.
throwing
over
steadily
the
mencing with a
Com-
succession
Fancy, then
Flight's
blue-winged
a
trying
red
olive,
ginger-quill, hackle-winged red spinner,
and detached badger,
spinner,
a last
upwards of
The
feeding on
2
quill,
Jenny
at length, as
I
put up a small silver sedge
resource,
on a o hook.
I
fish,
making any glaring mistake.
without
in
hot
lbs.
first
I
knowing
and
;
curses will
particular pattern,
cast secured a trout
that
fish
occasionally take
this
fancied that
knew
I
all
and made sure that he had been feeding on these annoying little insects. On my return home, an autopsy of the contents of its
about
it,
stomach revealed an extraordinary conglomeration
of shrimps,
caddis,
snails,
nymphae, but not a single winged Indications of
The
expressiou
tailing,
and
larvae,
fly.
by the
as applied
angler, refers to a fish lying with
its
head
in
the weeds gorging itself with shrimps, snails,
young
caddis,
or
crayfish,
minute forms of animal
life
In order to force
abound. the
some of
with which they its
head well into
thickest of the subaqueous
series
of
vigorous
moments
given
course,
a
at
strokes
with
the
much higher
many
the
vegetation, a
every
are tail,
level
which in
is,
few of
the water
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING than the head
—
in fact, is as often
surface as below.
feeding in
movement
of the
in
fish,
shallow water, every
from the
the lower end of the dorsal the
head and
the
tail rises, until ;
way down
half or
more of
number
its
adrift,
and as they
fish's
tail
sinks,
sequence
rises
;
the
fish,
and boring sets a
and other
larvae
caddis
from the weeds the
float off
and in
This action
its
head
the water,
a further supply to
already in
out of
is
it
its side,
reach.
shrimps,
of
First
into the undergrowth, seizes all
the food within
for
actively
it is
an energetic wag follows
meanwhile, turning half on
secure
visible,
remainder of the body beino-
in extracting succulent morsels.
the water
its
be
will
fin,
about
to
tail
hidden by the weeds, out of which
engaged
above the
watched when
If carefully
way
this
169
its
mouth.
It
as
natural
a
enabling
add
it
to the
to
mass
remains quiescent
a few minutes, probably while swallowing
the mouthful, and then the operation of raising the
and forcing the head
tail
followed
into the weeds,
by the depression of the
resumption of the horizontal position water, or rather near the bottom,
da
in
the
repeated
capo.
When, or
is
and
tail
as usually happens, the tailing trout
grayling
is
In
a
deadish, shallow
over thick weeds, the case
When
the depth of water
is
place,
unmistakable.
above the weeds
DRY-FLY FISHING
I70
is
a
so that in the most vertical
orreater,
trifle
position the
extreme
of the
tip
only just
tail
breaks the surface, or does not quite it,
and when,
is
nearly
the
fish
that of
addition to
in
is
a
moving
is
the
most
observant anglers
are
if
similar
to
and
careful
Not
deceived.
often
it
especially
so
slowly,
that
rise
perhaps,
this,
the appearance,
dusk,
reach
infrequently they keep on throwing over
it,
perhaps devoting some precious moments to a minute examination the
water,
changing
imitation
best
using the utmost caution
of that insect, and in
the
to
approaching and casting with accuracy over
what, after
out
turns
all,
to
be the caudal
appendage, and not the mouth, of the Methods and patterns for tailing fish,
on
natural fly
of the
Various methods and diverse ,
mended
im
say that a
flies
•^•
i
tempt tailmg
as likely to
moderately large,
fish.
are recom-
n
c bome
^
risn.
flat-winged
fly,
such as an alder, governor, or caperer, fished
wet down -stream, and dragging, efficacious.
a showy
fly,
thrown up stream,
worked down
each.
this
plan,
should
be
made
sinking, so that fly
well sunk, which should be well
above the
steady draws
in
or a foot last
again,
Others,
grilse
To anyone I
be found
will
advise the use of
would just
the
as
fish,
and
of six inches
wishing to try
add that the the
fish's
cast
tail
is
enormity called a grilse
should be visible to the trout as
its
head
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING rises
the water.
in
It
obvious
is
long as the greater portion of the ing
its
eyes,
is
as
that,
includ-
fish,
buried in the thicket of weeds,
an object above that
Some
171
level cannot
be seen.
recommend a
authorities
fly consist•'
''
^'^.?^.^"''^\" for tailing fish.
ing of a huge bunch of peacock herl for wings
body dressed on a large grilse hook. What this monstrosity (on which the name of " Alexandra " has been most inapproover a
flat silver
priately bestowed)
mystery.
intended to represent
is
certainly
It
any indigenous
insect
is
is
a
not the imitation of
known
to entomologists.
moving through of the gleam of a
Possibly the bright silver body the river gives
minnow.
some
idea
Long- ere this
use and that of
its
have been prohibited
grilse flies should
in
every
stream frequented by the bond fide fly-fisherman, as it is a dreadful scourge to any water,
immense propor-
scratching and frightening an tion of the trout
which are tempted
zvould have been
It certainly
to follow
prohibited, too,
but for the fact that in any stream it
has been
alive
to
much
move towards but
fly in
The
best tailing
feeding, ever,
and
not
when worked
only
which
become will
not
close to them,
terror from the dread apparition. ...
leave
it
in
fished the trout soon
danger,
its
it.
^
policy
to
adopt
perhaps,
is
to Advice
,
fish
alone.
and feeding
well.
True,
They
they are,
are
how-
intent on the shrimp, caddis, &c., drift-
to leave tailing fish alone,
DRY-FLY FISHING
172
ing
merged
weeds,
of the
out
the
in
a more
in
position
known
to the angler
;
might
travel
odd trout here and whether
able
fresh- water
and such imitations
there,
question-
is
it
should
fishing
wet-fly
all
shrimp
basketing an
in
To my mind
have been made.
A
a similar way.
in
be successful
at times
their
perpen-
less
by which he can make
good imitation of the
really
or
and no means are as yet
dicular
his artificial fly
them with
of
thickest
heads down, and
are partially sub-
or
not
be prohibited on dry-fly streams where exorrents
bitant
paid for
are
form of fishing which
is
the privilege of a
ruined
continually walking over
the
by fishermen
and raking
fish
the water from end to end.
heavily
the
In
desirable, too, that
it is
should be
meal dire
Hampshire streams the trout and grayling-
fished
able
in safety
indulge
to
in
an occasional
without being haunted by that
dread and danger of the barbed hook.
Honestly,
I
doubt,
if
the
artificial
would under any circumstances prove for,
as
in
matical
the case of the larva,
whether
the
best
is
it
shrimp killing
;
proble-
imitation
would
prove efficacious unless the active motion of the natural creature could be imparted to
At times every and not a single although
possibly
on a shallow
trout rise
a
can
it.
is tailing,
be distinguished,
considerable
number
of
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING are
flies
residing
permanently near a
counsel
mood
this advice
success
;
he must
favourite sport,
his
in
and disappointing.
must
he
if
try,
c
hook,
shrimp
will rise tailing
moment
;
or
fly
is
they are
use a
to
dressed
which
times
when
fish
chance
his best
long,
at
much
expect
not
a brace with dry
largish
a
in
man
a busy
such as the orange bumble,
unlike
up
it
a change
for
To
trying
too
is
but
of getting pattern,
at the
give
best
and only having rare oppor-
events,
all
the
river,
to
is
fish.
of indulging
tunities
on a
case
of the
living in town,
At
floating
and go home or wait
the
in
such
in
despair,
To one
down.
different
173
the
is
furnace
them
floated over
raising
not
their
heads
towards the surface.
The chance
of killing tailing fish in a clear
chalk-stream with a floating club
in
waters, which
are
fly is
remote, and
daily
and
thrashed from end to end, practically
hourly nil.
In
where the appearance of an a rarity, on a day when no rising fish
private waters,
angler
is
are to be found, one of the above-mentioned flies
odd
may prove fish.
In
all
bered that the the greater
is
efficacious
such cases less
picking up an
in it
must be remem-
the depth
;
hence,
if
water
the probability of the trout or
grayling catching sight of the it
of the
tried
at
all,
the
fly
and taking
very thinnest
DRY-FLY FISHING
1/4
portions
shallow over weeds should
of a
be
selected in preference to the deeper channels
flowing through the clean gravel. Indications of smutting.
On
a
Still,
hot,
muP;a-y ^^^ dav in
.
years ago, starting from
,
of a
wandered I mind gradually up the stream.
in a discon-
favourite club water, solate frame of
some
July,
\ the lower end
Every now and again a fish would rise faintly and lazily to the surface, but the lightest and most accurate cast produced no response and ;
whether with smallest of hooks or larger ones
;
flies
on the smallest of
whether with sad and
sober-coloured duns or gaudy fancy patterns
whether with winged
bumbles
down
;
whether
—the
hackles,
flies,
;
or with
fished up-stream, across, or
invariable result
At
was nought.
length, reaching an eel-weir at the upper part
and thoroughly exhausted by the
of the water,
long walk
combined,
smooth,
a
me
tempted
waders and the high temperature
in
to take
a well-earned
clining well out of sight, still,
calin surface of the
a eentle
movement
Re-
rest.
and looking over the stream above the weir,
of a
middle of the water attracted
seemed
bank
grassy
sloping
•^-Ib.
my
to glide slowly upwards,
in
the
attention.
It
trout
and scarcely
making a ripple, just showed the point of nose above the water as it quietly sucked
some
tiny insect.
down
until
it
It
its
in
then gradually dropped
was perhaps a
foot
below the
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING and slowly swimmino-
surface,
again
almost
another
fly
then to the
;
then again
imperceptibly
rose
the
right,
and
took
taking a third
left,
sank to a short
leisurely
it
to
175
;
dis-
tance.
other
F'our or five
following
same
the
were
trout tactics
to
be seen
and the water
;
being as clear as possible, the day perfectly calm, and the
type
every
hazy
dead-grey,
of that
light
which
in
object
in
water
the
many yards seems distinctly visible, each movement could be discerned, and the outline
for
and even markings of the typical
words,
one fish
or smut
—
—
in
other
feeding on the fisherman s
ctirse
that,
fish
though loth
my
as an excellent
view, except
smutting
for
experience on it
fish plainly distin-
This day was so pre-eminently a
guished.
readers,
or,
to intrude personal
cannot help citing
I
example from every point of
that of killing fish.
The
heat,
the haze, the absence of wind, the peculiarly
languid
way
swim about
in
in
which the trout
and then sucking bined as a vivid
slow-running water,
the
parently without
seemed
aim or in
a
object,
or
fly
every
two,
all
to
ap-
now com-
example of that aggravated
form of rising described as
*'
smutting."
Perhaps the most annoying feature connected with
this
particular
subject
is,
that
in
the
Hampshire chalk-streams, on a day when the
DRY-FLY FISHING
176
smuts are
hatching
and best-conditioned
largest
Taking no
the feed.
very noses,
secure a wretched
cially
are ever on
notice of the most tempt-
they
will
little
insect scarcely visible
yards
travel
to
There must be some spe-
naked eye.
to the
fish
the
duns floating down over
ing-looking natural their
numbers,
great
in
piquante or attractive flavour
insect, or possibly a
in
the tiny
sense of security from the
knowledge acquired by
ripe experience of the
difficulty of imitating so small a fly.
There are several in size, colour, shape,
"
of smuts, varying
sorts
and other
Entomology" there
Dry- Fly
" Diptera,"
devoted to the
is
a
which
in
given some particulars of the
and
details,
life
in
chapter I
have
history of
two species of smuts and the so-called
black
ofiiat.* Imitation of smuts.
Although
the natural
size of
smallest imitations
Curse
many
in
is
of
the
ooo hooks, being the
fly,
must
made,
cases too large for the
be
used
for
dressed with
of strands of cock golden-pheasant of cock-starling
hackle,
starling very small and
of curses
should
as possible.
flat
*
"
dressing
The Fisherman's body made of a couple
smut.
tail,
legs
and wings of young flat
;
in fact, all species
be tied with the wings as
For the black
Dry-Fly Entomology," chap,
gnat, the
v.,
body
pp. 137-143.
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING should be of black, shiny
from the central being
tail
hackle,
perhaps
wings
the
and
starling-wing, tail,
which has a
margin
the for
The most
cock-chaffinch cock-starling
best),
male
the
distinctly
of
palest
female of starling
marked
pale-buff
thus imitating the pale
wing.
effective looking" wingf
a single piece of pike laid fiat
(that stripped
the
for the
to the feather,
tip of the natural
quill
of
quill
177
scale, cut to
made
is
of
shape and
The
along the top of the hook.
idea
of using pike scales for wings originated with
Mr. H.
known late
S.
Hall,
and
this pattern is generally
Another good rendering
as his.
Sir Maurice Duff-Gordon's,
is
a black
the silk
body, with silver tag, hackled with two badger hackles, ostrich
worked over a couple of turns of black herl. These various dressings are
given, although to
the angler
must not expect
make a great bag with them. Some years ago, Mr. H. S. Hall
good basket of
fish
one day
killed a
Dorchester
at
with his pike-scale pattern, and he and others
have on other occasions repeated
When, however, one a
fisherman
is
considers
handicapped
this success.
how
by
the
heavily small
hooks, and the necessity for using fairly fine
gut when the weeds are
in their
most vigorous
and luxuriant growth, it is not surprising that a large proportion of rising fish are scratched, 12
DRY-FLY FISHING
178
and
when
even
break
hold of
the
manage
to
diminutive barb,
or
hooked,
fairly
the
inextricably entangle themselves in the dense
vegetation.
Smutting
undoubtedly rising and
are
fish
taking surface food, and are to be killed with floating
other
which have been proved by ex-
flies
be
to
effective
s
con-
different parts of the
same
persistently a water
is
flogged the more shy
fish
become, and the more
Why
the
.
p^j-f^j-j^g
river,
and the more
delude.
difficult to Patterns for
such
extent in different rivers or in
a certain
and suspicious the
smutting
under
Patterns to be used with success vary
ditions.
to
smut are as successful as
of the
perience
doubtful, however, whether
It is
flies.
imitations
J5
fish .^
should take these particular
mystcry
to those
who
take the
trouble to think about the matter, especially as
no one of them bears the smallest resemblance to the natural fly in size, form, colour, or
As
other characteristic.
and ever,
it
artificials.
the
known
to me,
worth, the following, how-
is
have proved
deadly ling
what
for
far as
any
in
my
For
Wickham,
rail-winged variety of
or, it,
experience the most
either
better
usually
trout still,
or
gray-
the land-
known
as the
pink Wickham, dressed on oo hooks, should
be tried
by the
first
silver
as the most likely, to be followed
sedge on oo hook, red
quill
on oo
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING
Another
hook, orange bumble, and furnace.
good pattern
smutting
for
fish
is
179
Mr.
Pope's
"
Green Nondescript," dressed with starHng and whisk, and bright green silk body ribbed with fine flat gold. When wet or paraffined the body is a very wings, ginger hackle
dark green black.
For grayling, when taking the red tag, of that
better
or,
still,
the improved pattern
invented by the late Mr. Marryat,
fly
which the tag
of scarlet
is
ibis,
two blood-
cock hackles, and the body of a single
red
strand
macaw
of
tail,
which
metallic-blue on one side,
When
on the other. to
no
yet dressed has borne comparison with the
tiy
in
" curse,"
form the body,
it
is
a
brilliant
and a bright-yellow
this strand
is
rolled
on
gives the appearance of
a yellow ground with a fine blue rib running
up
it.
hatched
What in
resembles
is
animate or inanimate,
object,
the water
or bred
One
parting word of advice.
fish,
above
"
in
the
air,
it
a problem not easy of solution.
remember
all,
the
With smutting importance of
accuracy and delicacy combined in the
first
cast."
The
field-orlass
^
is
almost as necessary an ^
adjunct to the impedimenta of a chalk-stream fiy-fisher as
it
is
to the deerstalker or to the
modern soldier on campaign. The dilettante may be excused from burdening himself with
dry-fly P^ fisherman s '^^I'^g'^ss.
DRY-FLY FISHING
)8o
it,
and the most conservative of the old school
may
indulge in a harmless sneer at these new-
fangled
notions
but
;
prosecuting his
the
soon discover that
fish
feeding,
his knowledo-e of the habits of the fish
conditions under which his floating
will
much
use has added
its
when
enthusiast,
of
studies
to
and the taken
fly is
by the feeding trout or grayling.
A
few remarks as to the form of glass to be
selected
may
when purchasing oneself with pattern, yet
Although
not be out of place.
the
is
it
obviously wise to equip
and most approved
latest
any ordinary achromatic
power
of moderate
will
serve
at
field-glass
a
pinch.
Optical instruments generally have been revolutionised during recent years, chiefly through
the scientific researches of Professor Abbe, of the University of Jena, at
whose suggestion a
well-organised factory was established to
make
the special kinds of glass which have so vastly
increased the efficacy of
house of Zeiss, objectives,
in
and
The
lenses.
great
made microscope
at Jena, first
eyepieces,
lenses
other
all
photographic
accordance
with
and
Professor
Abbe's formulte.
Their success soon induced
other opticians
Germany and Austria and a
few
The
in
in
England
to
field-glasses are
follow in
made
in
their footsteps.
various powers
designated
by their magnifying
and
purposes of the dry-fly fisherman,
for the
capabilities,
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING those
i8i
magnifying six or eight diameters are
preferable.
At the
cursory glance the angler will at
first
once realise that one great advantage of the
naked eye is that, while all him than, say, ten yards
over the
glass
objects not nearer to
are
those
defined,
clearly
at
considerable
a
distance are equally distinct, and hence he can
spot rising
insects
fish,
or flying in the
floating
on the water
without any trouble
air,
adjustment or alteration of focus. using the Zeiss binocular he stereoscopic
increased
practice,
little
convey
effect
to his
will
If
of
he
is
see that the
will,
very
after
eyes an accurate
notion of the relative distances of the various objects in the field of vision.
An
object just under the surface of the water
have a blurred
will
outline, while at a
moderate
This
is
not
a disadvantage to the dry-fly purist, and
is
due
depth
it
will
be almost invisible.
the lenticular continuation being corrected
to
He
for use in air.
into
distinctly
the
ean see further and more water without
the
glass,
human eye has considerable power adapting itself to the medium through which
because the of
it is
working.
As soon the
orlass,
oreat
as the eye
educated
to the use of
the student will discover that
assistance
weighing
is
to
in detail the
him
in
it
is
a
examinino- and
varying conditions under
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
82
which the surface
abstain from taking,
take, or
fish
He
food.
have no
will
and
insects as are familiar to him,
stream,
or
rising
from
a surprise to him
in
feeling
on the surface of the
flies
it,
Trichoptera, or Diptera. as
in
or families of such
differentiating the orders
certain whether the
difficulty
Ephemeridse,
are
perhaps come
It will
to
find,
that at a
too,
distance of twenty-five to thirty yards he can,
with the glass, separate
many
of the genera, or
Thus such
even species of the same genus. well-known yellow
flies
May
as the Mayfly, Turkey-brown,
dun, olive,
duns, blue-winged
spinners
experience
the
distance
their respective
and further
add many of the Trichoptera
will
and Diptera
and
unmistakable,
be
will
pale-watery
iron-blue,
olive,
to this category, besides enlarging
which they
at
can
be
distin-
guished.
Prolonged study of
fish
feeding will be one
of the most fascinating parts of the work, which
may serve to elucidate many questions which are now imperfectly understood. There cannot be much doubt as to whether they are bulging at
nymphae under water or sucking
the
in
winged sub-imago or imago, when each dun or spinner can be distinctly seen floating
run
in
which the
taking " curses
"
fish
one
is
feeding.
after another
down
A
and
the
trout letting
duns pass unnoticed can be offered an imitation
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING of the insect, on which
it
is
183
thus seen to be
Then,
feeding, with the greatest confidence. too, in the is
many
feeding
sorts,
cases where a trout or grayling-
on
indiscriminately
flies
many
of
the importance of the precise pattern to
be used
we
obviously not so great as
is
are
generally given to imagine.
The
best lesson of
all,
however,
be
to
is
by watching a past master casting over
learnt
a rising
trout.
position
whence the whole performance can be
seen,
Place yourself in a comfortable
and be quite certain that your glass
the distance between
accurately adjusted for
your eyes, and action
of
insects is
;
when taking
fish
Study the
focussed.
critically
the
is
the
natural
note which are the species on which
feeding, see
what
ments and whether
is
swims up
it
or drops back with insect before taking
the range of
its it
to
its
it
move-
meet the
fly
nose to the floating
Then
get your friend
commence discover some
of the reasons
perfect cast
often unsuccessful in rising the
operations,
to
fish.
The
is
clear
and you
why an
will
soon
apparently
image given by the glass and
the magnification of details will reveal imperfections
which are quite invisible to the naked
eye.
Your one,
friend thought this cast
but
opinion
you rather
have a
was a
pronounced
bungle,
it
delicate in
your
causing a decided
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
84
Splash as
was as well and most
how will
and of the
latest
seen
tied as possible,
a natural insect you realised
heavy, opaque, shapeless, and
object
was
it
after
hazard the assertion that the
its
ments as viewed through the
down
the act of taking
and cause the will
not,
be
dis-
erratic
move-
Instead
glass.
for a
down and
travel
it,
stop altogether,
float tail
first,
At times it in some
and
positions will turn a complete somersault. fact,
of
its
them
sink
before
Mr.
^^ '"^"
"
sufficient in
seem to
its
confidence
resume
its
In
and each
endless,
cause a shy trout to
the water half afraid, and
natural insects
Mr.
w. H.
studLroffish
to
is
down
several
it
eccentricities
is
few
then, just as the
;
trout to C07ne short.
veer round and
does
will
suddenly race
it
steadily for a short distance fish is in
an
uniform pace with the
at a
then gradually slow
inches,
fly
and he
appointed when you describe
stream, you can see
lifeless
Perhaps the fisherman
all.
as far as he can see, drag,
of floating
fly
approved pattern, yet when
down near
floating
The
landed on the surface.
it
go past
it
let
untouched
sufficiently restored for
interrupted meal.
W. H. Pope
writes:
charms of dry-fly fishing
— "One
among
of the"
the various
"
"open spaces and cuts on the shallows is to" "watch the effect of the artificial on trout in" " position as "
enced
it
angler
floats
over them.
knows
An
instinctively
experi-
a
fish
"
STUDIES OF FISH FEEDING "likely to rise at a floating
"has not been actually seen
"At
the
"head
cast,
first
as
"with a
if
to
sort of
" "
comes"
fly
just turn
its
'
the second offer
and
its fins
body seem all of a tremor, exhibiting symptoms of uneasiness as the fly approaches.
" If
even then
"offered "
may
it
it,
at
warded by
" cial
it
does not take, the
fly
may be
"
"
"
and perseverance re-"
intervals
success.
If,
be concluded
"
however, the
produces no responsive
"safely
"
acknowledge the compliment" No, thanks, not at present'"
At
" sort of air.
although it"
fly,
to take a natural.
perhaps, as the
down over
" sailing
185
that
thrill,
the
artifi-
it
fish
may"
is
not"
"likely to take."
"Supposing the
trout are really rising
on"
"these shallows, to see them come gently up
"
"
"
and suck
in
the
" sible sights to "
scene
is
one of the
fly is
an enthusiast.
" fortunately,
"
to the Fall.
another scene
the fish
flies
is
"water, leaving the
"
"
But, un-
often portrayed"
for its life to the
weed-bed the moment the cast
"late."
The whole
then enacted before the angler's eyes
"from the Temptation
"when
prettiest pos-
fisherman
falls all
nearest"
on the
disconso-
"
1
86
CHAPTER
VII.
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT. Influence of
/^^F
weather °^
K
sport.
y ^-^
all
circLimstances usually credited with
beneficial,
authorities
^
.
.
,
.
.
prejudicial
influence,
or
over the angler's sport, the state of
the weather
one.
.
.
exercising an
according to the works of most
is,
on the
Although
it
force of the wind,
predominant
the
subject,
cannot be denied that the
its
direction, the state of the
atmosphere, the presence of sun or cloud,
and the ever-varying
rain,
effects of light, are condi-
tions to be considered in estimating the probability of
good or bad sport on any one day,
yet they are not the all-important factors that
some eminent angling to believe.
If this is true
true) of wet-fly fishing,
more so when man's
To
would lead us
authorities
(and
it is
treating
I
hold
it
to
be
ten thousand times
of the dry-fly
fisher-
art.
find a rising fish
is
the
first
problem, and
the fish cannot rise until the insects on which
they feed are to be found floating on the surface of the stream. these
insects
They seldom are
plentiful,
rise
and
well unless it
may be
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
argued that the most important factor
safely in
187
determining the dry-fly fisherman's chance
of success
is
num-
the presence in considerable
bers of the Ephemeridse, Trichoptera, Diptera
and other winged
anglers a good hatch of
The word
This
insects.
hatch
fly.
convenient one, and
a
is
by
called
is
.
here used
it is
above sense
in the
be understood
that
is
it
meaning of the expression hatch
ovum to
morphosis from
but
;
it
must
The
a misnomer. is
the meta-
larva, or the
change of
by the larva emerging from the
state effected
This metamorphosis takes place with
^ZZ-
all
Ephemeridse and Trichoptera at the bottom of the river
while of the
other fishing
Diptera are hatched some
in
the water
The Alder has
others on the land.
flies
the
and
a -some-
what curious
life
and hatched
in the sedges, the larva lives in
the water and life
the
insects
Dry- Fly Entomology," of
desirous subject
is
studying
invited
eggs are
pupa on the
of these
history "
in
history, as the
to
that
consult
is
laid
land.
The
treated
fully
and the angler branch its
of
the
pages.
As
used by the angler, however, the word hatch, if
applied to duns,
signifies
the
first
appear-
ance on the surface of the sub-imago after
it
open and struggled out of the shuck or envelope forming the outer skin of the has
split
nymph.
When
applied to spinners,
it
refers
Definition of Hatch of Fly-"
1
DRY-FLY FISHING
88
the
to
on
falling
the duties
after
water of
the
been
some the imago
In respect to the Trichoptera in
fulfilled.
genera and species
applied to
is
it
emerging from the pupa and
imago
of the
imago
the
have
reproduction
of
in all to the visits
to the water for the
purpose of
laying the eggs. It
surprising that
is
been devoted largely
so
attention has
little
hatch of duns by entomo-
to the
Considering that their sport
logists or anglers. is
so
dependent on
point,
this
it
is
a source of astonishment that dry-fly fishermen
should
not
have made
attempts
serious
to
work out the conditions under which they may expect either a plentiful or a sparse supply of
Nothing but con-
floating food for the fish.
made simultaneously
tinual- observations
different
and
streams
same stream on carried on from
different parts
and
definite
season
in
of the
identical lines,
season, can eluci-
to
date this question, and the results
should be
methodically arranged for careful examination
and consideration. Temperature of air and waterasaffecting the hatch of duns.
I
have
and have from
subjcct, i
some
devotcd
i
pounded
•
for the prevalence of
imago
state
scarcity
tmie
m my own mmd •
attention
i
i
perature of the air
tmie
the pro-
•
theories to account
Ephemeridae
on some days, and
on others.
to
to
its
in the sub-
comparative
At first I fancied the temwas a controlling influence.
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
189
This
theory,
Then
the idea occurred that the temperature
was
however,
soon
disproved.
of the water or the relative temperature of the
and water might have something
air
To work
it.
when
out this theory during two years
the
at
do with
to
river-side
on
invariably took
I
each day two or three simultaneous readings of two thermometers, one registering the temperature of the water, and the other that of the
The
air.
to strengthen a theory
whenever the
experiments was
result of these I
had conceived, that
temperature
air
below that
fell
of the water the hatch of duns ceased. that
believe
holds
as
a general
although
good,
my
rule
seriously shaken on the 3rd
when, on a the
fine cold
36°, olive
fish,
was
it
December, 1886,
30',
and that of the
duns were hatching
the grayling taking them, and
ing fish after
in
moonlight evening, with
temperature at
air
water at
theory
this
belief
still
I
my
freely,
friend hook-
only losing them one after
another owing to his line freezing to the rings of his rod.
taking
After this experience
temperatures as
practical results.
subject
is
As
unlikely
I
abandoned to
lead
to
before said, however, the
worthy of consideration and study.
In the early spring, an inquiry as to sport,
^^^""^^
on the Hampshire chalk streams, generally seems to invite such answers as,
^port.
especially
*'
This cold wind quite prevents the
fly
from
^'"^
^^
DRY-FLY FISHING
igo
hatching"; a
"The
or,
northerly
wind
"
fish or,
;
never take well
How
"
again,
in
is
it
possible to do anything with the wind directly
down-stream veteran
?
as
regrets
climate in the
prayers
Or you may hear from
"
for
good
the
to
a of
deterioration
old country, and fervent
When
a light southerly breeze.
philosophically considered, what
does
this
all
Three distinct hypotheses, all amount to ? more or less erroneous first, that with north wind the fly does not hatch plentifully second, that what does hatch is not freely taken
—
;
;
the difficulty of throwing up-stream in
third,
In a previous chapter
the teeth of half a gale. I
have shown how the wind
against
present object
is
the
can
difficulty
my
be overcome, and deal with
to
of casting
the
two
first
points.
As the
to the first
spring
point,
usually
a northerly wind
brings
with
it
barometer and a low thermometer.
two causes are
sufficient to
in
a
high
If
these
reduce the tem-
perature of the water to a point only two or three
degrees
above
freezing,
Ephemeridae family do not as a
flies
of
the
rule hatch in
In such weather, any considerable quantity. too, the water seems extraordinarily clear, so that
every weed and
patch
of
gravel,
and
every trout or grayling lying or moving on them,
is
distinctly visible to
an angler stand-
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT ing on
bank.
a
It
is,
however,
held
extreme clearness of the water
this
191
that
only
is
apparent, being due to the dull leaden colour
sky and
of the
atmo-
the density of the
to
sphere, and that
does not of
it
that to the fish looking
itself indicate
upwards objects are
abnormally magnified or more
easily
distin-
guished than under ordinary circumstances.
The
question of temperature
not a matter
is
of conjecture, but can be determined by experi-
There are few days
ment.
in
spring during
which, between the hours of eleven in the fore-
noon and three plunged
in the afternoon,
At
register less than 40° Fahr.
ture the early duns, both olive
hatch
freely,
this
and
be enabled
insects floating
to
note the
iron-blue,
down
rising fish
number of these
He
will at
his
chance
the stream.
same time probably improve
the
tempera-
and an angler neglecting occa-
keep on throwing over
sionally to will
a thermometer
coldest of chalk-streams will
the
in
of sport, no mistake being so continually
made
by modern fishermen as that of casting
in
rapid succession time after time over a feeding fish,
until
rouses
To let
its
sooner or later some slight mistake suspicions.
quote from actual personal observation,
us take
May
8,
1885.
It
was a
fresh day,
with north-westerly wind, and so cold that an idler
on the river-bank would
find
it
difficult to
DRY-FLY FISHING
192
keep
Yet the number of
hands warm.
his
flies
hatching was, even to one accustomed to
the
plentiful
supply on
The
thing astonishing.
some-
chalk-streams,
seemed
trout
have
to
appetites which could not be appeased, darting
about
in
making heavy bulges they took the nymphs rising
directions,
all
under water as
from the bed of the
river, or just
surface as they seized the
of
breaking the the
at
instant
casting off the envelope in which
its
passed the
nymphal
itself indicate ful
fly
was not a success-
it
and that the trout could not be per-
day,
suaded
to
look at any
every movement
nymph
This should of
state.
the fact that
had
it
was
artificial
secure
to
rising to the surface
as
fly,
the
their
active
and before emerg-
ing from the shuck. Imitations of the larvae and reasons for their non-success.
This Js
^ of feeding" ^ on immature insects
failino"
and
Said to increase from year to year,
the dry-fly fisherman
To
one.
dress
an
/ it
is
for
a most unfortunate
artificial
representing
the
pupa is by no means an impossible Having overcome his natural repug-
larva or task.
nance
to
descend from what may be described
as high art to the less scientific sunk-fiy style of fishing,
and having succeeded
out a good imitation, the amateur
turning-
in is
prone to
imagine that he has solved the problem, and can,
by fishing
it
under water, make sure of
a respectable bag at a time when the
fish
are
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT bulging at the nymphs.
he
The
ddsillusionL
is
although
this,
both
it
is
how
!
will
fish
woefully
not look at
an admirable representation,
colour and shape, of the natural insect.
in
And what
is
the reason
take a handful of
To
?
elucidate this,
weed from the bed of the
and extract from
river,
Alas
193
three or four speci-
it
mens of the Ephemeridse nymphae with which it
abounds.
Place these in a tumbler of clear
Those
and patiently watch.
water,
nearly ready to
hatch,
are
or
are
that
rising
the
to
seem positively electrior leg, and every fold or rib moving in an eccentric but
surface for that purpose, fied,
every feeler
of their
bodies,
How
continual motion.
is
warned to use the keenest senses with which it has been
hourly experience of
all
the
endowed
should
supine
compound
hackle
drifting
down
a log
is
by nature,
protection,
be expected
to
it
which from painful
that a shy fish like a trout,
viz.,
sight,
its
mistake
that
of dubbing,
helplessly
the stream,
and
for
its
motionless, quill,
and
lifelessly
like
silk,
for the active
moving nymph, sparkling and varymg
ever-
in colour
at every motion as rays of light strike
it
at
different angles.
As 1
to the 1
n
that the fiy
second erroneous hypothesis, 1
when
111hatched
is
not taken
during a prevalence of northerly winds the wind 13
is
down-stream the
;
fish rarely
viz., Hatch of fly ^'^^ northerly 1 freely wind. r
when have
DRY-FLY FISHING
194
a
put to them
fly
suspicious than
less
;
a cold wind
iron-blue
when
the wind
is
refresh
it
on the
1
flv
of April,
the
;
of the fish in chalk-
methodical
by a reference 8th
cold
generally a
is
Carry your memory back, or
sufficiently
more
an iron-blue wind
is
the favourite
is
streams. are
and hence appear
North wind
favourable.
wind
right,
to
thereto,
and see how
a bitterly
1885,
you
(if
keep a diary) cold
day, with a strong wind from that unpleasant quarter, the
fish
o'clock until four
rose well from ten or eleven ;
how
water secured more or
own bag
good
really
through
trout, little
north wind was
sport
less
how your
;
two or three
contained
securing that
every fisherman on the
brace
your fortunately
bend or corner where the
favourable
;
and how, when
returning to your homely quarters, tired stiff
of
and
from the unaccustomed exertion, and your
shoulder aching from the pressure of the strap of your creel weighed it
just
down by
dawned on you
sometimes
rise well in a
a goodly load,
that after
all
fish
do
down- stream wind, and
when they do so take hold of the earnest, so that a fair proportion of
fly in
right
hooked
fish
are landed.
Contrast this with
only
when your first glance out showed you a dull, leaden-coloured with heavy banks of drifting clouds
three days later,
of doors sky,
the 21st of April,
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
Remember
travelling before a southerly gale.
how
195
the usually smooth portions of the river
were lashed into crested waves by the force of the wind blowing in the opposite direction
You
to the current.
watching
then wandered for miles,
vain for either
in
ring of rising
fish,
welcome weary
or the
fly
and returned
at night
and disheartened, with an empty basket, find
every one of your confreres
to
an equally
in
dismal plight.
The
further this reference to your diary or
other reliable
be
will
data
inclined
chalk-streams
to
more you
the
carried,
is
doubt whether
running from
north
in
to
the
south
the time-honoured condemnation of a northerly
wind sion
not a worn-out and erroneous impres-
is
handed down from generation
A
tion.
genera-
southerly wind, which in these streams
blows directly from the
sea, is usually a cold,
damp, and unpleasant one, alternate squalls
bringing
and heavy
to take shelter than
watch
for
with
it
During the
rain.
showers the dry-fly fisherman them.
to
more inclined rises and cast to is
In the intervals between the showers the
rough up-stream wind natural fly over
is
continually blowing the
and over
in
natural motions, or forcing
Shy
it
stream.
flies
comporting themselves
fashion,
but
seek their food
safety below the surface.
un-
upwards against
never
the
fish
strange and
rise
freely
this
eccentric
in in
at
comparative
DRY-FLY FISHING
196
Yet on Boreas
"
the
has been running
riot,
one of you, comparing- notes inn
village
when
very next day,
each and every in
your post-prandial tobacco,
over
That
such weather.
modest
the
your atrociously bad luck
will revile
" rude
in getting"
delightful old colonel in
the corner will again treat you to his special
grumble on the or the
dictions,
Yankee preSchool Board, or some other
dire effects of the
new-fangled and
pardon the word
even Radical notion (pray
— no
on the climate
politics),
and
you
of our
well-beloved
how
olden times, during the " forties," the
in
weather
in
refreshing
fatherland,
spring was a
showers,
compound
delicious,
tell
of warm,
bracing,
light
southerly breezes, and long spells of beauteous
how
sunshine, and
it
is
only since the advent
of the transatlantic cables that these dreadful north winds have
Do
our ardour. in
been introduced
you think he
the terrible theory he
is
damp
to
really believes
advancing
?
Do
you honestly think that the prevailing wind
and weather during successive seasons have the immutable law of average
not followed and,
above
all,
;
do you think that the same
beneficient Providence does not now, as
much
as heretofore, adhere to the eternal fitness of things, frost East wind as influencing sport.
In
and send
and
rain
in
due season heat and
cold,
?
southem Streams the
east
wind
is
not, as
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT a rule, a favourable one
seems generally to in hazy weather
it
;
197
be accompanied by haze, and
duns do not hatch however,
wind a
time,
sometimes happens that with east
it
fair
At the same
freely.
hatch of
during the spring,
especially of "curses,"
fly,
and the
seen,
is
take
fish
heavy
well.
Light winds are
ones.
Just sufficient breeze to cause a slight
ripple
on the surface of the water Less than
ideal as to force.
and with more than your own
When
fly floating
wind
the
is
it is
do not
difficult
very
is
to
rise find.
The
well.
The
not easy either
down over
on the point of securing
the
heavy waves,
reasons are not is
whirled
moment
the fish
it,
fly
is
as likely as
After
not blown off the surface of the water.
a few of these unsuccessful attempts it
a less
method
troublesome, of
appeasing
gracefully into
the
and more its
fish.
and the
strong
natural
over and over, and at the is
it diffi-
quite as important,
surface of the water lashed into fish
the beau
is
this renders
this
what
to spot the rise, or, to see
to
approach the water without scaring the
cult to fish,
preferable
it
finds
efficacious
appetite
to
sink
depths of the weed, and
there continue feeding on the shrimps, snails, caddis, or other larvae, their
movement through
the water not being affected by
gusts of wind. to feed
Grayling are even
on the surface
in
the
sudden
less inclined
tempestuous weather
;
DRY-FLY FISHING
198
they seem generally more affected by
in fact,
change of weather than
Of
trout.
course fish
taking during a gale of wind are more easily
approached, larger
flies,
stand
will
coarser gut, will take
when floating and cocked, more easy to get on terms
especially
and generally are
with than in calm weather.
The and
notion prevails
among
even
among
angling authors,
entomologists,
Ephemeridse do not hatch
freely in northerly,
easterly, or north-easterly winds
whose work on
this
the
that
family
is
;
and
Pictet,
not only of the
very highest literary character, but bears
on
every page the unmistakable impress of careful
and
truthful examination, states
observation, le
" Elles naissent
from his own
peu lorsque regne
vent du nord."
My
experience of the Test, and especially
of the part of
fished
it
by the Houghton Club,
distinctly contradicts this assertion, I
may
and
I
think
say without exaggeration that every ab-
normally large hatch of the smaller Ephemeridae witnessed by
me
has occurred on days
when
the wind has been northerly or north-easterly.
The Test general
is in
rule,
no exception
this respect
many
as
anglers on other south
country chalk-streams have at
my
own
request,
and their
experience.
ever, that
a lake.
Pictet
It
to the
made
results
observ^ations
confirm
my
must be remembered how-
lived
on the north coast of
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT sun
Brio-ht fc>
success
in
calm weather
visible in the strong
a chance of killing
if
on an extra long
flies
It
gut being very
may be
calm day, there
hot,
sport.
is
the angler will use small cast.
noted here that
J
s"n
as ^'ig^^ influencing
Sometimes, how-
light.
even on a bright,
ever,
often fatal to
is
this is possibly clue to
;
199
the best Drawn
among ^
and
undrawn
gut.
modern exponents of the art the use of drawn The finest natural, gut has become obsolete. i.e., undrawn gut, is at once fine enough to rise and strong enough to hold the large trout and grayling of the chalk-streams.
necessary to
fish
is,
however,
with longer casts, say, three
and a half yards
ordinary weather, three
in
casting against a strong wind, and
when
yards
It
Very
four yards in calm airs
and bright
small
sparsely dressed, never
flies,
float well
especially
if
sun.
These remarks
with a short cast.
apply to surface fishing only, as probably with
sunk
fly
the finer the gut the better the chance
of rising and hooking the
During and
after
fish.
rain
fish
often rise well.
For some days beforehand they appear waiting for it, and either do not rise at if
they do, indulge
in
corky sort of rise, not surface, but
immediately aorain.
the
fish
an
turning
if
all,
or
occasional peculiar
taking any
coming up as
to be
for air,
over and
fly
on the
and almost
diving
down
The moment the rain commences to fall commence rising, and althouorh, before
i^fl"e^ing ^p""^^'
DRY-FLY FISHING
200
the days of paraffin,
work
to dry the
was
it
difficult
and hard
was worth the exertion
fly, it
an angler really desirous of getting sport.
for
Nothing floating"
is
so
deadly as a perfectly dry
cocked
over
a
in
fish
rising-
fly
wet
weather, and since the introduction of paraffin to
waterproof the
fly,
the exertion of drying
it
has been minimised.
A
bad
And
light
here
am
I
about to embark on the most
not only of this particular chapter,
difficult part,
but of the whole subject. so
important,
so
and so
brother anglers, intelligibly,
little
that
I
feel
It
difficult
day of despair
by
to
light
A tells
in
my
express
gillies
it
"The
is
is
not
light's
to prepare the fisherman for a
and
disappointment.
does he mean by this description which expressed
mind,
my meaning
if
unusual to hear the expression,
no good," used
my
almost constrained to
Among- Scotch
clear.
to
understood
ask forgiveness beforehand not
is,
English by
the
What is
best
words "a bad
?
peculiar state of the atmosphere intuitively
him what from
his
own
had many opportunities of the fish will not take.
experience he has verifying, viz., that
Without being able
to
any reason beyond mere conjecture, I can confirm the truth of his prediction, whether in a Scotch river or loch, whether in a Hampoffer
shire
chalk-stream
or
a
turbulent
mountain-
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
201
heavy pools
for
whether fishing
brook,
salmon or whipping
thirty-pound
ounce Devonshire
me
in
to hear that,
trout.
It
three-
for
would not surprise
even when bottom-fishing
for
roach or barbel, paternostering for perch, spin-
ning for pike, or even bobbing for
the
eels,
same atmospheric conditions would produce the same result, and that in this "bad light" all forms of fishing are alike unsuccessful.
Now sky
is
what
a bad light ?
is
It
is
when
the
of a uniform grey, dull, leaden colour
when the very light itself seems come imbued with this sad leaden
to
;
have be-
tinge
when
;
the water appears unnaturally clear, probably
from
its
contrast with the dull tint of
surroundings
;
when every
all
its
object in the water,
whether trout or grayling, whether banks of green weed or patches of gravel between them, is
distinctly visible
from an extreme distance.
Such a day in early spring is cold, and in summer or autumn is oppressive, sultry, and productive of headache and other malaise in human beings. I have never seen a good hatch of duns on such a day, nor do
remember good
sport to have fallen to
or to that of other anglers on the
Such a day
is
usually the
change of weather, and the feed at the
first
fish
I
ever
my
lot
same stream.
precursor
seem
to
of a
go
off
signs of a change, and wait
until the change has taken place before
coming
DRY-FLY FISHING
202
Thus,
on the feed again. rise
or
fall
of the barometer
grayling seem to the
for a
sudden
too, after a
both trout and
day or two positively glued
bottom of the river
until the result of the
warning borometric movement has developed. Occasionally, in the spring after a heavy fore-
noon with a bad
light,
at the first
rift
in the
when the sky begins to lighten, a change The flies seems to come over everything. commence hatching, and the fish, which were
clouds
previously lying motionless on the bed of the
come on the rise, and good sport ensues. On days when small fleecy clouds are drifting in the sky, when the light is variable and the wind changeable, when one moment the river,
surface of the stream brilliant sunshine,
is
calm and lighted up by
and the next moment a
little
puff of wind ripples the water and the bright
dimmed by the shadows of the morning clouds, sport may be anticipated. On
sunlight
is
such days, however, the fisherman should crawl into position during a gust of wind, wait during
the succeeding spell of sunshine, and cast to
This advice has
his fish during the next puff.
been given before
in this
book, but as
of the golden rules to be observed fly
fisherman
who
rewarded by success,
wishes I
will
his
it is
one
by the dry-
efforts
to
not apologise for
be its
reiteration. Thunder
as
influencing sport.
Thunder
is
said to
have the
effect of ^puttino"^
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT off the
fish
extent that
and
feed,
when
this
the sky
is
correct
is
203
the
to
obscured by heavy
thunderclouds rolling and piling themselves up preparation for the great denouement, there
in
anything approaching a good
never
is
When
the air
when
heavy,
is
and oppressive,
hot,
the thunderclouds
and the sky has a
are tinged with
and the ominous
that the storm
break the
to
length
is
over the distant
is
seen
surface of the water.
At
storm
the
of thunder indicates
roll
approaching, not a rise
still
breaks,
vivid
flashes
overhead are followed
lightning
red
when
appearance,
lurid
flashes of lightning are seen hills
rise.
of
almost
in-
stantaneously by heavy claps of thunder, and the rain pours
down
often rise well,
fish
and although not a pleasant time as a rule, worth
is,
During the
a torrent.
in
very heaviest of the rain
to fish, yet
the fisherman's
while
it
to
brave the elements and persevere.
With
occasional fish it
is
grey
uniform light
showers during
generally take well raining
overhead
cloud
;
throughout the day the
lightly
In
in
fact,
with
in
A
rainy weather.
heavy banks
horizon, even
if
some
and other chalk-streams
has become a cant expression that the silly
and
spring,
very often, too, when
best of sport can be had. parts of the Test
the
white
of
there
bright
is
not
it
fish are
blue
sky,
on
the
cloud
much wind and
DRY-FLY FISHING
204
the
clouds
to
almost
are
into the
fish
does
stationary,
promising day.
a
indicate
It
and avoid the
sun,
not
always well
is
angler's
shadow being thrown on the water. As the sun gets lower in the horizon, the shadows are thrown farther on the river, so that in the evening it is important to be on the eastern bank if. possible. Casting up-stream into the wind is preferable to fishing down-stream with the wind, and the work is not appreciably harder. It
f!'^¥"s diaries.
would be ^possible
compile i
for anglers to o
a valuable set of data as to the days on which
they have been successful or unsuccessful, but to
do so
collect
it
would be necessary
and tabulate
the
same days
of
the
Manchester anglers
members
note,
as to the state of wind,
thermometer,
the
hatching,
&c.,
and have,
I
useful
to
each
is
weather,
their
information
weather,
barometer,
are
&c.,
of
species well
flies
directed,
been crowned by success.
A
to
every angler's diary would
called
the Beaufort Scale, giving
letter
signification
induce
to
besides
different
&c.,
trust,
adjunct
be what
efforts
keep diaries and record circum-
to
worthy of
stances
The
places.
to
on
information
identical
in different
number
for a
of
of
the
some
and which
alphabet
particular is,
or
distinct
state
of the
certainly was,
use in the reports issued from the logical Office.
a
in
Meteoro-
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
On some the
even
fairly at Coming
apparently rise
fish
and the natural expectation of the
fly,
angler
days
205
is,
he
if
any
at
not
is
fair proportion,
successful in landing
But no
afterwards.
hook a
rate, to
On
!
such
them
a day, time
time he strikes seemingly at the right
after
moment, and with just sufficient force to drive the barb home, and either has a short run or a turn or two, and away comes the hook or ;
else
he experiences no resistance indicating
of striking,
pricked
the
fish.
that
A
to the action
he has not even
number
of
men
fishing
same or contiguous waters on the same day compare notes in the evening, and find the
that the experience of one has
perience
of
all,
with
the
been the ex-
slight
difference
caused by the various degrees of shyness of portions
fish
in
diverse
due
to
having been more or
cast
This
over.
rising at the all
or
else
gingerly
to
called
same stream,
less
unfortunate
frequently
propensity
and either not taking
handling
as
technically
coming
fly,
of the
be
it
(or
mouthing
insecurely
among
dry-fly
of at
it
it)
so
hooked,
is
fishermen
short.
Before considering the various causes and methods of corning short, it will be well to clear away certain delusions on the subject. How often one hears it said, " Confound the fish I ;
keep on missing them to-day."
This
is
quite
DRY-FLY FISHING
2o6
Once
a mistake.
a
in
way a
fish
missed
is
through the fisherman's wits having- for the
moment
strayed from the object on which he
should be intent, and caused him to neglect
hand or
raising his
striking at
the rise
;
these cases are few and far between, and
they do occur the pluck of the distinctly
It is
felt.
missed the
when
fish is usually
not that the fisherman has
but that the
fish,
but
by
either
fish,
a miscalculation of the speed of the current or of malice prepense, has failed to take hold of the
bunch of feathers and hook which we believe
more or
represents
less accurately the natural
insect. Striking too quickly.
It
is
not Safe to infer that whenever a fish
gets
away through being
due
to
in
lightly
it
short, as too often the fault
angler
himself
the
striking
sometimes even before the hold of the
and
fly,
that striking too soon
when once
is,
too
like
It is
is is
quickly,
taken
has
fish
mistake
this
attributable to nervousness.
habits,
hooked
coming
is
usually
well to note
many
other bad
acquired, difficult to correct,
and the most phlegmatic and coolest of men are to be excused
if
they are more or less
flustered at the rise of a big fish.
vailing tendency
with large as an
fish
;
is
The
pre-
to strike too soon, especially
in fact,
it
mayalmost be
laid
down
axiom that so long as the fisherman sees
his fly
it
is
very unlikely for him to be too late
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT in Striking.
there
am
I
quite prepared to find that
many who
are
point, but
in the
the
this
fish's
mouth
The
process of time.
discovery of the fact that the in
me on
from
differ
do not despair of their being con-
my view
verted to
207
has been
fly
left
usually conclusive evi-
is
dence of the action of striking having been too violent.
Coming fish
short
an indication either of the
is
taking badly on
day or of
a particular
their being shy, or of a
combination of these
two disagreeable vagaries.
Accuracy and
cacy combined
cast over a rising
fish will
the
in
generally obviate this
the use of very small
Thus
cious.
first
it
fiies will
often
will
at times,
;
be found
short
rising
one
fish,
same pattern on a 00 will
a
be found
hook
angler, fish.
after
but on chanoino- to an
;
as a
or even
fasten.
to
effica-
fly
on an o
another,
come
artificial
of the
000 hook, the
The
fish
use of so small
000 certainly does handicap the
and often cause him
When
too,
happen that on one
of these disappointing days, with a
hook,
deli-
once the barb
hold of the smallest hook
is
to
fail
to
is
fairly
hook the
home
the
as secure as that
of the largest, and the former
is
not so apt to
cut out as the latter.
A
slow
rise
is
generally
an
indication
of
taking well, and, in the majority of instances, of a large
fish.
In the case of a slow rise or
^^^'"s slowly,
DRY-FLY FISHING
2o8
large fish the advice cannot be too strenuously
given not to hurry
A
Rising quickly.
Hse quick ^
in striking.
made by
usually
is
a small
"^
^
fish,
One
but occasionally by a very shy one.
is
advised to strike quickly or half-volley in re-
sponse to such a expressed by
rise,
many
although doubts are freely
of the past masters whether
hurrying the strike does really tend to increase the
probability of hooking
fish
take a
fly
while small it
Coming
short
indication of
and
leisurely
fish.
reject
as a rule, snap at
fish,
out almost as soon as they touch
it
it,
Large slowly,
and
spit
especially
it,
more particularly in northcountry streams, where they run small. Another prevalent form of coming short in -in r waters that are heavily Hogged, is when a nsh, rising steadily to all appearances, comes up to and takes the artificial fly fairly and well in the mouth, and the strike either just scratches and
grayling,
sometimes an
the
•
i
or does not touch
planation
is
at
it
that the fish
fly
i
probable ex-
highly educated and
is
shy of the gleam of gut. intention of seizing the
A
all.
i
It ;
starts with the
when
close to
it,
a
glimpse of the gut or some other circumstance arouses tail it is
its
unable to check
If able to
and the
suspicion.
Having given with
its
the necessary impulse to reach the surface
do
so,
it
in the act of fly
;
itself
and refuse the
fly.
then turns short to one side,
breaking the surface drowns
but never having taken
it
into
its
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
209
mouth, no action of striking can by any possi-
hook
bility
it.
Sometimes, pected
until
when
side,
in the
acquired to carry
striking in this case
hook
best to
outside
way a
this
in
it
is
small
is
fish
allowing
the
to the
sinks
fly,
The
effect
of
to miss altogether, or at ;
and
scale
after losing a fish
often found
is
A
the point of the hook.
theory
it
one
to
a shy
that
down.
act of going
turn
and
mouth,
its
sus- Fishjiooked
not
is
to
late
believe
firmly
simply closes
it
too
is
it I
momentum
danger &
howev^er,
'
on
confirmation of this
that these very small scales are only
found on the back of the neck immediately
behind the head. I
trout,
do
remember one evening hooking a 3-lb. I could which rose much in this way.
nothing with
imao-ined the
a
On
00,
was
landing
found
in
firmly
in
the
the
tail
fixed
nostrils,
appear impossible that a fairly
and
time,
or one of
outside
and
taking the
fish
A
friend
fish,
and
suggests two
which
ceptible to the angler but noticed it
either to miss
H
when intending it
viz.,
than feeding humour of the
(2) the smallest drag,
and causes
fly
in this
additional possible causes of coming short, (i) playful rather
the
would
it
mouth could be hooked
remarkable position.
quite
however, the hook,
it,
between the
snout, fairly
a
for
was hooked
it
fins.
it
is
imper-
by the
trout,
to take the fly
or get lightly hooked.
outside
when
coming
short,
DRY-FLY FISHING
2IO Grayling
com
more hardened offenders than respect to coming short, and it fre-
are Gravllnpf ^
ing short.
«='
trout in
when
quently happens that even natural
they
fly
to
fail
probably due to
their
rising at the
secure
fly,
up almost
which may make
to calculate the exact angle at
difficult
they must
reach
to
rise
is
remaining at a lower
when feeding and coming
level
perpendicularly at a
This
it.
the precise
it
which
spot to
which the insect has been carried by the force of
Whether they have caught
stream.
the
or missed the direction
to
fly,
the
they descend
in
a vertical
same depth and the
position as they occupied previously.
and
my mind
to
inexplicable,
same
Another,
peculiarity
of
that for hours together every rising
grayling
is
fish will
come
and very possibly not a
short,
Suddenly, without any
single one be landed.
apparent cause
variation of weather or other
to account for the singular change, will fasten,
and the basket be
every one
filled in
a com-
paratively short space of time. Coming
m
short bright sun.
jj^
to
come
sun and clear water
short,
fish
tion
of
coming any distance feeding well
will drop,
tail first,
are apt ^r
giving another proof of
thus
either natural or artificial,
its
fish
provoking incident being due
this
A
briorht o
;
is
to shyness.
secure a
to
fly,
usually an indica-
but sometimes a trout
down-stream
nose almost touching the
for yards with
fly,
and
after
all
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT refuse
and return
it,
This, again,
to
position.
probably a case of shyness, or
is
having been aroused by some
of suspicions
abnormal circumstance. suggested that the
In
these cases
is
it
has generally satisfied
fish
the particular pattern
a fraud.
It
repeat the operation with a change of
fly,
itself that
may
former
its
211
and sometimes fasten
On
after a
is
dozen changfes.
a certain private piece of water on the
Test, which
was
those days not overdone
in
with anglers, both the late Mr. Marryat and
found that the
a mysterious manner, so
in
gave the
to this particular style of losing the trout
name
of the estate.
Rising
fairly
seemingly taking goes
I
came unhooked much so that we
fish continually
off
with a
yourself on
you begin
and
slowly at
well, the fish,
it
hold
it
fly,
when
and
struck,
and you congratulate
rush,
being well into to
the
it ;
and just as
hard the hook comes
happened once or twice, it would provoke no special comment but when
away.
If
this
;
it
many
occurred to both of us as
as twenty
times in one and the same day, the inference
seemed
to point to
short.
Further evidence of
found
in
its
being a case of comingthis contention is
the fact that an examination of the
hook often
reveals
the
presence of a very
small scale firmly fixed on the point, a proof of the fish having been
hooked
outside.
DRY-FLY FISHING
212
My out
good
many
friend,
brief his
in
"
W. H.
Pope on
Cir-
fecting sport."
,<
W. H.
Pope, has set
extending over
years on the circumstances affecting the
angler's sport. Mr.
Mr.
experiences
The
He
writes
dry-fly fisherman's
j^ainly on
" surface
{a)
:
chance of sport depends on the
a sufficient supply of insect food
{V) a healthy and exhilarating condition of the " river, upon which depends in a measure the good " appetite and free rising tendencies on the part of the ;
" fish, and
(c) an even head of water in the river. " There are few days in the year when there is not " sufficient fly on the water to cause a rise of fish, al" though the time of its appearance varies with the
But the best rises of duns at " Dorchester, as elsewhere, have generally been in cool " weather during light to moderate winds, from the " N.E., E., or S.E., and at mid-day, even on cold days "season of the year.
good hatches are sometimes seen. Occa" sionally excellent rises occur with moderate down" stream wind (which at Dorchester is from S.W.) on " in spring,
" cloudy days with rain threatening. " Mid-April, May, the first half of June and Sep" tember, are generally the best months for duns; all life being on the river day when the weather is season" able. Chironomus, one of the midges found in swarms " on the Lower Water at Dorchester, comes on about " the last week in July and continues daily en evidence " to the end of the fishing season if not later. " In July, and generally during dry, hot, bright " weather, there is a scarcity of duns in the day, though
" the other usual forms of insect
"more
or less every
" usually small flies (Diptera) are plentiful. When the " sun gets off the water there is sometimes a rise of pale, " watery duns, and the keepers frequently report good "rises of fly early in the morning before the angler is
During the heat of the summer the fish do seem in feeding humour, although occasionally
"about. " not
"they come on
to spinners, smuts, &c., in the evening.
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING SPORT
213
" I suppose the stale condition of the stream affects their " appetites, as I have noticed that if the river chances " to be frequently flushed by rain water in July or " August some good sport has been obtainable. " Injudicious w^eed-cutting is a common cause of fly " failure, notably among the Ephemeridae. The worst
days for sport with me have been hot, bright days in " dry weather with a strong wind. " I have noticed that, from July ist to the end of "August, fish prefer small flies, such as smuts, curses, " and other Diptera, to duns, although if there are duns " on the water they often commence feeding on them " and finish with small fly. " The fishing is usually good at the end of May in " parts where the May-fly itself is not present, probably " because at that time of the year there is an even head
'*
of water in the river again after being out on the " meadows, and also because there is usually a plentiful " supply of insects from morning to night. " I think fish certainly take fly with more confidence " when the wind is down stream than when it is blow"ing up stream. Contrary to the experience of many " fishermen, I have often had good sport among smut" ting fish in calm thundery weather, although they are **
" apt to come short. " There are no rules or regulations
"us
to hit off the right
day
which
for fishing.
will help
To show the common in my
" inconsistency of all data, instances are " diary when, under certain conditions of weather, such " for example, as a cloudy, windy, threatening day, there
a good rise of fly and fish. Two or three " days later under precisely similar conditions there has " been scarcely any fly and not a fish moving. And, " again, I have seen the anomaly of a fair rise of fly but
"has been
" no fish feeding. " The fly-producing capabilities of different rivers " vary much, some showing the best hatches in spring, " others in early summer, and others again in autumn. " Several of the Hertfordshire streams I have fished " hardly muster a dozen duns pev diem in summer, and
DRY-FLY FISHING
214
" after the Mayfly the fish are notoriously bad risers. " The question of fly food depends largely on the kind " of weed in the river, and where the American weed " {Elodea
canadense) flourishes I believe fly is scarce. " It would seem, however, that celery, water crowfoot^ " starwort, &c., always contain plenty of Ephemeridae " laruae, at least in all chalk streams where I have fished
" in the South and Midlands. " Trout often rise well in showery weather, but the
ceases during
*'
rise
"
much
heavy
sport nor seen
rain.
much
fly
I
have never had
when
the water
has
" been lashed into
waves by the wind. Good hatches "of duns often occur where the weeds are being cut " and floating down at intervals. Possibly the meta-
" morphosis of the Ephemeridae may be mysteriously " influenced by the stream drawing more freely through '*
the weed beds. " The evening rise
is always uncertain, but during " the last fortnight in June when the weather has been " right, I have seen some of the biggest shows of small
" fly at Dorchester. After a week or ten days of favour" able weather for evening fishing the spinners fall off" " greatly in numbers, probably because no quantity of
" " " " "
fly hatches and the old crop is exhausted. Again, it sometimes happens that after a hot day small fly may appear in the air in profusion, but not fall on the water, and so the rise of fish is most
fresh
disappointing. " The foregoing conclusions are
drawn from a care" fully compiled diary extending over a period of ten " years, which deals with my experiences on most of " our best chalk streams. It is probable that any un" seasonable condition of the weather is prejudicial to " sport, and it is certain that the whole question of sport
" or no sport at any given time can only be forecasted " on a very general basis."
215
CHAPTER
VIII.
SELECTION OF FLY.
T^HE -*
of
men
is
diversity of opinion on
the
due
divided
being-
all
-
on
the
important factor give
of
anglers trout
and of credit
most
the
There
tint.
are
who have advanced colour
are
these seem
however, degree
to
the
of
the
of
making
in
is
these, a
delicate
some the
the
large
capacity
the
for
first
grada-
observant theory that
and the majority of
blind,
be of opinion that they have,
power
"light
of
and
discriminating
dark"
many who endorse what may be styled
There are
their
to
say that colour
;
fish
differentiating
tions
question
Some
selection
proportion of
a
fisher-
fly
degree
great
in
-
which should guide them
principle their
among dry
subject
branch
this
also
in
are
the
unable
the fly.
to
the exact shade
of colour theory, and are equally reluctant to accept, on the evidence proffered, the dictum of those
who
aver that
fish
are colour blind.
This third school comprises a number of dryfly
fishermen,
who
think
that,
provided
the
^^J^^^^^'i^'^^"'
DRY-FLY FISHING
2i6 artificial size, is
like
fairly
is
natural
the
colour,
in
and form, the particular pattern or shade
method of
pre-
late friends
Mr.
of less importance than the
sentino-
to the fish.
it
Twenty
years ago, like
my
Mr. Marryat, Mr. John A. Day, and many others, I was a firm believer
Francis
Francis,
the exact shade of colour theory,
in
the
insect as closely as
the colour of
possible in
the wings, body, legs, and even whisk.
Francis
we had much opportunity the
years
and
of
his
delicacy
combined
affected
success
degree
than
Mr.
artificial.
thought
life
in
shades
the
Day
quite
the
in
the
of
in
first
cast
a
greater
colour
changed
on the subject and attached but
latter
"accuracy
that
non-success
or
Mr. before
threshing out
of
Marryat
Mr.
question.
died
unfortunately,
Francis,
that
match the natural
selected should
artificial
i.e.,
in
the
his opinion little
impor-
tance to the colour, except that being a born artist
he could not put up with staring con-
trasts.
He
had, however, to the last a strong-
belief in the necessity of observing
rising fish
was taking dark or
whether a
light flies
and
selecting the artificial accordingly.
For myself
I
am
not prepared to discard
colour altogether, the evidence of colour blind-
ness in
fish
not being to
At the same time
my mind
conclusive.
there does not appear to be
SELECTION OF FLY
217
any convincing proof of the power of
to
fish
No
discriminate delicate gradations of colour.
one having studied the question of the food Salmonidae can
of the non-migratory
be struck by the variety of larval or
to
fail
whether
insects,
winged form, Crustacea, Mollusca,
in
&c.,
present in autopsies, nor can the difference in colour of specimens of the same genera and species be
be enrolled
in
who
that,
think
angler as his fly
is
must
I
elect to
the category comprising those
judgment of the
the
yet
how and when
to where,
be en-
colour cannot
while
disregarded,
tirely
Hence
ignored.
of primary importance
in
to
place
reference
to his chances of success. I
propose, however, to g'ive for the benefit The theory of ^ ^ colour blindmy readers an epitome of the various ness in fish .
of
1
arguments adduced theories.
I
m
.
r
•
discussed
y re
\
support of the different
have taken Sir Herbert Maxwell
as the exponent of the colour-blind theory, and
Mr. C. E. Walker, the author of
New
Dresses,"
as
denying
" normally colour blind."
(Mr.
B.
both
are
adherents of
colour "
his
Two
of
Flies in
trout
my
are
friends
E.
Wil-
experienced dry-fly fishermen,
principle.
the
"
exact
The former
good enough friend's arguments
request, been
and
Old
that
W. Smurthwaite and Mr.
liamson), firm
"
shade of
has,
at
to collate his in
my own
favour of this
view, and these are set forth in his
own
words.
DRY-FLY FISHING
2iS
At one of these charming informal Thursday afternoon discussions at the Fly-Fishers' Club in
1894 the
"Are
question
Colour
Trout
was formulated by me. At my suggestion a number of scarlet flies were dressed for the purpose of trying experiments, which Blind
?
"
some
resulted in
trout being
to these monstrosities
tempted
and some being
Those of us who used these patterns however, consider
to
rise
killed.
did not,
safe to base a theory or
it
rush into print on evidence adduced only as the result of a
few days'
Sir Herbert
Sir Herbert
Maxwell's views.
of June
19th,
trial
by a few
individuals.
Maxwell explained in the Field 1897, that he had conceived
some doubt as to the capacity of " fish in general, and salmon in particular, to distinguish difference in the colour of objects presented to their view,"
and made the following proposition
with a view of putting his theory to the test: " Let some floating Mayflies be dyed of a bright they will reflect about the same amount of " light as the ordinary yellowish-grey imitations, and let " scarlet
"
;
some devoted searcher " stream what time the " are sucking down the " it were found that the
one in a southern on and the big trout floating insects by scores. If highly educated, nervous trout •* of an English chalk-stream showed themselves as " ready to accept scarlet, pink, sky-blue, or yellow " imitations as the ordinary green or grey drakes, one " might surely argue thence that the whole theory and " practice of fly fishing should be subverted." for truth use
Mayfly
Having enunciated
is
this proposition,
he then
proceeded to try the scarlet and blue May-flies
SELECTION OF FLY
219
day on the Gade, a Hertfordshire
for a single
stream, killed a good basket, and no doubt, as
he suggests, days
later,
could
have
on another
killed
more.
Two
Hertfordshire stream,
the Beane, the experiment was tried again, and
again the angler was successful.
Sir Herbert
Maxwell sums up the position thus
:-—
may be asked, what is the general inipreson my mind by these experiments as far as "they have gone? What light have they thrown on " the problem of the perception of colour by fish ? The '• fair inference seems to be this alternative either fish " do not perceive the difference between the coloured "rays reflected from or transmitted through objects, or " if they perceive them they disregard them. If the " first alternative be accepted, then nothing is upset " except the hypothetical belief in the colour sense of " fish. If the second be preferred, then we come face " to face with this difficulty, that the extraordinary " acuteness of vision possessed by an educated trout " is directed wholly to the shape, size, and degree of "light or dark in its prey, and not all to its colour. "For my own part, after carefully studying the beha"
Next
" sion
it
left
—
" viour of these trout in two different rivers, I would " not hesitate to put a scarlet or a blue fly, correctly " shaded to correspond with the markmgs on the natural " insect, over a five-pounder taking the natural insect, " with as much confidence as I should display a brown " or a grey one. I do not pretend that there is the slightest advantage in doing so, save the trifling one "that the angler is enabled to detect with greater ease " his own fly floating down among the natural ones on
•'
" the surface."
These experiments to those
who study
have been
far
are no doubt of interest
the subject.
more conclusive
They would if,
instead of
DRY-FLY FISHING being carried out on waters which are presumably private and very Httle fished, and
names only are known to the they had been tried in
of which the
majority
in rivers
of anglers,
chalk streams, such as the Test or Itchen, and
on lengths which are flogged throughout the In any case, Sir Herbert Maxwell season. himself will agree with
me
that the experience
of two days during the height of the May-fly
season
which
found so important at heory as colour
to
blindness on the part of the Mr. c. E. Walker's views
on
unsound basis
an
manifestly
is
Mr. C. E. Walker,
in
fish.
"Old
Flies in
New
Dresses," devotes a chapter to the consideration of " Colour Perception
would strongly urge it
theory,
that " trout
fly-fishermen to
Referring to
carefully.
well's
all
he
well-known
have been known
read
fact
to rise at things
on the water which were not only unlike colour to any
them
in
Hence he aroues
and
gradations
that
"the
shade."
of
fact
that
trout took an abnormally coloured fly
conclusive proof that they mistook natural fly, particularly as this
trout
are at
the
any
rate
it
is
these
not a
for the
experiment was
May- fly season when the
sometimes appear
at
in
flies on the water, but also unlike
shape
made during
I
Herbert Max-
Sir
the
cites
and
Fish,"
in
to be quite
always much
any other time of the year."
less
mad, but shy than
SELECTION OF FLY
The
probability of trout being- able to dis-
criminate
colour
is
supported by the
assumed
colouring generally
by
season
the breeding
in
probably as tending to render
fish,
them more
brilliant
some genera and
males of
the
species of
by the
221
attractive to the females
and also
;
assume the colouring
ability of fish to
of their surroundings as an assistance in hiding
from
numerous enemies.
their
further suggests that,
theory
is
true,
would not appear
it
any
fly-dresser's task
culty of estimating
values
easier,
to
make
because of the
" the exact
relative
monochromatic eye
this
to
Walker
Mr.
Sir Herbert Maxwell's
if
the
diffi-
shade
of every
colour."
After a colour
sensation
anatomy trout,
carefully
no reason
to
a
human
of the
he arrives
and
written
at the
on
dissertation
comparison
of
the
eye with that of the
conclusion that " there
suppose that the trout
is
is
normally
colourblind," and adds, "as Michael Forster so aptly put
it,
'
No man
can
sensations of his fellow-man,'
tell
what are the
still less,
man say what are the sensations of The arguments of the advocates
can
I
think,
a trout." of
the
"exact shade of colour" theory, as adduced
by Mr. Smurthwaite, are as follows
:
" In giving the opinions of Mr. Williamson and "myself on the 'exact shade of colour theory,' I " believe that Mr. Halford is of opinion that colour is
222
DRY-FLY FISHING
-
The "exact
" broadly important, but is sceptical as to the necessity " fo'^ being very precise as to the shade. The two colour"theory, by Mr. B. W. " points are so closely connected that some reference to ™"'' w^> s- " the general question of colour differences is necessary '
" to illustrate my views. " Sir Herbert Maxwell, in
" appears to argue that
'
Salmon and Sea Trout,' is nothing and shade
colour
"everything. While suggesting that no colour organ "has been recognised in fishes' eyes, he quotes from " Gunther (' Study of Fishes ') a passage which he " admits seems to indicate that there is an apparatus "in the eyes of fish to transmit impressions of colour.' " I am informed on high medical authority that the " visual part of a fish's brain bears a much larger pro" portion to the whole encephalon than the same portion "does to the brain of mammals, and the eye of a fish "appears to have a much greater depth of focus. In '
"referring to 'modulations of light or dark-red, blue, " or whatever colour may be chosen,' it is not clear " whether Sir Herbert means two or three shades, but
means more. us consider the various shades of green in "a forest in the height of summer. There would be " say twenty or more, but if the wood were to be photo" graphed you would probably not be able to distinguish "more than four colourless shades. In admitting the "necessity in part of shade variety the greater argu" probably he
"
Now
let
"
ment as to the unimportance of colour fails. I cannot " understand how either a human being or a fish can "appreciate niceties of shade as easily without as with " colour. " Apart from this, Sir Herbert does not estabUsh a " strong case for his main theory. As regards salmon
emphasising the futulity of regarding any" thing beyond lights and darks, he tells us of his "phenomenal success with his own fly, which with " topping and Indian crow-tail, gold tinsel body, golden " cock's hackle with crimson throat, and wing of tippet "flies, after
"and
jungle
"Again, he
feathers,
says
that
has
very
the blue,
distinctive
purple,
colour?.
claret
and
SELECTION OF FLY **
223
Jack Scott do not kill as well as the parent but surely, apart from colour, these will all ^' appear the same to the fish. " As regards his trout experience with red and blue *' mayflies, it must be noted that he used them in highly " preserved water over fish mad for their annual treat " besides, blue and olive-green are hardly distinguish" able at certain angles of light, and the spinner of the "
silver fly,
*'
male mayfly
"
How
is often red of various degrees of depth. can he differentiate shades of red as he can those *' of green, seeing that fifty greens could be named to *' In other words, if his colour theory every five reds. " is right, he cannot carry out his theory about shade. ^' It is said that the fish cannot properly discriminate *' the exact colour of a fly between it and the light, but " the cases where the fly is in this position and where
there is no oblique ray of light on it surely do not " predominate. Even where it does occur there is some
*'
light shining through the fly which accentuates colour. " For instance, in a dark gold-ribbed olive with light " shining through the hackle, the fish probably sees far
•"
*'
more colour than the angler looking down "
Why
at
it.
should exact shade theorists be written *' down as cranks ? The eye of a living fish in its " native element is brighter than the brightest jewel, *'
'
though when caught
" surely not too
much
'
this brilliancy disappears.
It is
to suggest that discrimination of
**
shades of colour follows on brilliancy of the eye in
*'
creatures. "
all
The circumstance
of the very existence of fish points having very keen eyes, whether for colour, or " for size and motion only, as some contend. If they " could not differentiate animate from inanimate objects *' both on and below the surface, they would soon
*'
to their
"succumb
to
indigestion.
Caddis, cases and
all,
are
" found in trout, but this is a choice of two evils but " I have neither seen pieces of straw or stick taken by *' rising fish, nor have I found them in the numerous " autopsies I have made. Fish are said to rise occa" sionally at thistle-down and reject it at once, but ;
DRY-FLY FISHING
224
The "exact
"surely it bears a strong resemblance to a Jennyspmner. colour"theor) " Let US consider the case of a fish with perfect eyes by Mr. B. W. Smuithwaiie. ., -^^ ^.j^g clear water of the chalk-streams, and under these •' conditions I contend that, whatever the light may be, "precise shade is necessary. When I have been practi" cally beaten, whether in the morning or evening, and " have caught a brace or so, instead of the five or six '• brace I should have taken, nearly all my luckless " victims have had one or both eyes dimmed by a shade of
,,
•
,
" whitish film. " The argument that the exact shade theorists can" not fish, or that they show themselves, or let the fly '
'
" drag, is falsified by the fact of the best fishermen being " beaten not only at chalk-stream fishing, but with wet " fly on lochs and rivers, where good casting and manipu-
very important. The avoidance of " drag and keeping out of sight, which are the essentials " of wet-fly fishing as well as dry, are not very difficult, '•lation are not so
'yet wet-fly experts are continually beaten when there " is a good rise. " A fly of the right size for the density and depth of " the water, presented properly but not of the precise " shade, will in all styles of fly fishing (especially with "
wet flies) rise and occasionally kill a fish. It is asked, if one fish is thus killed, why cannot we kill the next ? " The real test surely is whether the non-colourists are
"
" beaten as often as we are. Even the best fishermen " are at times lamentably at fault in the result, and yet " cannot impute failure to defect in casting or working " the fly. great deal is heard about fish rising for
A
" play and not feeding
;
but apart from bulging and
not one in a thousand misses a natural '' not even grayling coming up from a depth of two fly " or three feet unless there are two or more flies hatch" ing and it is the species they are not taking e.g., with
"jumping
—
fish,
—
;
" a rise of large dark olives and a smaller lighter one, " the latter is generally preferred. " Short rises, we contend, are due to colour inaccuracy ** The latter is more frequent or a wrong pattern of fly.
SELECTION OF FLY
225
" in wet-fly fishing, as the insect the fish "
not
distinguished.
are
With dry
taking
the " general character of the insect can be readily deter" mined in the daytime, and in the evening it is usually
" " " " "
is
so
easily
one of the spinners, although a
rise
of
-
fly
duns does
occasionally appear at night generally of a larger and
darker species than in daytime. gnats, or other unusual
Red
ants,
black
surface food, are easily dis-
man does not go wrong Granted he can fish and is mistake must be either in size or
cernible, so that the average
"as
to general
pattern.
" often at fault, his " colour. Considering
the perfection of modern fly" dressing, the former may be discarded. If, then, it is " colour, it must be the precise shade, for there is not " much probability of an experienced fisherman offering " a black gnat to a trout feeding on Ephemeridae or
"making a radical whole - colour mistake. Some " anglers fish hardly any patterns but red quill or " gold-ribbed hare's ear, but they are not uniformly " successful. " Mr.
Sydney Buxton,
in
" January, 1899, says that Sir
" " "
" " " "
" " "
" " "
Edward Grey
Century for
fishes only grey quill and black spider, and that he (Mr. Buxton) uses olive dun, grey quill, Wickham, Sir Edward evidently despises silver sedge or alder. olives of all shades, and Mr. Buxton only goes in for If he uses one pattern and colour only for the one. various blue-grey spinners and the various blue-grey and blue-green newly hatched flies, and is never at fault, much of the ground is cut from under my feet but I know no one else who is in this position. " Colour is, of course, not everything. Thus Mr. Buxtons red spinners, well dried and cocked,' and Mr. Dewar's * double-winged red quill should be dressed with flat wings, as the spinners, whether spent ladies or moribund males, surely do not go down the stream like little ships as the newly hatched flies do. Mr. Dewar ridicules the man with the paint box.'
"red "
the Nineteenth
quill,
'
'
*
15
" Book of the Dry Fly," plate Ia,
p. 93.
DRY-FLY FISHING
226
The "exact
have had long talks with
"
gentleman, and if once he colours fast more will be heard of him. Mr. Dewar says (on page 150 of his book) that trout are much easier to deceive in dusk and semi-darkness The deception can only be in than in daytime.' colour, and hence when not deceived they discriminate Mr. Buxton, although he only uses six flies, colour. says that the exact counterpart of some insect that is, I was in or might be, on the water,' should be used. hopes that the word exact referred to colour, but he says later: Limit your patterns as much as you and the standard pattern will serve.' Pray can
"
what
" "
I
^® ^^^ colour"theorv by Mr. B. W. " gets his Smurthwaite. <. " " " '*
" "
" "
painted
flies to alter
this latter
the shade, and
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
"
is
Go
the standard olive
?
shops for red quills, and you will " get six different shades of bodies and legs, claret, " brick-red, terra-cotta, foxy, deep-ginger and ginger. " Will all of these and the common red-spinner with "crimson silk and gold ribbing (some with red tails, " others with white tails), kill equally well when any " spinner, not the jenny, is on the water ? Such is not " my experience, nor should it be expected unless fish " are colour-blind. To convince the reader that they to half-a-dozen
" are not absolutely colour-blind let me refer to the " number of times I have experimentally tried black " gnats over fish rising at Ephemeridae at a time when
" " " " "
there were no black gnats about, and could not stir a The black gnat was selected as the greatest fish.
contrast in colour to the duns or spinners, to the
wrong shade
of olive
would
rise
A them
change short,
while with the pattern which under a lens appeared " the right shade I could catch them. On an evening " after a big rise of iron-blues the jenny spinner and
" claret quill, spinners of the male and female iron" blue will be on, and in my experience you may as well " throw your hat in as expect to catch them, say, with " a foxy-red quill. " Fish are, no doubt, at times killed with patterns of " totally different colour to the natural one on the " water. Thus with a hatch of olives I have only got
SELECTION OF FLY
227
" short rises to an inaccurate one, and killed perhaps " with a Wickham or Head's Fancy.' There have '
'
'
" probably been Trichoptera on the water too, and these " patterns have been fair imitations of them.
much as the Ephehappens that one is beaten *' when the big fish are sucking in flies under the " reeds in ^'^^asz-darkness by using a silver sedge in " place, say of a red one " The expression fancy fly should never be used in "connection with dry-fly fishing, for probably a skilled " Trichoptera vary in colour as
" meridse, and
how
often
it
!
'
'
" entomologist could find a natural insect the exact " shade of every pattern of killing artificial fly. One of
"our difficulties is, that when a "which is not a copy of the
killed with a fly Ephemeridge the " idea prevails that it represents nothing in nature and "that the fish are insensible to anything but gaudiness, " and the probability of the fancy fly being a correct " imitation of one of the Trichoptera is entirely over" looked. Much of this fancy fly talk has probably " arisen from the use of tinsel, which I firmly believe fish is
rising
'
'
'
*
" means transparency to the fish. " It is said that there is no great disparity between " the catches of the man who uses say three shades of "olive and one of spinner or red quill, and the special " colourists but it is not so in reality. I have frequently "read reports in the F^V/i that the fish in the Itchen :
"were
all rising false, and a dozen rods perhaps only " killed a brace or so. On the same day friends of mine " have returned with three or four brace caught say by " a Little Marryat in place of a ginger quill used by " the others, or with an iron-blue, with amber tips to " the legs in place of all blue legs, or with a honey dun " hackle in place of a jenny spinner.
" People say mayfly fishing
is
easy,
and no doubt
it
"is at its early stage when the trout are ravenous, " but as its season advances the number of short rises "diminish in exact proportion to the care taken over " the colour. On the Itchen, during the fortnight which " is approximately its average duration, about seven
DRY-FLY FISHING
228
"shades are required, and careful examination of the " '^^tural fly through a lens will show that it varies cofour"theor I am not referring to such by Mr. B. W. " about every two days. The "exact
•
Smurthwaite.
<<
"
bold differences as between the newly hatched female and the male spinner or spent gnat,' but between '
" the hatching " This is not a
flies.
fair
Did
I
catch
question, but
my
more than others friends say that
?
my
" suggestions pay. " Of the smaller Ephemeridae the books give dark "medium, light, blue-winged, watery olives and a few, " a very few, other shades. Medium olives bought at " different shops are of different shades each shade may "be useful, but this inaccuracy is prejudicial to the " development of the art, that is, if my theories are ;
The olives in an average fisherman's fly-box "correct. " are of a dozen shades at least. It is an ill wind that "blows no good, but the strange thing is that the " devotee will select any. of the dozen shades when he "finds what he calls a medium olive on the water. If " he kills with it the fish are not rising short. The
"next day the same shade of
fly is up, and if perchance " he does not select one of the same shade the fish are Why is it that one day every trout is "rising short. " hooked in the tongue and the next day every one only I do not think Hampshire trout vary "just pricked ? " much in their degree of hunger. " A fly-dresser has no excuse in straying from his
"pattern; but when he has to rely on an accurate " description of the colour there is a way out of the " difficulty. suggest to some enterprising I would " member of the Fly Fishers' Club to name, say
"twenty
different
shades of
flies
by reference
to the
"colours of natural objects. It is useless talking of "grass-green, apple-green, olive, &c., as there are dif" ferent shades of grass, apples and olives. Some "colours in nature are unmistakable, such as a wall" nut-tree leaf, an olive (meaning the fruit), a swede" turnip leaf and many other natural greens, which " appear in the Ephemeridae. The manuscript lately " presented to the Fly Fishers' Club by Mr. Choi-
SELECTION OF FLY
229
" mondely-Pennell
supplies the means of making a contains the memoirs of a fisherman, "written about 1794, giving some old and apparently " very valuable descriptions of colours, as applied to " flies then used, e.g., russet, sheep's colour, friars'
"good
*'
start.
It
grey, crane colour, &c.
" Phelp's olive, for example, seems inimitable by the " average professional dresser, most of them putting too " much yellow into the dye. From the same patterns " each dresser gives a different shade, and probably each " thinks his own correct each would rise fish short, *' but none kill properly except the original. Similarly " with the other olives, I find that a short rise is the ** result of my not having used the lens on the artificial " in the box, and hence not matching the shade. There " are many other shades with more yellow and red in
—
"them, such as wet sea-sand colour, oatmeal colour, " new split-oak-wood colour and dry-sand colour, and " yet, as before said, the Little Marryat perhaps will " kill when the ginger quill or Flight's Fancy will not, " and vice versa. One shade will kill, while the others " only produce short rises. " If my theory is right there should be no such thing " as short rises if the fly is wrongly presented the fish ;
"will not come up at all, and if it rises the size cannot " be far wrong hence the failures of those who can fish ;
" are due, in my opinion, to faults in colour and in the " precise shade of colour. To sum up the question,
"the reader should put the frequent experiences of the " fishing world as to short rises against the one or two " happy moments of the scarlet mayfly man, and I " submit the manifest conclusion will be that the latter " theory, if persevered in, will lead to misery. " I fear the question of colour in salmon flies does " not come within the scope of Dvy-fiy Fishing. I wish " it did, for I think it a crying shame that a lordly fish " like the salmon should be put on as low a platform as " the man whose eye for beauty of colour combination " and taste in colour shades would not be offended if his " wife put on the head-gear of one of Albert Chevalier's
DRY-FLY FISHING
230
" donas in place of a Bond-street bonnet. " to argue for the fish. *'
General
Whether the
re-
fish
W. Smurthwaite."
anoler, then, °
marks on selection of fly.
B.
should like
I
convinced that
is
are coloui' blind, or that they can distinguish
the smallest variations of shades and colours, or
if
he
one
holds
of
many
the
between these extremes, he
will
opinions
probably not
be contented without a considerable variety of
book or box.
patterns in his
In offering-
advice as to his selection, one
knowledge
by the
particular fancy patterns. successful
it
If
his
own
one of these
is
another argument in favour of
is
If
its fefficacy.
confronted
is
each has
that
him
it
fails to rise iish
not difficult to find
did not float well,
it
;
excuses are
was
not cocked, was not accurately placed, or the trout
was
set
other hand,
does not
down by the first cast. On the when fishing a pattern which he a moderately dry
affect,
somewhere
the
in
vicinity
sufficient
to justify his
predicted,
it is
It
must be
the
wrong
of
fly
the
placed rise
is
declaring that, as he fly.
clearly understood that
I
do not
pretend to be able to predict that a particular pattern
is
likely
for
what
it
is
many
My
object here
is
to give
worth the benefit of experi-
ence gained during ing on
be successful under par-
to
ticular conditions.
many
rivers.
I
years of dry-fly
fish-
can be more precise
SELECTION OF FLY than most,
having
231
kept a fishing diary for
nearly a quarter of a century, recording
weight of each
fish,
the
which
fiy
the
killed
it,
and frequently particulars of the insects on the water, the state of weather
My
and other
details.
readers must understand that, in reference
to the " selection of fly,"
what
given
is
not
is
but the patterns suggested are those
advice,
which
in
the
my
experience of
and
friends
myself have proved efficacious under specified circumstances and at specified seasons.
The
data are mainly derived from club or
subscription waters, where the education of the fish
has reached a high standard, probably from
having acquired from
their fair
bitter experience a
notion of the dangers lurking behind the
seemingly toothsome trying
the
fisherman's visit fiash of
insect.
more favoured is
Opportunities of localities,
where a
a rare occurrence and the
gut an unusual circumstance, have not
been numerous.
Where
I
have done
has
so, it
ever appeared that the selection of of less importance,
fly has been and accuracy and delicacy
of greater importance, but that, above
all,
keep-
ing out of the keen range of vision of the fish
—whether the angler
or his flashing rod
been an absolute sine qua non.
In
— has
pears that the effect of education on the or,
in
ap-
fact, it
fish,
other words, the continual appearance
of fishermen plying their art over them,
is
to
DRY-FLY FISHING
232
make them
increasingly suspicious of the
or any mistake or drag,
ficial fly
more
of gut, but
man and
arti-
and more shy
of the presence of
tolerant
the gleam of his accompanying rod.
purpose dividing the remainder of
I
chapter
into
three sections
of Fly for Spring
Summer,
for
in
—
this
Selection
firstly,
secondly, Selection of Fly
;
which
I
propose including the
green drake or Mayfly, and incorporating with it
something of the
insect,
life-history of the natural
as well as hints as
be fished
;
and, thirdly,
Autumn and
to
how
should
it
Selection of Fly for
Winter. Spring.
The
trout-fishing season
portions of the United
commences
Kingdom
some
in
as early,
I
regret to say, as the 2nd of February, but the
Hampshire
rule has
been never to open before
the 25th of March, and even this date
too
In what condition the Devonshire trout
soon.
may
is
be
in
the early days of February,
I
have
nothing but hearsay to guide me, but a Test fish at
more than say a usually far removed from
the end of March,
if
pound and a half, is what would be considered by chalk-stream I fishermen as anything like good condition.
am
convinced that the angler's sport would
Hampshire the
the end improve
if
allowed to feed
in safety until the
in
fish
in
were
middle of
SELECTION OF FLY April, say the
233
not only because of the
15th,
superior condition of the fish at that time, but
from the
tomed
become accus-
their havings
fact of
to take the flies floating
But
without danger.
on the surface no argument
fear that
I
of mine will avail to induce the keen anofler to
abstain until so late a date
my own
winter,
and, after a long
;
sympathies
perhaps
are
to
some extent with him. As to fly, during; April, one must not be ... very far wrong in the first selection if it is .
.
1
intended to get a
fair
day's
On
being generally a short one.
day and
;
may
a great deal of time times,
even at
in cold
and
feeding
day
is
and
day
is
if
to
hour
rise
is
not often
one can generally
warm
— say
or even
four,
find a
but not heavy rain
is
usually a successful one.
one which would be considered
One goes
from morning
not
Somecommence
at times all calculations are upset.
to pattern.
seen.
fish will
—and
furious, but
fish,
falling the
Yet
weather,
go on such a day the
On
five.
is
for experiment.
a comparatively early
eleven o'clock
fast
before one to half-
so that within these limits there
feeding
two,
till
morning following a cold
commence
not
rise
a moderate
from twelve o'clock
last
after a frosty
night,
past
may
it
the
sport,
till
out
night
full
not
The made
of hopes, but
a rising
fish
is
Perhaps one of the greatest charms
Selection of April.
fly for
DRY-FLY FISHING
234
of fishing
one
doubt as to what
state of
this
is
For the early part the best patterns are some of the
hkely to achieve.
is
of April,
darker olives dressed either winged or hackled, such
(No.
as
(No. 4)
change a blue
we
dressed
(No.
or
quill,
olives
;
or,
the various 19,
20,
21
and
5
are
which
22),
are
In
so well taken
is
of 18,
often
too
may
questionable whether
be put up.
any dun
it
for
hatching, one
of iron-blues (Nos.
patterns
fact,
olive
olive,
neglected by the south-country fisherman,
is
fish.
thought
is
detached
when they and
same
medium
the
6),
the
7)
the
i)
bulging
with
and a change
well,
desirable (Nos.
When
the
2)
a
perhaps the most suc-
is
especially
all,
taken
not
If
hackle,
of
or (No.
ear,
or
quill,
or for
it,
month (No.
reach the middle of the
cessful
olive
variety of
(Nos. 25 and 26).
quill
gold-ribbed hare's fly
dark
the
3)*
hackled
the
when
it
is
on the
water as a really good imitation of this species. Thegrannom
Almost the
first
mild days after the middle
season.
of April all,
bring
will,
in
the
rivers first
where
signs
of
it
is
the
found at
grannom.
There are so many fallacies existing in the minds of even the highest authorities as to *
The numbers
of patterns of artificial flies are from Entomology," where the dressings of all are described, and coloured illustrations given of the
" Dry-Fly majority.
SELECTION OF FLY this fly, that
am
I
adversely.
dicta
grannom
the
This
is
constrained to criticise their of
First
they say that
all,
essentially a fine-weather
is
true
235
as
as
far
regards
the old
going out to lay their eggs on these
having
from
the
undergone the
pupal
They
hatched.
are
usually
clouds through the air tarily
by the
in
told
is
that at the is
first
This,
seen.
true as regards the old hatched
flies.
a question whether every winged insect
in existence
prevent
to
flying
fish.
shower of rain not a grannom
is
seen
first
but are never volun-
;
Then, again, we are
It
when
on the surface of the water, and naturally
are not taken
again,
water,
previously,
colour than
in
flies
metamorphosis
some days
state
and become darker
the
fly.
does its
The
seek shelter from rain
wings becoming sodden.
these are not the feed.
not
But
grannoms on which the
fish sees rising
fish
through the water
pupa enveloped in a thin skin, or the imago on the water after it has emerged from
the
the pupal envelope. are taking
that fly in
mentioned
states
winged
the
rising at
grannom
one of the two above-
—either
the
pupa
or
the
insect.
The symptoms case, as
Fish
the fish
same way
as
and quietly suck
are
unmistakable
in either
cannot poise themselves
when taking
duns,
insect floating
down
they do in the
in
DRY-FLY FISHING
236
forwards after the or the fact,
darting backwards and
They keep
them.
to
pupa under water
active
imago on
fluttering
surface
the
in
;
altogether the appearance resembles that
After the hatch of winged
of trout bulguig.
grannom has once commenced (and the commencement is certainly retarded by unseasonable weather)
blown
Frequently on
winds.
the
to
days
wet,
blustery
fish
are taking
it
the
fly
is
well
is
cold,
the
up,
and, especially
well,
surface of the water
theory
fair-weather
this
all
if
the
rippled by a moderate
is
breeze, the angler has a fair chance of getting
near his venture that
to
Hence
without being seen.
fish
from
entirely
differ
the
grannom* should be used only
the
I
theory in
fine weather. It fish,
certainly a
is
but
few
a
it
one
its
bio-o-est
hatch,
shucks, and the
to try.
the
when
does
plentiful
on
the flies
boiling
not
a
disap-
days
the
river
is
one
and empty in
all
direc-
know which
fish
commotion he cannot tell other, and in his hurry he
In such a
one from
the
generally selects the small *
the
On
anglers.
fish are
angler
fatten
to
altogether
is
mass of struggling
seething
tions,
the
to
fly
certainly only
and
streams,
pointing of
as
is
capital
The Grannom
is
fry.
If
he should
described and figured in " Dry.
Fly Entomology," pp. 98-100.
SELECTION OF FLY hook a big
the
fish,
trout rising
generally
result
The excitement
smash.
237
and the disappointment of hooking cause him
and the natural
to lose his coolness,
much power
perhaps,
many
of seeing so
small fellows one after the other,
too
a
is
a
after
gorged and the
result
Worse than
in the strike.
few
minutes
rise
is
the
over
are
fish
day.
the
for
is
all,
Whenever, during the hatch of grannom, the trout are not taking
try
it,
one of the greener-
bodied olives.
The commencement
of
May^
is
the end of
the grannom, sometimes the best of cially
cold
in
seasons.
time of the year
when
hatching are the paler
We
it,
espe-
come
then
to a
the majority of the duns
pale watery dun,* which
and smaller than the common
olive,
is
and
such patterns as the pale watery dun (Nos. 9 10), pale olive quill (No. ri), hare's ear
and
dun (No. 12), may be On rough bright days tried with advantage. the gold-ribbed hare's ear is the best and most
quill
(No.
reliable.
13),
In
or goose
fact, this
sentence
may be
written
without exception on every month in the year,
and
if
a Hampshire fisher had to select one
and one
fly only,
on which
to pin his faith,
could not do better than take Iron
*
blues t
fly,
he
this.
when hatching
" Dry-Fly Entomology," pp. 58-60.
°^
^^'r*^^?"
fly for
are
specially
t
Ihid., p. 61.
May.
DRY-FLY FISHING
238
successful at this period during the
the evening, although there
for
evening
when
is
day
and
;
much
not
early as this, yet sometimes,
rise as
calm, the various forms of red spinner
(Nos. 35, 36,
2>1^
38,
and
39), red quills (Nos.
^l and 34), detached badger (No. 40), jenny spinner (No. 45), and occasionally the silver
sedge (No.
The as
63),
may
be tried with advantage.
olive spinners are often out, but as far
my
experience goes the
the natural well,
expected,
taken
is
to resemble
and the
imitation, as
may be
For patterns
worse.
still
do not take
fish
the olive badger (No. 44)
it,
is
most natural, but perhaps a medium olive is
Commencement of the " curse " season.
quite as likely,
At the
latter
not more
end of
Perhaps
commences. in
if
imitate
the season of curses
word may be taken
given
little
make
are on such
the landing of a hooked
For
patterns, those
Dry-Fly Entomology" (Nos, 57, 58, 61 and 62) for curses and black gnats
are the best imitations.
and
diffi-
in "
59, 60,
when
Diptera are
artificial
best problematical.
fish at
likely, to kill.
this
and the
small hooks as to
quill
May
both senses, as these
cult to
the
the
angler or
stated previously,
apparently taking minute
fish are
pattern
As
see
cannot the
discover
insect
itself,
the the
flies,
right
orange
bumble (No. 94) or furnace (No. 95) is always worth a trial. On some rivers smutting fish take
a
pink
Wickham
(No.
82),
tied
quite
SELECTION OF FLY
239
small on a 00 hook, and in connection with this point rather
a curious circumstance should
some rivers that smutting fish take a pink Wickham, and on other rivers that they refuse it, but on some parts of the same stream. And, as an example, Houghton is a piece of water on which trout seldom take the Wickham. On a small tributary of the same stream which I formerly be noted.
rented
it
It
on
only
not
is
was almost always
This
successful.
was not due to the fish being less shy, as I think, in no part of any stream, even including Houghton itself, had I found fish so shy
and so water.
as on this particular piece of
difficult
Sometimes, where they
will
not take
the pink Wickham, a small red-quill, "green or
nondescript," cessful,
for
what
these
it
may
sedge
silver
although
patterns
be
suc-
mystery why and
a
is
by
taken
are
fish
which are palpably, as shown by actual experiment in the shape of autopsy, taking nothing but these
black Diptera.
little
have seen sedges out quite early in May, and have not only seen them, but have killed I
with them.
As an example,
diary that on the 19th
with
evening, train just
at
northerly
before seven
once, killed with
hook a
trout 2 lbs.
I
note from
wind, o'clock,
I
by and starting arrived
a silver sedge 4
my
May, 1882, on a cold
ozs.
at
the
on
a o
first
cast,
Sedge
flies in
DRY-FLY FISHING
240
and subsequently the
days
last
appearance with
of
and rose
May
of the
In
others.
sometimes the
green
drake
first
noticed,
is
accompanying Welshman's Button,
the
sedge, &c.
but these
;
be treated
will
lost
in
flies
detail
belong to June, and
under the section of
Summer. Summer.
With the commencement
The Mayfly season.
seasons
may be
the
first
expected.
of 'Tune in ordinary ^
appearance
Mayfly
of the
Probably more inaccuracies
and more misleadinof matter have been
o-iven
forth to the public about this fly than
angling
other
The
subjects.
on
Mayfly
all
fort-
night used to be described by the older school of authors as a sort of carnival
have canonised
To
by the name of
read their glowing sketches,
fancy that in
it
— some,
it
was only necessary
in fact,
Mayfly.
St.
one would
to cast the fly
any slipshod fashion anywhere
for all the
big fish in the river to compete in a race to get at
Anglers of the younger school, reading
it.
these
exaggerated accounts, go down
river
buoying themselves up with hopes of
Some even
great sport and easy fishing. that
it
is
unsportsmanlike
;
to
in
fact,
the
say
a sort of
poaching, as bad as the minnow, worse than the worm,
and only on a par with the
How soon they would be undeceived only tried one season on the Test
if !
net.
they
They
SELECTION OF FLY would
find that
it is
far
more
241
difficult
than any
ordinary fishing, not only because of the labour of drying the
fly
and the increased
difficulty of
casting so big an object against the wind
only because
;
not
long hours of daylight
of the
during which they stop out of doors and keep
on fishing
;
not only because of the heat of the
weather, but in addition to as the big fish are desire
will
because,
this,
all
on the move, every one's
to catch these monsters,
is
customers
old
all
stand
not
and the wary the
smallest
mistake.
Experienced dry-fly fishermen among southern anglers have, for
many
seasons past, raised
a general wail of discontent at the bad sport
they have obtained during the short fortnight of
Complaints
Mayfly.
the
on
this
score
have increased year by year, and hence, percalm
a
haps,
judicial
consideration
of
the
circumstances tending to produce this undesirable result
is
not out of place here.
It is
said
that trout do not take the natural fly as freely
as
was
believe,
their is
wont
former days.
This,
I
not the case, and the almost universal
disappointment
some
in
is
due
to a variety of causes,
and others preventable, brought about partly by want of experience and partly by the ever-increasing shyness of the fish, natural
augmented by excessive or injudicious casting over them at all times and seasons.
greatly
16
DRY-FLY FISHING
242 Decrease of
It
years
Only In exceptional
Js
that
these
great rises of green drake take place, and even
then the
Mayfly has much decreased
and
in
is
some
in
numbers,
The
has increased.
it
;
it
de-
generally due to the mania for dredg-
is
Taking out the
ing out the mud.
mud, which
black, slimy
the result of the decomposition
is
of vegetable
and generally indicates
matter,
the presence of sewage pollution, of advantage because
the
sandy detritus
The
is,
which the
in
is
no doubt
Mayfly larva does
not affect this filthy deposit.
burrow
rivers
has altogether disappeared
it
said that in a few
crease
many
In
not a daily event.
is
it
pale, gritty,
larvae
love
to
however, too often removed, and as
a natural sequence the hatch of Mayfly must diminish.
The
Life-history of '
^^
^'
Hfe-history
exhaustively
of
the
Mayfly has
been
by many entomologists,
treated
notably by Pictet, and in later years by the
Rev. A. E. Eaton as
I
;
have been able
and a short
rdsuni^, as far
to verify the various state-
ments from personal observation, may be acceptable to the reader. Mayfly eggs.
The
cggs, an illustration of which, magnified
forty-six diameters,
when
first laid in
is
shown
in
Plate
XV.
i,
the water sink to the bottom
and adhere to the soil or stones forming the bed
of
hatched
the into
river,
a
where they remain
small
grub or
larva.
until
How
SELECTION OF FLY
243
long this process of hatching takes or
a matter of conjecture.
less,
extent
certain
positive experiments, as
about
I
20 impregnated
1
thusiastic
captivity
secured eggs from
and an en-
females,
friend
ancrling-
These
were taken on the 9th of June,
They^ numbered,
nearly
as
1887.
be
could
as
Average number of eggs
appear to the reader result
counting under the
eggs from
eggs
This number may,
an exaggeration, but the out and
in
\
calculated, about 800,000. at the first glance,
them
hatched
a small aquarium.
in
from
question
the
elucidate
more
is,
can to a
I
to
Jaid
by May-
be
of dissecting
microscope
the
and three
six females (three large
gave respectively the following numbers:
small)
6693, 6048, 7134, 5682. 5748, 7728
and these
;
figures tally sufficiently closely to an average
of 6,500 eggs per lation
is
They were of
my
by him of
show
that this calcu-
safely delivered
into
the hands
.
friend in
short
On of
.
(Mr. Hawksley), and deposited
certain
hatching.
little
fly to
fairly accurate.
ten
vessels
the
for
15th
weeks
the
purpose
August,
later,*
I
or
a
received
* Some doubt is cast on the accuracy of this experiment, as a keeper on the Test, a careful and rehable observer, tells me that he has collected thousands of Mayfly eggs and invariably hatched them out in about three weeks. Possibly the temperature of the water may be an important factor in connection with this
point.
Mayfly eggs hatched in captivity,
DRY-FLY FISHING
244
most
a
home
"
telecrram,
excitino-
On
Mayflies hatching."
;
came a
had
were
larvae
with
letter
thousands
commencing had been
to
that
sacrificed
Thanks
Mayfly larva
to
this
the
am ..,,.-.
accompanymg
larva
(magnified
Plate
XV.
week
old.
illustration
them) working out a
far as possible
we had
larvae,
but
to
failed
rear
in full detail the life-history
To
fair
provide as
imitation of their natural
I
and a number of various weeds growing there. These were
the
my own
had brought up from Hampa quantity of mud taken from the bed of
surroundings, shire
in
one
at last (for
Ephemeridse.
of the
the
time were very great.
were building hopes of
of one
than
Both Mr. Hawksley's and
previously hatched
of
diameters,
certainly less
excitement about this
We
able to
I
twenty-three
when
2),
number
in spirit.
forethought,
,
give
and
the cause of science,
and were temporarily preserved just hatched.
that
new-born
a certain
that in
stating
the
themselves
cleaning
feed,
leave
the next day
details
full
hatched,
busy
Cannot
river,
sorts
of
carefully
distributed in the various vessels.
The
larvae
commenced
burrows into the sandy bles
and powerful
with formidable
mud
forelegs,
at
once
to
dig
with their mandi-
which are armed
claws for the
purpose.
began to think that our experiment signs of being successful, especially
We
showed fair as we knew
PLATE XV
MAYFLY
Eggs X
46.
Larva just hatched X 23.
A.
NTmr;b
Tpr^inL
I
TfTn
"n!^
''
'
,
'
SELECTION OF FLY
245
immature stage the May-
that throughout the
mud. After a few weeks a close examination of one of the This vessels failed to disclose a single larva. considerable rise to anxiety, and could gave we takes up
fly
not
its
habitation in the
with anything less
be satisfied
than an
proved that
exhaustive
search,
our worst
apprehensions were only to well
which,
alas
!
founded.
Excepting the small number of served in
Our want
specimen.
due
we could only
spirit,
find
pre-
one other
of success was probably
to a variety of causes,
notably ignorance
of the natural diet of the insect, possibility
larvse
of producing in
and the im-
the circumscribed
area in a small aquarium in a
London green-
house the same conditions, the same atmo-
same
sphere, the
pure water
flow,
filtered
and possibly the same
through the chalk as
in its
native river.
Be that as it may, we failed, but some months later a number of eggs were found in the aquarium which had not hatched, and yet,
under the microscope, gave no indication of de-
These eggs were treated in the same careful manner, but having shown no change whatever up to June, 1888, a period of twelve months from the date of being laid, we composition.
from some unexplained cause,
concluded
that,
they were
unfertile,
and therefore reluctantly
decided to destroy them.
DRY-FLY FISHING
246 Mayfly larva and nymph.
XV.
Plate
:;
a coloured illustration of the
is
and Nos. 4 and 5 of the same plate are the female and male nymph respeclarva
life-size,
The
tively.
only apparent difference between
the larva and the
nymph
the appearance in
is
the latter of two small oval-shaped excrescences
of a dark colour, springing from the back of
the
thorax.
These are cases
which the
in
wings of the sub-imago are folded somewhat
There is the same way as an umbrella. some doubt in my mind as to the correctness,
in
from a
of the use of
scientific point of view,
these two names, larva and nymph, as indicating,
one the immature insect without, and the
other the immature insect with, the small wing-
covers
but as their meaning
;
are
convenient
will
perhaps forgive
and
terms,
me
explained they
is
scientific
if
am
I
friends
guilty of a
misnomer.
As
Habits of the Mayfly larv?e.
digs
the its
Weather becomes colder the larva
way more deeply
the depths of winter
is
it
as
much
as a yard or
in
more
genial weather
the
into
said to be
more it
in
is
immersed
the mud, and
found usually
a depth of twelve to eighteen inches. illustration
month sent
of this
may
I
my
of March, 1887,
me
from Newton
foot to eighteen
state
friend
that,
at
at
As an in
the
Major Turle
Stacey, his water
Test, specimens found
In
soil.
on the
a depth of from a
inches below
the
surface of
SELECTION OF FLY
A
mud.
the
fortnight later,
247
when
a sudden
change of weather had caused a decided fall of temperature, he could not find any more
when dredging
depth of nearly a yard.
to the
Entomologists are somewhat vague as to the lengfth of time during- which the insect remains This is in the larval and nymph dresses.
two and possibly extends
certainly not less than
In the second week of June have been found by me without any sign
three years.
to
larvae
of the wing-covers,
length
half the
when
the
and not more than one-
winged
full-grown
the
of
nymphse
was prevalent on the
fly
water.
When state has
the time to be spent in the immature
come
to a close,
however long
may
nymphse are found among the roots and
be, the
the weeds in the gritty
an inch. of July person,
This 2nd,
fact,
1887,
mud
at a
depth of about
as noticed in the Field
was witnessed by me
and perhaps
I
may
be
quoting the paragraph in extenso "
it
excused
in
for
:
May- Fly Metamorphosis. — In my^ May"'
fly
notes of June 4th
occurs '
:
— The
larvae of
the
following sentence
Ephemera danica,* from
this Mayfly was named Ephemera but I prefer to follow the nomenclature of the Rev. A. E. Eaton, the best modern authority on this
In the original
vulgata,
who gave as its scientific name E. danica. The Mayfly of warmer rivers is usually E. vidgata (Eaton),
family,
or,
more
rarely, E. lineata.
-^^yfly metamorpnosis.
DRY-FLY FISHING
248
the time of their to
emerging from the eggs
first
about a month
or
undergoing
before
so
the further metamorphosis to
sub-imago,
the
burrow deeply into the mud, and there take up
their habitations.
the period of a
My
month
reason for excepting
or so before assuming
the sub-imago state was because reliable information
no not
been able
habits of the
to
on
could get
I
this point,
myself
satisfy
and had
as
to
the
nymphae when approaching the
transformation to a winged insect. " Fortunately,
waters fished keeper,
who
last
however,
week a remarkably
assured
then about an inch
mud around
me
that the
intelligent
nymphae were
below the surface of the
At my
the roots of the weeds.
he scooped out
request
met on one of the
I
several
bunches of
weed with roots and mud attached, and after leaving them a few moments on the bank the head and shoulders of the nymphae emerged from the soil, and I preserved several speci-
mens
for future observations.
The wing-cases were fully developed, and one nympha actually underwent the metamor"
phosis under
its
eyes, splitting
open the
between the shoulders, then
envelope out
my
head and legs then curving
its
larval lifting-
body
with upwards and drawing and lastly, unfolding the wings as the setae it
out,
together
;
they emerged from the wing-cases,
it
fluttered
SELECTION OF FLY away, to
a victim to the open jaws of a
fall
This information should be
hungry swallow. of
value
on
of
fisheries
by the various
opinions
who
are
expressed
the subject of weed-cutting just before the
Mayfly
away of
owners
to
bothered
249
They can now
season.
all
superfluous weeds, in
hindering
not
spoiling June." *
sport
their
hatch
the
the
in
safely
full
confidence
drakes and
of
days
early
of the *process of This description ^
morphosis
to
sub-imago
the
accurate,
and
powerful
digging
would
I
only the
claws,
cut
is,
meta-
believe,
I
add
of
that
the
of
the
whole
mouth appendages, and the branchiee, are shed with the exuvium of the nympha and the hairs with which the antennae, legs, setae, and parts of the body itself are fringed in the ;
larval
In in
all
state
are
absent
Ephemeridae
pairs
from the sub-imago.
the " branchiae
on seven or fewer of the foremost
segments of the abdomen is
considered
acid,
are arranged
to
be
the
;
and
their function
chanpe of carbonic
introduced into the air contained within
the tracheal system, from the fluid which serves
* I may here acknowledge, with many thanks, the courtesy of the proprietors of the Field in according me permission to use this and other matter which has
appeared in that invaluable sportsman's Bible.
Mayfly subimago.
250
DRY-FLY FISHING
as blood, for
oxygen held
solution in the
in
surrounding water." * a
In
of
state
nature,
soon
as
the
as
wings of the sub-imago or green drake are thoroughly dried,
the process of drying
seen
floating
wings
When
it
is
frequently
on the surface of the stream,
nymph envelope
using the raft.
its
During
the shore.
flies to
it
ashore
a supporting
as
sub-imago
the
on
rests
the under side of leaves or on blades of grass, selecting
the
shady
side
period of
its
existence
it
in
;
Nos.
burning rays of the sun.
XVI.
Plate
female and the
are
male
stage,
this
microscope and
to i
this
shun the
and
2
representations
correct at
at
fact,
seems
of of
drawn under
reduced to the
natural
size. Mayfly
After about twenty-four to thirty-six hours,
imago.
the
time
dent on the
being,
outer
entire
thorax,
skin
the
green drake casts
of
abdomen, as
and
head,
its
as
well
coverings of the antennae, legs, and forelegs length,
greater
and
setae
increasing
the
The wings
males than
in
wings,
the
thin
setae,
very much
and the increase being in
depen-
entirely
believe,
I
temperature,
the in
relatively far
the
females.
of the sub-imago are covered with
small thorn-shaped spines * "
all
over the surface,
Dry-Fly Entomology,"
p. 72.
PLATE XV:
MAYFLY EphemeFCL
danica.
1
Sub imago
Female.
Male.
4
3
Imago
Subima^O
Female.
Imago
Ivlaie
SELECTION OF FLY
251
wings of
hairs along the edges, but the
and
smooth and
the imago or perfect insect are
from these excrescences, which are shed The imago, with the SLib-imaginal envelope. male and female, are shown in Plate XVI., free
and
figs. 5
It
4.
curious
is
imago
note
to
and
rising
low
gregating
down,
together
as she
Sexual
the
after
begins
clouds,
con-
up
and
each
female
the
imago
in
place
intercourse takes
shortly
the sun
air
dancing
and,
out into the open
flies
and
air,
;
in
wait for and catch
in
lie
state.
come out
the males
cool
to
and the
horizon
the
in
of Spent are
air
As
males.
exclusively collections of
gets
the
in
falling
clouds
the
that
female
in
the
drops her
eggs on the water, and the act of reproducbeing complete,
tion
falls
almost
lifeless
on
the surface of the stream, with wings extended
and lying
flat,
They
shells.
and
mere empty
their bodies
are at this stage, by a strange
misnomer, called by anglers the spent gnat.
A fly
retrospect of the life-history of the
shows that the
burrowing extent the
serve
first
trout
in
to
nymph
the as
food
stage at which feed
and nymphae while
larvae
mud
cannot to any large for it
the is
on them freely
rising to
May-
fish.
Hence
possible for the is
that of the
the surface of the water as
a preliminary to the change into the winged
gnat,
DRY-FLY FISHING
252
Thus, from an angler's point of view,
insect.
the consideration of the subject divides itself
nymph, sub-imago, and
into the three states of
imago. In the
Fish bulging
Mayfly nymphs.
first
of these states what
but erroneously, called the fly
The
has just commenced.
nymphse
swimming
are
memory
of
faculty
usually,
is
iriiv/r hatch of the May-
at
and
upwards,
possibly
being
not
the
of
first
the suffi-
ciently developed to extend to past years, the trout are scared at the sight of this strange
After a time curiosity impels
large creature,
them
to try
from a gastronomic point of
it,
view, and the
and
first
mouthful proving tasty
soon succeeded by others, over the stream the
until at
length
is
all
are feeding raven-
fish
ously on the succulent and nutritious nymphs.
The
evidences splashing
noisy
with
frequent
of
fioop
unmistakable
are
this
continually
changes
of
recurring,
position
as
hungry trout chase the active nymphs there
is
very seldom an actual
the surface except the
of
top
the
when
the
water and
—
;
the
but
breaking of
nymph splits
reaches
the
shuck
moment the fish is in the act of when it quickly secures either the winged insect or the empty envelope. It is a
at the very
taking
it,
strange circumstance, too, take
the
nymph
empty shuck
itself
in
that the fish often
preference
to
the
SELECTION OF FLY
The above necrlected is
what happens
is
man. by J
the
the
is
be
on
first
is
on club
of fishing
by the next
off
the
The
spot.
down
they have settled fact,
fly
press.
up,"
is
every angler renting water or having
;
privilege
ground
in
"The
cry,
or
private
anxious to
train,
long before
fish,
on the
to feed
fly
often before they are thoroughly sure
of the flavour of the
nymph
— are
cast over,
time after time, pricked whenever a mistake is
made,
They
are
people on
and
a
scared
certain
proportion
by the
sudden
banks
the
paratively deserted at natural result
is
of
other times,
to render
shy and drive them
killed.
influx
of
streams com-
the
until
the
them preternaturally
off surface food for
very
fear of their lives.
In private waters the in
the
owner's
remedy
hands.
He
simple, and
is
should
himself
abstain from fishing until the trout have be-
come accustomed
to the
winged
fly,
and the
abstinence he practised himself could not be
a great hardship
to his
friends.
tion or club waters, however, this for although,
In subscripis
impossible,
as a class, anglers are unselfish
and considerate towards
their confreres,
^^^'J^^J°^^j^_
first J"g '^.'^°"t ^ bulging at
communicated
rapidly
fly is
and wide by the sporting
far
Everywhere raised
river
telegram from the zealous keeper,
letter or
and spread
a
in
In civihsed iparts the
appearance of the
by
253
there
Mayfly
DRY-FLY FISHING
254
would,
fear,
I
always be some one or more
greedy members who would
and
start
low-members.
Por
Mayfly
a
fel-
self-
this stage, there are
which
rules
in
should
materially
bag of the fisherman.
increase the Patterns for fish taking
in
fish
get a
to
obliged
therefore,
If,
defence to try the
a few simple
strive
more considerate
distance their
the fish
when
feedinsf ^ "
pattern (No. 47,
on the nymphse •'
^
Dry-Fly Entomology
")
was evolved by Mr. Marryat. It is dressed without wings, with Egyptian goose hackle, either
undyed
body
of
dyed
or
pale
maize
-
a
pale
olive-green,
coloured
floss
silk,
ribbed with a strand of peacock's herl, which is
of pale cinnamon
at
the
The
root.
pale
is worked at the shoulders show about three turns of the dark
portion of the herl so as to metallic
which this
bronze at the
fairly
end of the body,
represent the darker marking on
portion of the
of gallina,
tail
natural
dyed darkbrown.
The
fly.
It
is
a
tail
is
difficult
owing to the stubborn nature of the stem of the Egyptian goose-hackle. fly
to
dress,
If this pattern
is
not available,
either
the
and 52)
brown or green champion (Nos. 51 In any case the fly should be dry, and when using the winged patterns it should be used.
is
desirable to fish
them with the wings
upon the water and not cocked. enced fisherman can,
after a
few
Any trials,
flat
experi-
manage
SELECTION OF FLY and
this,
refer the novice to a previous
would
I
chapter, which will
of deHvering
the
This
cocked.
three
the
done by either casting over
is
not desirable, or putting
is
accurate
Two
To go
made, and
delicately
casts
placed well above the
fly
cient.
to
not be
shall
it
superfluous force into the throw.
little
or
so that
fly
method
the best
indicate
hand, which perhaps a
255
on flogging
are
fish,
after this
educate the trout, and ruin
suffi-
simply
is
your own
sport,
as well as that of others.
two or three casts the
after
If
taken, wait, rest your
fish, let it
two or three
tempt to
it,
times.
If
still
unable to
an hour's time.
and go and
it,
find another fish, returning to
left
the arti-
it
crawl back from the bank so as not
show yourself and scare
in half
not
is
get the flavour
again of a few naturals, then give ficial
fly
If the
your old friend river has
been
alone until the fish are well on the sub-
imago or green drake, then great sport may be expected for some days during the prevalence
of the
fly.
hour at which the olden times the rise
it
It
is
rise
well
takes
to
note
place,
the
and
in
used to be a general rule that
became
later
from day
Of
to day.
recent years, however, the hour of the hatch of green
drake
some days or
6
has
become very
the advanced guard
o'clock,
on
others
the
is
rise
irregular,
seen at
does
5
not
DRY-FLY FISHING
256
occur until
it
is
nearly dark, and then perhaps
the next day the
before
When
Fish taking
Mayfly subimago.
best of the
The
it.
numbers,
great
in
and suck them
positions
up
take
fish
in
floating
fly is
one
ever,
make
is
enough
and
of accuracy cast
is
essential,
the
is
small mistake, how-
to set a rising fish
down, so
and oft-repeated maxim
the well-known
that
A
a bag.
their
another
after
without splash or disturbance, and this time to
be
will
trout are taking the green drake there
can be no doubt about
down
hatch
in the forenoon.
1 1
combined in the first and a dry cocked fly a positive delicacy
necessity to ensure success.
As
Patterns c f Mayflies.
"their
patterns,
to
name
legion."
is
Perhaps the best are (Nos. 51 and 52) the Brown Champion and Green Champion, but (Nos. 47 to
fisherman
with
a
stock of these patterns
,
nooks many ,
proportion a
and
laro^e
as
it
—
sizes
the
to
will in
too
in
he does not
if
dress Mayflies on
,
large
natural
No.
a
2
a
fact, ;
trifle
size
oi
it
laroer
11
all
Compare
hook with a is
quite
than
and one on a No.
exaggerated as to
r
,
and out
insect.
be seen that
male green drake is
rule,
.
Champion on
fly,
artificial
a
Professionals, as
artifi-
Entomology are good, and no
a sack."
"fill Size of
55) inclusive,
book can blame the
his
cial Mayflies.
"
of those given in " Dry-Fly
all
live
as
— the
3 -long
when compared with
SELECTION OF FLY a
female.
larore
these
at
rise
that
true
fish
will
specimens of the
fly-
is
colossal
dresser's art.
shyly and
It
257
equally true that they rise
It is
without
and do
confidence, floop,
not take, or are only pricked, and spoiled for
hours
Modern
not for the whole season.
if
May-flies dressed on
anglers should purchase
small hooks, Nos. 2 or
and thus cure pro-
3,
mania
fessionals of this
for
out dis-
turning-
proportioned imitations.
Weather upon
effect
much
this as well as all other classes of
In
fishing.
fly
credited with having too
is
rain
it
dry the
to
difificult
is
although the use of paraffin has reduced
fly,
this
On
difficulty.
other hand, the
the
fish
take better in cloud or gloom than in sunshine.
To
so
cast
two
large a fly with
strong down-stream wind
up-stream wind
water as soon as with a
the
it is
lifts
fish of
is
when
advice
away
is
impossible.
the natural
it
sails
fly off
the
along steadily,
As remarked
course take better.
a previous chapter, too, fly
say,
clear of the shuck, while
down stream wind
and the in
than,
two and a half yards of gut against a
to
An
more
it
is
easier to cock
casting against wind.
Again, the
repeated not to keep on hammering
at a rising
trout.
Keep
out of sight,
down on approaching the bank, Use the underfishing or retiring.
crouching well
and while
handed 17
cast
invariably,
and although
fine
gut
DRY-FLY FISHING
258
affected
is
by some,
not recommended,
is
it
because comparatively large with
well
never
taking- the natural
better to try
fish are
not
May-fly well and yet
rise
Under these conditions
occasionally.
Very few
fly.
tell
whether these are
and
if
not,
likely to
do not hesitate
for a
up a Welshman's Button (No. almost invariably found on
same time
is
it
with (No. 8) Flight's Fancy,
first
some such small
or
flies
with coarse gut.
Sometimes the
Other hint.
y
do not work
very small
as
just
gut,
float satisfactorily
Qne
Occasional success of other flies during hatch of May-fly.
fine
flies
casts will
be successful,
moment 72),
put
;
which
is
the water at the
as the May-fly, frequently appearing
say half an hour before the rise of the green drake. If neither of these is successful, a
prove of service
sedge
will
converting an
un-
favourable into a favourable day's sport.
Of
often
in
Welshman's Button some years ago when
the efficacy of the curious evidence
on a piece of private water.
I
had
fishing
Mr.
Marryat,
had been
who was
with
me on
that occasion,
a
fish
rising
on the edge of a run
trying for
some
his usual
time, fishing scientifically, skill.
When
he was grumbling a
rise,
had
at
I
arrived on
and with the spot
not being able to get
and exclaiming that possibly our host or hammered the fish on the
pricked
previous day.
A
few moments before
I
had
SELECTION OF FLY
259
Welshman's Button, and as the trout had previously refused a Champion, Always an suggested a change to the Button. advocate for sticking to the fly on the water, killed a fish with a
and not seeing any of these particular insects, he said, somewhat scornfully, "You had better The first cast was not an try him yourself."
my
accurate one, as
fiy
was coming down on
the extreme right-hand side of the run, while the fish was rising on the extreme
left
;
yet the
came right across the run, seized the fiy, and was killed in a few minutes a good trout
—
specimen of about
2|-lbs,
During the hatch of the May-fly, the earlier portion of of an evening a
This
is
known
especially
R<^d sedge.
there will often be seen
it,
number of large red sedges. Phryganea striata, and is,
as
with the exception of a very similar insect (P. grandis), the largest of the British Trichoptera.
The
well
known Kimbridge,
patterns are given in "Dry-fly
68),
has proved so successful
during the evening
rise,
the middle of the day,
in killinp- laroe fish
and sometimes too
when
has not seemed to tempt the it
worthy the attention of
A m
which two
Entomology"
winged No. 67 and the hackle pattern No. was brought out to imitate this caddis fly.
(the
It
of
trout feedinpf 1
the
r , final
my
the May-fly trout, that
I
in
itself
think
brother anglers.
on the spent enat or imap'o r
stage of
'
its
existence
is
usually
Trout taking "spent gnat."
DRY-FLY FISHING
26o
close to the surface, swimminor leisurely along
with
nose almost out of the water, and
its
sucking
quietly It
every
in
drifting
fly
down.
usually late in the afternoon or evening,
is
perhaps nearly dusk everything
of the
and dead
dying
;
deep,
covered with
river are
and
insects,
away
The
calm and placid.
is
reaches
slow,
the wind has died
;
the
and
fish,
very largest ones, submerged
frequently the
only a few inches, are slowly cruising back-
and
wards
forwards
water taking
They
noise. if
it
their
fins
above
with a loud chopping
are continually
nor
neither the trout
visible,
with
fly after fly
moving
;
hence,
projecting
its
fin
is
necessary to watch the wave, and
is
thus ascertaining the direction in which the fish is
movino-, cast about a foot above
these conditions smallest
the
shadow
suspicion to
splash,
not surprising that the
is
it
the
least
moving
of the
Under
it.
of anything
curl
in
the
gut,
rod, or the slightest
abnormal,
is
sufficient
show a danger-signal which promptly moves
the trout gorged with food to seek safety in
a quick retreat. The
late
^"^^
Mr.
Marryat's pattern of spent gnat.
^^^
^j^^^
^^
j^g
^^
imitation,
considercd
invented
"Dry-Fly
the
same cateoory o y as
by Mr. Marryat as the
of life-long study. in
in
no spent gnat pattern
It is
given and
Entomology"
dressed as follows
:
(No.
result
illustrated 56),
and
SELECTION OF FLY "
Four dark
Wings.
261
dun-
blue
grizzled,
cock hackle points set on horizontally. "
A
Hackles.
grey partridge
in
a badger cock hackle close behind "
Ribbing Hackle.
"
Body.
A
and white
at
the white part worked in
root,
show two
the dark colour at the
Body ribbed with "
Whisk.
badger cock hackle.
strand of condor, dark at point
shoulder to
at
A
and
front,
it.
or
tail
turns
three
of
end of the body.
fine silver wire.
Gallina,
dyed
in
diamond dark-
brown. "
Hook.
When
3-long." to
cast
is
an important
The When to pre-
point.
sent the spent
down
natural fly usually floats
a string of gnat
in
A
twenty or more close together.
will
fish
take every one of such a series, and then go
down should,
therefore,
the
will
it
If
this
be thrown at the
moment
lead the
cast,
first
another
artificial
lot is
mass.
the
of natural
the string that
The
swallow
to
wait
flies
is
file.
If
and
let
approaching, so it
is
your
unsuccessful,
Above
it.
over the same only
tends
take
fish
of the natural before trying again.
a cast a foot
right or left of the drift of natural
tempt
not taken
to
all,
fish.
do not keep on It
is
to
casting-
utterly useless,
render a shy
fish
still
the
may
flies
and
more
suspicious.
The
largest
fish
are
killed
with
spent
to a
DRY-FLY FISHING
262
when they do take it example, some years ago one
gnat
secured with
The most aggravating
may
it -
rise usually
feature of
and
style
consolation,
we may
big
tervals
it
fish
of
only
is
few
after a
ceases altogether, and
be described as the most
well
appointing
the
was
lbs.
very nearly the same
in
lbs.
that the fish are soon gorged,
minutes the
of 8
an
as
on the Test, and the following
it
season one of 7 spot.
and
;
Perhaps,
fishing.
think
take
it
as
a
just as well that
freely
it
dis-
rare
at
in-
otherwise, with the present plethora
;
of sportsmen, the race would in
soon be extinct.
many
rivers
Occasionally the trout take
the spent gnat well in the morning, especially
night fiy
it
oreat
a
after
so
;
show
after
of
the
careen
few days with the
first
always worth while
is
to
try
unable to get a rise with the May-fly
Qne more
Occasional use
hint.
If
of artificial after the
natural May fly is over.
and cannot succeed
or
spent
memory minds
gnat,
be
fishino-
May-fly
^ is
,
insects,
fish
do not
one cast with the May-fly the
preferably
latter.
The
of the taste seems to linger in their
for
June
it
when
tempting a
in
duns or other small
hesitate to give
it
itself
to
after the ,
over,
rising at
?^fo?Tune^
you happen ^ ^^
on a Stream a week or so
over
drake
is
some short
time.
generally a good
month on
rivers
where no May-fly hatches, or where they are not sufficiently plentiful to
make
the fish feed
SELECTION OF FLY
One
on them. (Nos. 36,
Not so
but yet occasionally, the jenny
often,
any small
or
pale
hackle red spinners
secure a rising fish in the forenoon.
During the day-time,
spinner (No. 45). is
the
39) or detached badger (No. 40)
T^*],
will often
of
263
fly rise,
iron
olives,
if
there
Fancy, medium
Flight's
sometimes orange
blues,
The
bumbles, and furnaces
will
(Nos.
'jTy,
worth trying, on most
rivers,
from the middle of
a
is
74)
Although,
June.
Entomology,"
in
take.
May
to the
alder
middle of
as pointed out in "
Dry-Fly
the chapter on the
Sialidse,
the natural insect
never voluntarily on the
is
In the evenings patterns to be recom-
water.
mended red
fly
are
quills,
sedges,
red
badger
or
detached badgers
spinners, quills,
our
old
and after dark, various the
friend
Kimbridge,
mentioned when speaking of the May-fly, or imitation of the large red sedge, which
is
only
Hammond's
seen at this time of the year.
Adopted (No. 89), and Artful Dodger (No. 90) are good evening flies for a change.
Of is
July there
perhaps the
much worst month is
not
to in
killing trout in the day-time.
the
May-fly
is
recovered from
plentiful it.
They
they
be
said.
fishing It Ju'y
the year for
In rivers where
have
scarcely
are fat and lazy and
generally shy, and in
all
rivers,
whether those
where there
is
not
much
May-fly, duns
are scarce.
If there
or
is
is
any
rise at all the flies
DRY-FLY FISHING
264
are small, and must be dressed on
At
hooks.
this
time of the year the weeds
are thick and strong, the
fish, in
the pink of
have a strong
tendency to go to smash the angler when there, and not easy to hold them hence the general
condition,
weed and it is
00 or 000
to
;
disappointment experienced by fishermen
not
is
surprising. Grayling
in
July.
Somctimes grayling take they should not, to
my
well
in
but
July,
notion, be killed earlier
The
than the middle of the month. they do feed well in July
is
fact that
an argument
in
favour of having them in streams with trout,
providing the stock of food supply of insect
life
is
plentiful.
If this
insufficient to
provide
is
food for both trout and graylmg, and the river will
only support a certain head of
the
fish,
not satisfactory, as the grayling, which
effect is
increase
seem to take share of the food and crowd out the
more
an unfair
rapidly than trout,
salino fario. Selection of fly for
July.
The
grayling take red tag (No. 97), macaw-
orange tag (No. 98), orange bumble (No. 94), furnace (No. 95). curse (Nos.
tag
(No.
57,
58,
99),
62),
black
gnat
(Nos.
59,
60,
61),
Wickham (Nos. 81, 82, 93), small silver sedge (No. 63), green nondescript and many other fancy patterns. In the early evenings both trout and grayling
sometimes
rise
well,
taking
all
sorts
of
SELECTION OF FLY
265
red spinners, detached badger, jenny spinner,
(Nos. 30, 31), when it is imago, the sherry spinner, which
blue- winged olive
and
out, is
its
best imitated by a pale-bodied red spinner or
When
detached badger. ling
do
as
not,
a
almost dark,
and
take,
rule,
gray-
rising fish
may be generally considered to be trout. They should be tried with silver sedge (No. 63) on a o
hook
;
if
this
hare's-ear sedge (No. as
it
65) of the
same
size
;
gets darker, either the silver or hare's-
on
sedoe
ear quite
a
unsuccessful,
is
dark,
No.
a
hook
2
;
when
and
the hare's-ear sedge or the
sedge (No. 66) or Kimbridge (No.
on hooks about No.
4.
A
dark
67), dressed
day's dry-fly fishing,
however, should terminate when the angler unable to see his
own
fly.
It
may be
is
slightly
prolonged by fishing a big sedge and putting it
on the water rather heavily.
This
prevent a rising trout from taking splash will
the
it,
will
not
and the
enable the fisherman to see where
fly pitches.
Autumn.
To
include
Autumn
the
month
.
is
advisedly,
of
August under
perhaps not
strictly correct.
I
do so
because the style of feeding on the
part of the trout begins in that
take of the character which
Selection of fly for
.
I
month
to par-
would describe
as specially appertaining to this season.
They
August.
DRY-FLY FISHING
266
are certainly in better appetite and less
than they were flies
Small
July in the day-time.
in
shy
dressed on oo and ooo hooks, such as pale
watery dun (Nos. 17),
(No.
ginger
10),
9,
Marryat
litde
(No.
and cinnamon
15),
(Nos.
quill
14),
16,
Marryat
quill
(No. 43), are the In calm, sultry weather the
prevalent patterns.
quill
black and red ants (No. 76,
78) are useful
^"j,
flies
during the heat of the day, especially the
red.
In hot weather a shy fish rising in slow
water
is
a
often secured by waiting until
natural
rise.
and then
close to
artificial
As
to
at
once dropping your
nose
its
evening
takes
it
the ring of the
in
fishing,
good, and the night fishing,
it
if
I
distinctly
is
can
the
call
period just after dusk so, even better. The sedge
Success or non-success
fishing after
dusk
depends entirely on the presence of sedge
flies,
in
season.
and the
later
prevalent
we
are
are in the season the
the
natural
insects
perhaps there are more to be seen than any month
unnecessary with
large
advantage is
;
in
flies,
in
nearly dark.
in
the year.
fact,
in
I
think
October
Fine gut
is
quite
coarse gut works better
and
evidently
there
is
handicapping yourself when
No
no it
place need be passed over
on account of the natural the fish
;
more
when hooked,
difficulties of
landing
as even in parts over-
grown with weed, with mere patches between, trout
may be
frequently killed, as they seldom
SELECTION OF FLY go
weed
to
This
after dark.
is
267
probably due
to the fisherman being invisible until the fish is
almost tired out and practically
the net
in
;
and weeding is, in many cases, the result of a scare on the part of the trout from seeing the fisherman or feeling the strain of the rod.
In September the trout, especially the large
ones are
in
morning
good
fettle,
to night.
and take
early rivers like the Test
from
well
is
month on
this
a wise one.
After,
proprietors of fisheries
would
be doing good by ending their season.
This
the
say,
15th,
in
doubtful whether the
It is
them during
policy of killing
Trout
based on a careful study of the
assertion
is
subject.
Some
years back
suspected,
I
and
since then continual examination has convinced
me, that the majority of
the latter
September are females getting heavy
half of
with
fish killed in
The
roe.
number
of
result
any great
killing
of these must obviously be to unduly
decrease the stock of
likely to
fish
spawn
at
the end of the year.
The as
in
flies for
August.
trout in
The
September are exactly grayling
a good
run
average, fight well, are in good condition, and
They
take from sunrise to sunset. difficult
of
fly.
please,
to It
is
are always
and require great variety
surprising
ance and continual enable one angler to
how
a
little
persever-
changing of pattern
make
a good day
will
among
^^^^'^'^'°" °^
tember.
DRY-FLY FISHING
268
same only a good
them, while his brother anglers on the
who
stream
are sticklers for using" natural
imitation
of
get
little
or no sport.
the
red,
blue,
the
Marryat,
little
Of
silver
black
gnats,
various
curses,
tag,
a change.
Occasionally,
take
will
it
all
grayling
sedge well just at dusk.
On
The
best.
of red
patterns
and bumbles, are
and orange
quills,
Wickham, and
sedge are about the
small
times, they
cinnamon
Marryat,
quill
water,
the various duns,
and
olive,
on the
fly
good
takes
hot
for
the
days,
comparatively early
at in
the afternoon. Trout
With
in
the
October.
end of September ^
trout fishing
stream;
in
June
who
kill
perfect
is
"
Francis Francis's
on those who
latest
will
"Anathema kill
grayling
not half scathing enough for those
trout in October.
a
the
should close on every southern
in fact,
Maranatha
at
they
condition
No
matter in
may seem
to
how be,
within an hour of their being dead they are flabby, dark-coloured,
and
for
the table
and loathsome
they are
useless.
objects,
Some
sportsmen salve their consciences by declaring the trout they
kill
in
October are barren ones.
have a vivid recollection of such a case when a trout was killed on the assurance of three anglers and an under-keeper that it was a barren female, and to this the head keeper I
rejoined that
it
was
certainly a
female and
SELECTION OF FLY probably found of
was a male
it
and
this fish
good condition and
in
ready
not
full
breeding"
for
Certainly one provoking feature
purposes. the
trout
rise
a
trout
is
when
opened
I
course
of
milt,
that
of ova,
full
269
and take
well,
landed
generally a large one for the stream.
wish their stock of
have a
to
fish
and
well,
October
in
it
All
is
is
who
chance
fair
make
of multiplying and being fruitful should
a rigid rule of returning them in this month.
Fish
banks should be
close under the
risino-
avoided when
grayling
they
as
fishing,
are
generally trout. Gravlingr are not only in the best condition, J J
^
and other
fight
better,
month
in
October
in
the year, but
all
than
the best sport
may
of them, from
Thus
be anticipated by the
man who determines
who
and
fishes
fisher-
to treat grayling fishing
who
as a serious branch of the subject, flies
any
in
the largest to the smallest, feed freely.
small
dry over rising
fish,
uses
and
avoids the dreadful theory perpetuated by
our northern friends that grayling fishing consists
in
°* f^'f'^'^'°"
'fly for Oclo-
throwing
at
haphazard two sunk
down-stream anywhere.
flies
All the usual grayling-
patterns
are
good
adjutant
blue
(Nos.
the best,
and very nearly
in
this
23 and
month. 24),
The
perhaps,
allied to
it
is
are the
autumn dun (No. 28) and blue quill (No. 25). Tags, bumbles, Wickhams, and even blacks
b'^''-
DRY-FLY FISHING
270
The
are sometimes successful.
Marryat and cinnamon
quill
standards in Hampshire willow
sions the
member
with
To
said to be a
is
grayling elsewhere,
Midlands.
imitate.
This elegant
(No. 79).
especially
Derbyshire, and other parts of
Yorkshire,
the
Marryat,
are reliable
and on rare occa-
;
of the Perlidse family
favourite in
fly
little
quill,
It
is
an easy insect to
not
appreciate the difficulty
it
only
is
necessary to note the difference in appearance
between two specimens, one flying through the with
air
and
four wings extended
its
fluttering,
and the other crawling up a post or over a and looking
bridge,
iron wire,
name
for
it
of needle broivn
is
Late
derived.
sedges are possible chances for sport.
silver
ber°ancrDecem er.
fragment of annealed
the afternoon, red quills, red spinners, and
in
Selection of
like a
whence probably the north country
In the two Concluding months of the year,
November and December, ^^^
the larger grayling
generally rising, and those which rise
^^^^
often take duns, gold-ribbed hare's ear, or blue quill
for
choice.
chance with Marryat,
When seen
Sometimes there
Indian
Wickham,
(No.
yellow
adjutant, or
the
water,
it
bumbles and such fancy
is
well
flies,
32),
little
autumn duns.
the fish are rising and no
on
an off
is
flies
to
can be
try
tags,
but they are not
generally as successful as duns at this season of the year
Cold weather does not prevent
SELECTION OF FLY the grayling from
rising well.
many years sportsman who made
this assertion
the
me
has since taught
My own
271
had heard
I
ago, and misjudged it
but experience
;
was not
that he
wrong.
far
doings of two days, the 28th and 29th
November, 1884, may be of interest as tending to show what sport one may have on such days.
on the 28th, a comparatively
killed
I
mild day, nine grayling weighing 9
At
sunset
it
became
time snow began to
1
and cloudy.
cold fall,
lbs.
3 ozs.
After a
and continued through-
out the night.
to a
depth of nearly a
cold, It
morning the ground was covered
the
In
and snowing
then
cleared
although
About one
ally.
were hatching deed,
think
I
it
twenty minutes, hare's
ear,
together 8
2f
sport,
I
lbs.
and
lbs., 1
broke
froze fish
think,
as this
tempt any angler, even I
am
and more
would be in a
severe
as
last ;
late
as that.
After
one of
and such
sufficient
to
frost.
told that grayling rise well
days up to Christmas, although fished
weighing
grayling,
or six
in-
gold-ribbed
a
7 ozs., the best
lost five
;
and within
rising,
with
olives
About
day long.
all
six
killed
occasion-
freezing
still
began
fishing
very cold,
still
a few large
was
it
bitterly
midday.
until
through
o'clock
but
;
one the
half-past
but was
up,
was
It
and on
off
sun
the
foot.
I
that
on mild
have not date the
DRY-FLY FISHING
272
be rested
river should
trout season.
done there
The
spawning is
ally feed
anything
until the
opening of the
trout as soon as they
are
hungry,
and
like a rise of fly
and get pricked
;
have
whenever they natur-
some perhaps are
hooked and returned, and so made even more In fact, I doubt whether after shy than usual. the end of
November
it is
worth trying except-
ing on particularly favourable days.
It is
also
well to give keepers time to attend to various details
on the water, such as repairing bridges,
renovating planks, and generally making im-
provements
in
the state of the fishery, and the
between Christmas and the opening of the trout season is, to my mind, by no means time
too long for that purpose.
273
CHAPTER
IX.
EVENING FISHING. A S the days lengthen the water usually gets ^^^ lower and brighter, and the trout from day
They
day become more and more shy.
to
generally smaller
impossible
until at
to
on
except
badly and
rise
flies,
take
last
it
do any good
an
in
occasional
and
smaller
becomes almost the
cloudy,
day-time rainy,
or
windy day, or on streams or parts of streams
where the quantity
fly
of
fisherman
creases, for they
the
nymph
is
Ephemeridae
to
do
not, as a rule,
numbers to some extent due
in the heat of the sun.
to
imago appears unwilling any length of time
The
to
de-
in
great
This may be as the sub-
expose
itself for
to great heat.
best chance of getting sport under these
conditions rise.
instinct,
also
change from
sub-imago stage
the
The
a i^ara avis.
hatching
is
during what
This evenino"
sections,
rise
is
is
called the evening-
divided into two
the evening rise proper, or the time
during which the ridse in the
fish are
feeding on
Epheme-
sub-imago or imago stage, and the
Evening
rise,
DRY-FLY FISHING
274
sedge
rise,
or time during which the fish are
taking the sedges which belong to the family
Trichoptera
of
evening
caddis
or
that of the small
rise,
The
flies. fly,
true
commences
about the time when the lower limb of the sun touches the horizon. of the river side, or
begins earlier on parts is
a
on the western
this period there
an hour or
is
often a
the lull
much
are not taking
fish
still
later
on
to
on the evenings
About
apparently After this
surface food.
they come on to the smaller caddis flies
artificial
light.
for a quarter of
during which the
so,
artifi-
continues
rise
barely possible to see the
is
it
This
of sunset.
when thrown towards
fly
hill
a high bank producing a sort of
cial acceleration
until
It
where there
flies,
and
of the larger sedge class
when they appear
in
great
numbers. T\\^ small
•'Torn Fool's
fly
rise,
'^
styled at
the
Winchester
supposed
killed,
"
facility
during what
Tom
is
usually
Fool's light," from
with which
fish
can be
cannot, under the most favourable
cumstances,
last
much more than
cir-
half an hour.
Fish during this period are almost as particular Whether a fish's as during the daytime.
power of discrimination of colours is to any extent impaired by partial loss of light, is a
moot
point.
As
before
indicated,
the
de-
oree to which thev can differentiate colours in broad daylight is a question on which great
EVENING FISHING opinion
of
differences
time this rise
short
be
not
should
lasts,
such
sorts,
badger,
brown badger,
selection of fly
first
Red red
as
various
the
evidently an
is
it
out.
far
Seeing
prevail.
that the
essential point
275
spinners
of
detached
quill,
and some of the
&c.,
yellow-bodied duns are the most useful.
There white
is
occasionally on hot evenings a
somewhat
fly,
'''
little
similar both in colour
and
shape to the jenny spinner, but smaller, and with wings distinctly more rounded in shape.
much
It is
smaller than the jenny spinner, and
on the evenings when
it
tremendous swarms.
As
hatches comes out
experience goes, and as far as to
check
it
I
by the experience of
fish.
At
quite likely that
why is
this fly
fish
dressed,
it
it
it
think
The
in
take nothing
it
is
reason
any autopsy
else,
and no
having been
insect
has not been possible to tempt them it.
probably
This
fly is
either
one of the genus Ccsnis
(Eaton) or C. lac tea (Pictet). shire
I
rapidly digested, or that
is
will
of this minute
when taking Ccenisy
the
is
beine taken
its
has not been found
feeding on
imitation
others, there
same time, they do take it.
probably that
personal
have been able
not an authenticated instance of
by the
my
far as
in
fishermen
labour
delusion of believing that
under it
rivulorum
Many Hampthe
bites.
sino-ular
A
greater
absurdity than this cannot be imagined because.
Canis.
DRY-FLY FISHING
276
Ephemeridae
the
like all
mouth organs are These quite useless. the
no
propensity
this
main
the winged state,
in
so atrophied as to be
because they
doubt
sub-imago
for a short time in the
and, wanting
to
change
credited with
are
flies
state,
their coats, settle
the nearest object, whether
re-
on
be a man's hand
it
or his face, and as they alight dig their claws into the substance
on which they have
settled
for the purpose of fixing the claws of the sub-
imago exuvium, to enable them of it and emerge an imago.* Red spinner for early eveningrise.
Possibly
to wriggle out
of the red spinner species
flies
well during the early
,
.
.
evenmg
rise
kill i
because the
majority of Ephemerida; on the water are in the
imago
state.
It is
a hot summer's day
of the air after
weakens them, and the
hotter
evening
possible that the cooling
it
day, as a
is
the
rule,
provided
rise,
known
well
there
kills
better is
or
that the
no
is
the
mist.
Another and perhaps the best reason for the presence of great numbers of spinners on the water eo-o-s,
in the
evening
and thus
duction, their
is
that,
fulfilled their
life is
at
-
is
to
province of repro-
my mind
fall
on
flat.
flat-winged state in
on the water
laid their
an end, and they
the water with their wings
This
having
which they appear
one of the strongest
" Dry-Fly Entomology," pp. 75-76.
EVENING FISHING arguments
favour of dressing spinners hackle
in
They should have
or buzz fashion.
hackle, yet, although hackle better than one
more
277
would
to
difficult
flies float
plenty of
very
much
think, they are a little
As
see.
for time of year,
June, July, August, and even
September, are
the best months for this style of fishing.
The smuts
on
strong
are
water on
the
Smuts
for
evening
some evenmgs, and although they used by anglers,
rule,
might
is
it
are not, as a
possible that they
My
be with advantage.
reasons for
may perhaps be justified which happened to me on the
expressing this opinion
by an incident August,
ist
On
1887.
Houghton Water were a
lowest part of the
number
of fish
My
rising.
they were dace, that
few casts and
the mill pond at the
after
is,
to
failed
friend
he had made a
said,
No
but
dictory,
The
;
a rise from
obtain
any of them, and suggested "
was sure
going
on.
I
should be sorry to be contra-
I
do not think those are dace."
I
natural rejoinder was,
"Well,
try
them
yourself." I I
was
fishing-
had been
a detached badger with which
killing
fairly
for
the
previous
evening or two, and crept up into position
below the lowest
fish.
the second cast I
I
fish
were rising
same run. About hooked a fish, and at the first
one below the other rush
The
suggested to
in
my
the
friend that the dace in
rise.
DRY-FLY FISHING
278
these parts were of
somewhat
colossal dimen-
and eventually he netted
sions,
me
for
a gray-
The
over a pound and three-quarters.
ling
very next cast
hooked and
I
grayling over two
couraged by
My
pounds.
friend,
en-
would have a
thought he
this,
a second
killed
try at these dace, and killed a grayling just
under one pound and three-quarters this
time
I
think that
we had
We I
walked
saw a
site
try
up
a
close
rising
fish
My
short
and by
down
set
remainder of those which had been
;
the
risino-.
distance,
when
under the oppo-
somewhat dared me to and although perhaps it was not good
bank. it,
friend
was a longish throw and a
judgment, as
it
draggy
place,
I
enough
to put the fly right, after the
third cast,
and
did throw, and was fortunate
killed
second or
a trout just under one
When at home I spent pound and a half. making an autopsy of every one time in some of these fish, and with the exception of a few and a beetle or two
larvae
in
the grayling, the
whole undigested contents of consisted of smuts Blue-winged olive
The
their
of different sorts
blue- winged
olive*
is
stomachs
and
a
fly
sizes.
which,
although frequently out of an evening, especially
from about the
last
week
in July, is
not,
as a rule, successful, because the fish do not * in "
This insect is described and illustrated Dry-Fly Entomology," pp. 63-68.
in all stages
EVENING FISHING take
freely
it
not an easy
the sub-imago stage.
in
to
fly
279
majority
that shade.
of
known
is
olive
and
;
dyed
not
are
imitations
It
is
the colour of the
imitate,
body being a curious blue-green the
It
to
to entomologists as
Ephenierella ignita.
which anglers have named the
imao^o,
Its
... is imitated
.
sherry spinner,
moderately well by a
The
pale or faded detached badger. carries a at
natural fly
bunch of eggs of a blue-green colour
penultimate
the
Sherry spinner.
holding them in
by
position
abdomen,
of the
section
three
its
setae,
which being turned forwards under the body,
When
are barely visible.
carrying
and
ants,
were
eggs
their
like
winged
we caught them we fancied they They generally head up-stream, great numbers
in
taken as a sign of an extra good
on the part of the of
view
being the only
and a
fish,
an
is
it
member
family which carries
on
entomological
interesting
a ball
in
insect,
Ephemeridse
of the
eggs
its
it
rise
light basket
From an
of the angler.
point
look
they
and when they are seen
that
the air
until
ants.
may be
in
flying
this
in
way. has
It
specially
111. mental hatchmg owing
r
01
lent 1
the
to the facility with
fly itself
In 1886
m •
larva;
experi•
to
captivity,
we took a
them or
Hatching blue-winged
•
which the eggs can
be taken without injury either the
to
itself 1
to
considerable
olives in cap-
DRY-FLY FISHING
28o
number of these eggs. On July i6th we placed them in water on stones. They at once adhered to them. These stones were carefully taken up to London and turned into various vessels friend
in
aquaria
Mr. Hawksley,
They were day
to
my
greenhouse of
the
in
there followed and studied from
day under the microscope, with the
result
development of the embryo
that the gradual
in
and although on many ^^^ was noted occasions friend Hawksley was inclined to despond, and to think that they never would hatch, the
;
yet after perseverance, by February i8th, 1887,
most of them had hatched of
knowledoe of the
and possibly
London
tively early Patterns for
them, the majority of the
suit
its
existence at the compara-
The evenings when madly on the
rise
appointing ones.
every trout
few weeks, and
age of three months.
early evening rise.
perhaps because the
larvse only survived a
the last ended
our want
necessities, surroundinos,
food, also
water did not
From
out.
in
down
to feed.
small
fly
seem to be are generally the most disthe
fish
Just as the light
is
fading
the river has apparently settled It
is
too dark to distinguish a
on the water, and the angler
too excited and desirous of
is
usually
making a bag
to
take the trouble of collecting specimens of the insects to
He
examine them
at
home
keeps on making cast after
at his leisure. cast, first
over
EVENING FISHING one and then over another
fish,
281
probably
In his
hurry not coverino" them with any degree of accuracy or deHcacy, and as a rule meets with
no success. he
If
perchance he should
too keen on
is
time
making
it
a
kill
a brace to waste
examininof the contents of the
in
fish,
fish's
mouth.
Whether under
these conditions
it
good
is
policy to be continually changing
flies
during
the short evening rise
moot
point.
Many
at best a
is
experienced dry-fiy fishermen advocate
the use of such patterns as the red
quill,
various
dressings of red spinners, detached badger or occasionally jenny spinner.
If there
should be
a great hatch of pale watery duns on any evening,
imitation
its
Marryat or
quill
neither of these
is
fisherman's curses
chance, and
if
ginger
the
or
Marryat,
quill,
may be
little
tried.
successful perhaps one of the
may be
put up as an
trial
of one of these over another fish
have often
I
imaginable
fly
— and
no purpose, and yet the
all to
be rising
to
curses,
still,
may
in despair tried
efficacious.
—
off-
taken a return to one
this is not
of the red quills or red spinners, or better
a
If
be
every
duns, spinners, sedges
in all directions
fish
seemed
and taking every-
thing.
Mr. E, Williamson, who has devoted a con.
amount of time IS to some extent
siderable ,
.
subject,
to the study of
the
^r. e. wiiliamson on " Patterns for the early even-
.
at issue with
me
iningrise."
DRY-FLY FISHING
282
reference
smuts and smutting
to
and keen observa-
opinion, formed after long tion,
is
more
that
what are styled smutting taking
frequently
His.
fish.
fish are
than
spinners
the
various forms of Diptera classed by the angling fraternity as smuts.
The
transparent outspread
wings of the spinners floating down are not visible
to
us,
and when,
as
many
in
males, " the greater portion of the " transparent
the
used to be
told
particle
that
of the is
observation
closest
"shows a minute
body
of
also
only
"
"
He
colour."
these were smuts and
them but " this is, in his opinion, "a fallacy and by using " " a spinner even in a bright sun you can rise
that
"
"
it
was no use trying to imitate
;
and hook a fair proportion of these fish. gauze net and a microscope are necessary
" put
up the right
degree
in
imitation."
I
am
A
"
"
to
to a certain
accord with him, because autopsy has
often tauoht the lesson that so-called smuttinofish
have been taking a number of spinners
On
durino- the evening- rise.
the other hand,
however, there are evenings when all
practically
the insect food found in the fish has con-
sisted of small Diptera.
He
has
found that
this
generally just before, or
at,
mad
rise
sunset,
occurs
when
the
spinners are plentiful, and that of these a large
proportion are males. sistance
of
He
has,
with the
as-
George Holland of Winchester,
EVENING FISHING
283
worked out a number of new patterns of spinners and has had success with many of them.
He
does not consider that his experiments have
yet proceeded far enough to warrant his giving
a decided opinion on their comparative merits.
He
is,
whenever he obtains decisive to
fail
them
publish
results will
am
that of opinion ^
not
00
the
for
of
benefit
brother sportsmen. I
and
pursuing the question,
however,
evenino- Deep
the
durinq;
his
take better in deep water than on ^
rise the fish
water
preferable to
shallow for evening nse.
_
Level runs of medium depth
shallows.
the
should be selected in preference to shallows,
on which the tailing,
than on
When
fly.
waste,
to
more
and feeding on
as quickly as
it
are
fish
and
upon the
fly,
— that
is
the right
to say, fish,
moment, and they
and you are not broken you can achieve
is
kill
There is no time must remember that, if
one
right
brace of good
fish,
possible.
place, the right
it
shrimps, &c.,
larvae,
you do hook a
everything goes off well hit
often bulging or
is
— the
if
you
the right connect,
all
outside
sport
not likely to exceed two If
fish.
an inconvenient
anything goes wrong,
light
by which
to effect
repairs of your tackle.
At
the end of the small-fly
at dusk,
no
dressed on
fly is
rise,
that
is,
just Small
so successful as a small sedge
a No.
o hook, either the
sedge or hare's-ear sedge.
silver
Comparatively
still
sedge.
DRY-FLY FISHING
284
places in deepish water are the best to select.
A
under your own bank
fish
than one
is
more
far
likely
the middle of the stream or by
in
the opposite bank, and altogether the fish are
A
not quite so particular.
dry
fly is certainly
an advantage, although there are some who are not
as
particular
to
You
this.
comparatively close to your
fish,
can get
and the
committed by the majority of anglers getting close enough. the under-handed cast
If is
a decided advantagfe, it
looking up from the water can
the
is,
in
moving object
a
discern
bility
all
at
tiy
presents
later,
match and do
Chang-
time of evening, or even
no
great
If
question of feeling to
now come
if
you
possible,
It
to
I
am
;
it
is
only a
it.
a lar^e sedo-e
when
strongly of opinion
in
it
is
that
should be pro-
only serves to render the
more shy
the
the last stage, namely,
this particular class of fishing
hibited.
view
you use Major Turle's
tie
to
that of fishin^ with
almost dark.
clear
Having once passed
so.
does not require sight
it
We
difficulty.
through the eye once, strike a
gut through the eye,
Large sedge.
the
this
get a sufficiently
light,
pass the gut
knot
proba-
by holding the eye of the hook up
cannot, to the
fish
above
surface of the water against the sky.
ing your
not
is
you are very close
how dark
because, no matter
fault
fish,
if
the day-time than they
EVENING FISHING are
now
my
not to
is
it
;
because
finest of sport,
285
mind, as a only
is
it
the
rule,
special
in
circumstances and under special lights that one
can see one's
As remarked
fly.
a previous
in
chapter, the dry-fly purist should terminate his
day when he cannot easily distinguish
The
fly.
angler ought to be,
bank, looking up
the eastern
towards
as
be
to
on the
water,
Stout gut
The
likely
is
light
behind
horizon
looking
may be used
into
in
such a
the
moon.
shadow, being the
scare
to
fish.
with advantage.
necessary
think, as
floatino^
" fly is, I time during
•'
"^
as
at
any
patterns,
all
large
dodger,
Wickham on
however, fly
is
is
not
You must
When
throw
frequently,
large
adopted,
;
if
fish
Pattern,
the
and
not expect
or a
natural
if
light a
many
rises.
rise in this light
the spot as correctly as possible.
Get within ten yards ;
for
or the
2,
No. 4 hook.
you have seen a
mark down nearer
a
all-important
dark, select a dark one,
light one.
—the
of about No,
Hammond's
or
and
;
or the hare's-ear sedge,
dressed upon a hook artful
day
the
sedges are good
the
silver or the orange,
on
moonlight nights,
opposite direction his
the
the
he should place himself
position In
On
set.
possible,
into
of the
portion
the
which the sun has however,
if
own
his
if
you can do
accurately,
do
not
and be most particular
so,
or even
throw too to
dry your
Patterns of
sedge
flies.
DRY-FLY FISHING
286
Cast either up or across and partly up the
fly.
and above
stream,
At
the
do not drag your
all
suspicion
slightest
of
a
because
gently, but not too quickly,
fly.
strike
rise
take
fish
more slowly than a small one and having hooked your fish, give no law. Do not be afraid of weedy places. Trout seldom weed at night, possibly because they do not see the angler, and grayling very a large
fly
;
seldom take well as
you are sure that the
down
set
leave
above
not,
you are trying
fish
and go on
it
waste time, because the
all,
doubt as to whether there in
the
gut,
cast from the
and see that
it
is
is
you are
in
a tangle or a
is
the
your rod to the
of
all
rise
your hand down
run
point
If
clear.
is
Do
to another.
one and soon over.
a short
hitch
The moment
late as this.
It
fly
not a bad
is
plan to carry a spare cast round your hat with
a laroe
tangle
anything of a entangle
it
at night,
it
will,
Of
as mentioned in
chapter, tainly
your
at
is
fly
One
Splashing at ^^ ^^'
course
in
if
difficult
is
and the
to take off the old cast
one.
because
attached,
sedsfe
there to
is
dis-
better plan
is
and knot on the new
changing your an
earlier
fly
you
part of the
use
Major
not
worth the trouble of changing
Turle's
excepting to vary the
knot.
Do
not believe
cer-
size.
oftcu hears the expression
sedofe."
It
it.
"splashing Fish do not
EVENING FISHING splash at sedge.
had
I
287
suspected
long^
this,
but the experience at the end of May, 1885, "
described in a previous chapter,
Studies of
Fish Feeding," confirmed this suspicion.
Sometimes
after a long spell of dry
weather
a wet nioht turns out a orood one for this class of fishing.
I
have vivid recollection of one
such on July
21st,
after half-past
seven o'clock at night,
one meadow
in
losing five of
1884, when, only starting
six
them
fish,
and
I
different ways,
in
hooked
succeeded
in
none of
them, however, broken, although the place was
The
very weedy.
only
fish
killed
I
three pounds, and, curious to say,
the anal
my
in
fin.
can recall one evening
I
was over
hooked
in
1886 which, to
mind, was so pre-eminently a good one for
sedge-fly fishing that
I
On
some personal experience. hot,
dry day, with
little
tempted
feel
fly
to
give
July 5th, after a
and no sport be-
yond returning a few undersized grayling, I started somewhat late, made the best of my way to the eastern bank of the river, and slowly
commenced moving
out for a
rise.
and the
first
passing set
that
it
fair
it
was not long
in finding one,
— which was, my mind, and clean — with a detached badger
down
moment
I
up-stream, looking
cast
at
to
once.
I
retired,
would come on the or two.
However,
rise I
imagining in
another
saw no more of
DRY-FLY FISHING
288
Walking a few paces up-stream, a similar thing occurred. Changed my fly to a smaller and lighter one saw another fish rise. Put the fly to it. Again set down and so on it.
;
;
with
fish after
some
distance,
to cross the
fish
;
so
and finding a convenient bridge
make my way home,
stream and
seemed so desperate
the case
having walked
that,
that
thus beat a retreat.
desire to
had every was nearly
I
It
the small-fly rise was over.
dark,
had a
although trying
single rise,
and-
fish,
must confess
I
what down-hearted. western course
bank,
practically
it
having
to
crossed
I
into
had not
fish felt
after
some-
over to the
down
and walked
peering out
I
slowly,
of
darkness (and
the
was darkness, looking from that
movement on the surface. At the upper part of North Head shallow, the sound of a risingfish caused me to stop and take a general observation. It was about dusk, and an exside of the river), in hopes of seeing a
traordinary
about
in
stream.
number of sedge
flies
were moving
the sedges along the margin of the I
stepped gently
down
close to the
bank, and found myself surrounded by them it
was
like a
swarm
again heard the
rise.
of bees.
to spot the exact position of
down, judging as well as the
line,
had a
I
listened,
After a time
cast over
I
it,
I
;
and
managed
and kneeling
could the length of it.
A
small move-
EVENING FISHING ment
my
aroused
moment
fish
down
careering
Without much
front of me.
shallow in
the
and the next
suspicions,
found a good
I
289
jumped into the water to get an awkward stile, and had to take the hesitation
down
almost
where
I
fish
bottom of the shallow,
the
to
past
netted out a nice-looking fish just over
I
two pounds and three-quarters.
somewhat consoled, and having arrived at a bend of the river where the light was good when looking up-stream, After
I
feeling
this,
put up a fresh
and
sedge,
presently
small a rise that either a small
I
fish
one
size
saw
a
fly
at
once
quiet
rise
—so
it was wary old
certain
felt
one
or
dark
larger,
of the
customers which frequent that shallow but are feeding on
not often seen
The
it
in
summer
the
was a fair one the fly landed perhaps two feet above where I had seen the rise and looking up excepting at night.
first
cast
;
;
the
into
light
my
flying off
make me indication to
I
jump
ately 19
reel at
nervous,
feel
rise,
down
floating
an instinctive
such a pace as to
was almost the
had of having^ hooked a
the time
I
above that
first
fish.
into the water again to get
the fence, as the
By
it
a pause and a rush up-stream with the
strike,
line
could see
Another small
distinctly.
had
I
I
round
some distance back. got on to the bank immedi-
stile is set
place,
I
found myself
all
alone,
DRY-FLY FISHING
290
with no assistant to handle the net, and with
me
a large fish twenty yards from
just
above
the head of the island, apparently with every
down on the far side of a moment or two, and
intention of plunging it.
steadied
I
managed
for
it
to get the better of
Again
few yards.
of a
yards of
and
line,
was on the point of jump-
I
However,
and
island,
could get it
in
I
—
In time
I
commenced
itself.
I
to get
had
I
all
I
water.
a rush
trout in near me.
for the first
time
I
line
on
showed was not
it
along suspected that
a very small one, and,
I
on terms with
had a comparatively short
and then
fish,
when
— the
taking every inch of line
and eventually brought the
the
to the other side
it
after persevering
trying to get on the other side of the
in
fish
to the extent
took a few more
it
ing into the water to follow of the island.
it
it
confess, felt nervous
saw its broad side as it leapt out of the I had v^ery little time to think, as with it
was
off again
down-stream
so back
;
I
stepped into the water, round past the fence end,
and ran along as quickly as
I
could.
Getting below and fighting every inch of the way,
and
plunging
stopping into
the
every
it
various
moment from
beds of weed,
I
eventually dragged it down to the lower end of the shallow and into the deep water below,
where, getting out the net after two or three unsuccessful attempts, it
into
it,
and
lilted
I
succeeded
out a heavy
fish.
in
guiding
EVENING FISHING was too dark
It
to
weigh
it
my way home met my who enquired as to my sport. but on
I
there and then, friend Marryat, I
told
him one
over two and three-quarter pounds, and
fish
"
How
Oh, about four pounds."
He
To
another good one. big
291
'
"
I
said, "
Let
said, "
me
see
;
"
and
his
enquiry,
added, "
No
;
that
is
but it will not go four However, when we reached home and weighed it, we found that, although a
a well-conditioned
fish,
pounds."
short
fish,
to turn
it
the
was
in
scale at
such perfect condition as
and
pounds and nine ounces. believe
is
as
slightly
This
above four
fish,
handsome a specimen
trout as has ever been killed,
perty of the Fly- Fisher's Club.
is
which
1
of a Test
now
the pro-
293
CHAPTER
X.
HOOKING, PLAYING, AND LANDING.
T HE
we have now ing
risen
Two on
and and
arrived at the stage when, hav-
the
fish,
we must
necessary in order to hook Striking.
to,
fish,
previous chapters have led up
included, the point of rising the
consider what
is
it.
apparently distinct sets of opinion exist
this subject
— one that the policy
and the other not
to strike.
to strike,
is
describe these as
I
only apparently differences of opinion, because it
a moot question whether they are not one
is
and the same, though expressed
The advocates
guage.
in different lan-
of the striking policy
do not advise giving a snatch or a sudden
and
jerk,
thereby
running a
grave
breaking the gut and leaving the fish's
mouth.
The advocate
fly
of
risk
the
in
of the non-strik-
probability, slightly
and
slowly raise his hand just to tighten on
the
ing policy does, in
fish
when
it
all
takes.
Hence
the
not only an unprofitable one, but
argument is
is
based on
a mutual misconception of each other's meaning.
taken,
When it
is
the
rise
is
necessary to
seen and raise
the
the fly
is
hand and
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, forearm
with
the
mouth.
this action striking
call
must
fisherman
of
object
firmly in the fish's
not
;
am
barb
the
fixing I
293
inclined to
and the non-striking
imagine
that
am
I
at
variance with him, unless he means to argue
no
that
motion of
hand
the
and that the
quired,
at
all
without any tightening of the
itself
that
if
should
it
fail
to
re-
is
must either hook
fish
do
or
line,
no action of
so,
the fisherman will tend to produce this result.
There is a considerable difference in the manner of taking a fly by large or small fish.
A
small
takes
and it
comes up
fish
to
with
it
a
dash,
quickly, finds out the mistake quickly,
it
ejects the bundle of feathers with
has been deluded equally quickly.
In this
A
necessary to strike at once.
case
it
fish
raises
is
head
its
leisurely
which
the
in
large
water,
slowly sucks in the insect floating down, and quietly turning
the
if
fly
the
head goes down
it
fly is just in its
preserve
it.
his
effect
case would be
this
away before
and scare
swallow
to
of
striking
either to
gets fairly hold of
equanimity at the fly.
To
fail
moment to
do
is
to
or
upset
all
of a
so,
fly
before the trout or grayling has secured it,
it,
a fisherman to
excitement either to drag the
to scratch
pull
mouth, merely to scratch
It is difficult for
large fish taking his in his
The
morsel.
tasty
quickly in the
its
and
away it,
or
previous calcula-
^^lyice to strike slowly.
DRY-FLY FISHING
294
tions,
and
grasp
his
in
moment
at the very
undo
to
that success
work he has
the
all
is
A
previously efficiently performed.
quite ap-
preciable pause should intervene between the
moment
of a large fish taking and the tighten-
ing of the line on the part of the fisherman to
hook
It
it.
may be
inferred
safely
surprisingly large proportion of the
that
cases
a ot
so-called coming short are blunders on the part
of the angler in striking
soon owing
too
impatience to secure his prey. rule to give time If
the fish
is
a large one
be too slow.
to
fisherman
is
and not If
it
It is
to
a golden
strike too quickly.
barely possible
is
it
a small one and the
is
perchance too
late,
should not
it
be a source of poignant regret that he has failed to
hook an undersized
trout or grayling
which he would have returned Force
to use
in striking.
Of equal importance moment when to strike is .,
force
of
to
astonishing
excess
is
likely to ^"^^"^ tile'
reef
employed
be
how
little
the
,
precise
.
,
the precise degree striking
in
useless,
;
it
is
and any
and only too
produce a smash, rule
may
reel,*
Mr.W. H. Pope
says
be laid down, namely,
i.e.,
:
"
do not put your hand
A man possessed of unsteady
nerves should strike from the
man who command
with
requisite,
is
worse than
One goldcn strike from the *
.
to the water.
reel,
but
I
think that the
strikes
from the hand has better immediate
over a
fish in a critical
spot.
He
can pull
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, on the
line so as to hold
the force of striking click of the winch. is
saved and a grood
when
it
striking, but let
come on the line and the In this way many a smash secured, which would
fish
away with a
otherwise go
295
sore mouth, and an
hook
inclination to get rid of the
in its
mouth
The resistance of made winch, as before
rather than to feed again. the check in a properly
remarked, should be
power
so that
slight,
if
too
much
put into the strike the line comes off
is
the winch, and saves breaking the gut.
Your thing
at
is
getting
first ^"^'ing a
being properly hooked, the
fish
command
once to obtain
the
rod-point
well
up
btUting a
of
it
by
this position
;
By
is
technically called
is
not understood what Francis Francis aptly middle-jointing the
styled
rod and placing
your shoulder. able
risk
what
the fish
this
or raising the
backwards over
inclined
In such a position a consider-
of straining
more
is
it
fish,
fish.
likely to
down stream
the
rod
is
run,
and
militate against your
moment
it is hooked and whereas striking from the reel involves two movements, namely, that of the reel on striking, and the motion of clasping the line imme-
before
it
reahses
its
diately afterwards.
the
position,
Before the latter is executed the run its head into a weed bed. No doubt when using very fine gut it is safer to strike from the reel." I give this in extenso, but with all due deference to my good friend, cannot endorse his opinion on fish
may have
this point.
fish.
DRY-FLY FISHING
296
ultimately killing your control over your rod.
your
If
fish
sudden rush or a spring into the rod
in this position,
the rod-point
down
break, and
it
if
air
makes a with the
barely possible to get
is
it
losing
practically
fish,
quickly enough to save a
runs in under your
you
feet,
cannot assist your efforts to keep a tight line
by getting the rod-point farther back.
When
butting the fish the rod should be at
an angle of sixty degrees with the water-level,
and
it is
only at the
the exhausted fish that
The
put on the rod so that
when
rinos
the
its
are
Immediately after the
should be
it
perpendicular position.
side
moment
critical
fish
reel
handle
is
of netting in
a more
should
be
on the
left
downwards.
turned
has been struck the
rod should be transferred from the right to the
hand, and in the act of transferring
left
it
be
turned over, so that the rings are upwards, and the reel-handle in position for the right hand to control
it.
the tendency
bowed and
The
effect of this is to correct
of rods,
set in a
when much curve with
used, to get
the rings on
the concave side. Playing the
jf
j-}^g
hsh.
let
it
^^
^X
its
first
rush Starts up-stream, '
take out line freely.
for the
It
fisherman to follow
danger of
its
it
is
not necessary
unless there
is
getting out of control or exhaust-
ing the line on the the anoler under
all
reel.
It
is
preferable for
conditions to be below his
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, fish
playing
while
or netting
If
it.
297
runs
it
down-stream he should get below and keep below it
and always as
it,
down
Obviously the hold
with the current.
of the hook
more
is
as possible drag-
far
seriously endangered
by
the pull of the rod against the stream than with in the same place or work down-stream, get below it and drag it down as quickly as you can. Keep well below it on a short line, and keep If
it.
hangs about
it
seems inclined
dragging
to
down
it
some your
for
as a golden rule, use
farther
obstacle,
weed, post or
unknown, and hence the you
entangle
in
home.
moment
in
its
coroner's
in
is
effected
absorbed from
action the
the
not
is
it
a
by taking it
in
water gills,
required
With
be
respira-
through the
oxygen
water.
al-
as the
would
case
The normal
mouth and ejecting
during which
most
it.
expression,
such
suffocation."
tion of a fish
in the
speak of drowning
to
native element, yet
verdict
by
it
and rapidly drowning
together an inappropriate
at the
to
degree of
that
taking more out of
seems anomalous
" death
unable
is
is
In addition to -this, you are every
efficacious way,
a fish
fish
them with
pile
and certainty exercised when close
decision
It
fact,
your
this
where every
to
in
;
way you keep on taking it from home into a strange country,
In
reel.
distance
heels to save
its
is
head
^g^'^^'""s ^
DRY-FLY FISHING
298
up-stream
directed
current
when
assists
the
function
this
the position
natural
of the
flow
of
reversed and the
is
but
nature,
fish's
head turned down-stream the water passing at the gills
///
and out of the mouth, whenever
opens them to breathe, causes an
it
insufficient
supply of the necessary oxygen and consequent suffocation,
and
the
greater the pace at the
more rapid
be neglected,
is
it
forefathers,
is
stream and
and one never
keep a hooked
to
much under
short a line and as
down
pulled
Another golden
this action.
is
by our
rule laid
the
faster
which
to
on as
fish
the rod point
as possible. suain on rod a
fish.
While playing a rod and tackle
fish,
will
be kept steadily on
as
full
a strain as the
conveniently bear should it,
and many experienced
anglers would probably be astonished realised
how
full-sized
little
if
Few
force this represents.
salmon -rods can
lift
a dead
they
weight
of two pounds, and an ordinary single-handed trout-rod cannot exert say, half, or at
is
at once.
owe
to
A
most three-quarters, of a pound
With large fish put on as much strain as
when playing a policy
a pressure exceeding,
fish.
possible
considerable proportion of lost
their escape
to getting
a want of prompt decision
them.
the best
fish
out of control by
when
first
playing
HOOKING, PLAYING,
Some
AND LANDING hard on
anorlers are unnecessarily J o
when playing them.
Unless there
is
299
fish p°?^ '"'^"'^^ and judgment ,
special when
reason for putting on a heavy strain by reason of proximity of heavy weed-beds, or to prevent fish
from getting into an awkward corner, there
no reason
is
the
fly
for
out of the
running the risk of pulling
mouth or
fish's
Many
ing a badly tempered hook.
hooked
fish
straighten-
a lightly
has been landed by an angler with
good hands and judgment and many an one by a clumsy performer. ,
If all is
smooth
sailing, if
your
lost
does not
fish
succeed in getting into weeds or winding the line
round a
post, &c.
—and you
can, to a great
degree, prevent this by keeping
on top of the water killing the largest
often as
— there
to
difficulty in
jumps, and as
it
is
back
in the water, to
momentum of its falling weight your tackle. As soon as it is back
prevent the
in the
head well
jumps, at once lower the point of
it
the rod until the fish
coming on
no
is
If
fish.
its
full
water the rod should again be returned
an angle of sixty degrees.
The
principles of playing fish
scribed
are
succeed in an open partially
and
sound
no doubt
river
likely
to
from weeds,
free
submerged boughs,
as just de-
roots,
snags,
or
other obstructions to foul the line either accidentally while the fish
is
running,
happens, of malice prepense on
or,
its
as often
part.
To
playing
J^RY-FLV FISHING
300
three-pounder under such
a free-running-
kill
conditions
is
the bean ideal of sport, but in the
present day to find such a stream, or
and hook a large
to rise
fish
in
it,
found
if
is
indeed a
a
plentiful
problem. chalk
All
sary food
sale
is
only to provide
if
the neces-
the trout or grayling, and the
for
mowing down
of
result
must have
streams
crop of weeds,
render
to
infallibly
unapproachable.
may
It
weeds
the the
be
shy and
fish
urged that our
the
weedy rivers and somewhat meagre records can be
far
greater bags
ancestors fished in
to weed, their plan
first,
and
set to
then,
if
killed, if
believed,
we can even hope
When, however, one
secure.
go
than
whole-
was
to
of their fish did
to pull
and haul
at
it
the trout could not be moved,
work with a
other
stick, rake, scythe, or
break away the
weed
instrument to
cut
round the
resulting in the loss either by
fish,
or
fracture, cutting of the line, or getting
unhooked,
of at least three out of every four so treated. Effects of
slacking a
hooked
fish,
effect
'X\\^
circumstauces
of is
slackingo
not
so
under
exceptional jt
serious as might
be
imagined from the importance attached to
it
Many
by the old school of angling authors.
years ago, on the Shannon, at a place where there
is
a
fall,
over which the
bottomed boats used follow a
hooked
fish,
cots,
in the district,
the experiment
or
fiat-
could not
was
tried
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING,
301
of slacking salmon that seemed bent on shoot-
with the result that they usually
ing the
fall,
turned
and ran up-stream
downward was
the
pull of the slack line in the current
was
It
felt.
found
also
majority of cases the hook
and the
moment
the
fish
did
that
in
the
not
fall
out,
was duly gaffed and added
to
the bag.
The same and casting to
or
of slacking-, o'
fishers
running
the
was adopted
policy
turn
or
Sometimes,
out
letting: o
fish
stop
whenever in
it
it
course.
a dangerous position, such as
immediately above a bridge or weir, where the angler could not follow his fish down, he
would
start
stream,
and
ahead and this
try to
procedure
pull
again
it
natural
sequence
it
down-
generally
caused the trout to head up-stream.
As
a
became the custom to it was found that
slack in difficult places, and trout,
instead of rushing down-stream, usual!)'
stopped and gave the fisherman time to get on terms with his hooked
A
fish
from below.
curious instance of this happened to
on a well-known
Hampshire
me
There was a pretty shallow which curved down and contracted in width to pass under a skew rail-
way bridge arch.
A
water.
carried over a river
in
fi
awkward
was necessary
downward
its
J°J.'jJJ,^^
line, hooked
by a modified switch below
it
in
even
by trout
later
a single
short distance above the bridge there
places.
DRY-FLY FISHING
302
was a steep and awkward of the high
railway
fence,
and the sides
embankment
close to
it
only added to the difficulties of the position.
One September morning
the
out three oood
on the shallow, and
risino-
fish
keeper pointed
volunteered the information that the local fisher-
men
usually avoided the place, as they were
invariably broken
by the
fish
running down and
through the bridge.
To was
almost
made down first
the shallow from
fish
the a
impossible,
fly
as
few yards above
the nearest fish
the
Wickham at
:
the
fast
and accordingly
drag,
cast with a
below the fence
once
I
I
water settled
The
fence.
and hooked
rose
slacked,
leisurely
clambered over the fence, and asked the keeper if
he would
He
like to net the fish.
and sagely opined as the rod-point
that the
had got
fish
was down and the
After some persuasion, however, to get over the fence and
laughed,
I
off,
line slack.
induced him
come down with
the
piayinijtroui
lb. 9 ozs. good trout of To show him it was not mere luck, I returned to the shallow, hooked and killed the second lb. 6 ozs. and i lb. 9 ozs., and third trout of pursuing in each case the same tactics. If a fish takes the fly and is hooked in
places"^
a
net,
and led
into
it
a
i
i
weedy
place,
the best
policy
to
adopt
is
the bold one of reeling up the line without a
moment's hesitation
until
the trout
is
on the
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, of
top
regarding
and
water,
the
its
the
net.
astonishing
how
how
should
until
sounds dangerous,
It
it
but
it
is is
great a strain gut (even the
stand under
will
finest)
it
head down again,
brought along on the surface
but
without
there,
struggles and splashing,
its
never be allowed to get
in
once
303
helpless a trout
is
such conditions, and with
its
half out
fins
of water.
Sometimes and
is
it
plunges
it
impossible to hold the
head
fish,
weeds.
the
into
first
Formerly the plan adopted under such circumstances was to get below the
and
tight line
by jerking and sawing
trying,
with the rod, to get
keeping a
fish,
it
out.
as a last resource, either to cut
around the
wade
fish,
and
in
among
or,
if
away
the water
try to drive
it
was un-
If this
successful, then to slack altogether,
and
then,
the weeds
was shallow,
out,
or even
net
Such measures were, however, always deemed desperate and foredoomed to failure,
it
Mr. plan
Marryat
vegetation.
one time advocated
at
of getting well
letting
out
until the tion,
the
plenty of
line,
sinking
motion.
to get the fish out
He
trout,
the point
by a gentle
explained this
but misunderstanding his directions, that his
the
rod was nearly in a horizontal posi-
and trying
swaying
below a weeded
I
to
me,
thought
swaying motion was effected by the
DRY-FLY FISHING
304
hand on the
the experiment was
Strange to say, cessful as
to lead
method
this
without the use of the rod.
line
municating
himself,
to others.
it
when weeded, the
suc-
com-
besides, of course, •
Thus, when a hooked
Tactics to pursue with trout
so
invariably adopting
to his
fish
is
well weeded,
rod point should be dropped and every-
thing
left
slack
;
to
keep pulling
impel the trout to bury
even to
the weeds, or
only to
more deeply in wriggle in and out itself
between the stems so as Let out plenty of
is
to escape the strain.
below the
line well
fish,
then
laying down, or spearing the rod, or holding in
one hand
the
preferred, take the line
if
thumb and
backward and
swaying
After a time the presence of the
evidenced by movement. is up-stream, all must be
stream, the
resumed, and the If
net.
tactics
it
If left
weed more
line
motion.
fish
this
will
be
movement
slack
again, or
deeply.
If
down-
should be dropped, the rod fish
be reeled down to the
weeds a second
time,
the
should again be pursued, and
down
hand
accompanied by a
strain,
forward or
the fish will only
between
forefinger of the other
and apply a gentle
it
it
same
may
weeded trout succumb firmly hooked to this treatment, while a lightly hooked one be laid
as a rule that a
will inevitably in time
will,
with this or any other procedure, probably
escape.
HOOKING, PLAYING,
AND LANDING
305
fishermen, as before noted, Rigfht-handed " usually put their reels on left-handed, i.e., with the handle on the
the rod
when
side,
left
When
turned downwards.
the rings are
a fish
is
hooked
transferred to the left hand, turned
is
over so as to bring the rings upwards and the reel
My
handle to the right hand.
Mr.
Lloyd fancied that one of
been
partially crippled
friend
rods had
when playing a heavy this position. With the
with his reel in
fish
good
his
view of equalising the strain on
his rod,
he
reverted temporarily to the old plan of putting the
on
reel
He
right-handed.
the excitement of hooking
in
would possibly be a this,
foresaw
the
difficulty in
fish,
The
following
occurred
in
is
a considerable
remembering
first trout.
description
what
of
own words quantity of weed his
:
"
the
then
There was
in the stream,
and, with the view of not irritatmg the at
there
and, as anticipated, he failed to find the
handle after striking the
I
that,
fish,
once dropped the rod point so as to slack
On
line.
up
was surprised to had only gone a couple of
reeling
find that the trout
I
yards and not into weed.
As,
was deep down
and hence could
in the water,
however,
it
not be held hard under control, and, imagining that the springy pull of the rod I
tried to lead
water.
The
mouth, and 20
it
would scare
rod point was only just /"^^/zt^^
it
it,
very gently into more open
came
quietly
down
its
into the net.
'^''- Lloyd's experiments «" p'ayin^
DRY-FLY FISHING
3o6
Mr Lloyd on hand playing.
"The
next
hooked went
fish
patch of weeds, so
I
into
first
a
speared the rod and took
thumb and foreIt came out of the weed at once, and, a lark, I tried to draw it gently to the
hold of the line between the finger.
just for
To my
by hand.
net
found
allowed
it
quietly,
utter astonishment,
be towed down quite
itself to
and even
my
at
I
appear
not
feet did
frightened but stupid. '*
The
third
trout
was struck rather hard,
rushed through a bar of weed ten or twelve thick, across
feet
broad gravel patch, and
a
into
the
middle of a heavy
The
fish
had taken out over twenty yards of
mass of weed.
and the case altogether looked hopeless
line,
but here again
I
towed
;
gently through the
it
weeds and down to the net. The next brace of fish behaved in similar fashion, and the five trout averaged over i\ lbs. in weight. "
The
following
wide and
fairly
line at once.
down
day
open
I
hooked a
bit of water,
This time the
stream, where
it
fish
out
if
it
would never
some
thirty-five
a
and slacked
swam
stop,
but,
yards
of
It
steadily
appeared
having taken line,
round and went into a weed-bed. position,
in
could not be followed
on account of a tree on the bank. as
fish
it
A
turned
worse
from the angler's point of view, could
scarcely be imagined
— a trout
below the fisherman, buried
in
thirty-five yards
the weeds, with
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, head up-stream.
its I
was surprised
The
307
rod being speared,
very
to find that a
sure on the line held between the forefinger brought the trout
up
pres-
little
thumb and
to the net."
on the system of handSimilar experiments ^ ^ playing' havino" 'J ^ > <>
been carried on during several <-5
experience.
^
seasons by Mr. Lloyd and other friends, and
by myself, the
be given
can
results
in
the
That when the line is slack trout do not usually run any great distance, and although they weed, and in some cases weed deeply, do not take a turn round the weeds (2) That no matter how dense the growth of the weeds, and even if the trout threads its way through one weed bed and a gravel patch into a second weed bed, it can usually be towed out by gentle hand-playing (3) That, although the method is more convenient and more generally successful when the following five propositions
:
(i)
;
angler fail
if
is
below the
the trout
up-stream
(4)
;
fish, it
does not necessarily
below and has to be towed
is
That the
trout,
once clear of
weeds, can be played with greater ease and certainty
by hand than by the
rod,
but
if
it
should rush off the fisherman must slack at
once fish It
;
(5)
That
it
is
quite as easy to net the
playing from the hand as from the rod. is
only
fair to
days this plan
is
add
that,
while
on some
uniformly successful, there are
other days on which
it
seems
to
fail
inferences
from Mr. Lloyd's
in nearly
DRY-FLY FISHING
3o8
every case.
This
not altogether surprising,
is
modes of playing, and is probably due to the fish coming short and not being firmly hooked, or to some other cause as
happens with
it
all
which would equally prevent successful playing
One
by any other method. tion
is
however,
the absence of the sport of playing a
with
fish
point,
connection with the ques-
for consideration in
a well bent rod and
reeling
it
up,
splashing on top of the water, to the landing net.
Is
the
probability
of landing trout
in
by the more foredoomed to
places and under conditions where, usual
method,
angler
the
failure, sufficient to
is
counterbalance
in his
the loss of this pleasure and excitement Playing trout
among heavy banks of weed,
A
mind
?
hooked among heavy banks of weed can ofteu be prevented from hanging you up by a somewhat summary process, which must fish
be adopted
immediately after
The moment your strong strain and get
fish its
is
it
is
hooked.
hooked, put on a
head well up alongside
bank of weeds, or even on it, keep eye on the fish, and once having got its Each up, never let it get down again. it tries to do so, take a couple of turns of the
reel-handle, the effect of which will be to its
head up again.
more quickly
it
The more
propels
weeds towards you. after fish can at times
itself
It is
it
your
head time
your
draw
struggles the
on the top of the
astonishing
be killed
in
how
fish
such a place
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING,
309
by resolutely and immediately following these tactics.
At
do not often weed
nig^ht trout ^
;
if
they do, .
at
any rate they do not weed deeply, and
is
probably due to the angler not being easily In the
seen.
same way,
this
the fisherman in
if
daylight keeps well out of sight of a hooked fish,
can often
it
be
killed
the midst of
in
heavy weeds without once attempting to get into them. Moreover if the angler lies low he can lead his fish on a tight line past any dangerous obstructions into open water. He must
when leading that the fish is allowed make its way voluntarily in the desired
take care to
In
direction.
fact,
must be
it
effected
by per-
suasion rather than force on the part of the
Grayling do not as a rule go to
fisherman.
weed
and
as often or as resolutely as trout,
scarcely ever really entangle the tackle in
a grayling does go to
If
with a moderately tight line
by waiting
weed, it
it.
can generally be
persuaded out of them.
A will
fish
on
hooked above a bridge or a hatch
the
run but In
case
rush
first
its
through.
occasionally
of
the
down under remain
in
make As
bridge
it,
a bolt down, and before
they
noted,
usually
in
only
and do not go through,
the shade beneath the bridge.
such a case too
much
strain
should not
be put on when running down, but a steady
Leading a hooked fish.
DRY-FLY FISHING
3IO
and severe
maintained when the
strain
fish
is
usually in time bring
it
a narrow one, or
in
under the bridge
will
up again.
bridge
If the
is
may be
case of a hatch, the rod
the
through and the
more
fish
running up or down, but
down, towards a dangerous spot
often
may be
turned by the angler getting
of and pulling
him
wants
the
Owing
to natural " contrairiness,"
fisherman
go
and
when once
opposite
the
in
of danger
clear
possible, not to let
As long
in front
towards the place of danger
it
which
turn
below.
fish killed at leisure
Sometimes a
passed
as the angler
is
will often
and
direction,
as well,
is
it
get back to
it
avoid.
to it
if
it.
playing a fish he
should try to keep a uniform strain on the rod.
He
strain
by looking
at
much
putting on too
can usually avoid
made by
the curve
the
A bowed rod, if necessary easing to it a fish hooked at the end of a long line will sometrifle.
times
run straight
moment
it
possible
to
feels the
get
avoid slacking.
be
in
in
it
your
If this
the barb
gone
is
is fairly
;
your
;
and
home,
line
fast
the
feet
hook, and then
a hurry or flurry
hooked
under
in
is
it
enough
imto
should happen do not the fish
if if,
it
was
lightly
on the other hand,
will
simply go
down
in the weeds, or near the bottom of the river,
and in
Meanwhile you can
sulk.
your
soon as
line, it
is
and proceed
taut again.
leisurely reel
to play the fish as
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING,
An
uncomfortable feeling
311
produced when
is
a hooked fish indulges in what
is
Jiggering
fish.
called /'z^d^r-
This expression means a series of quick,
ing.
by an equally quick
short, jerky pulls followed
slacking of the will notice that
you
If the fish is visible
line.
going through a curious
it is
set
of antics, wriggling about and doubling itself
up
Some
than trout or grayling.
it
have said that
authorities fish
to account for
but
;
allowed
if
experience,
I
to
cannot
is
it
I
lost
ever,
does make one
jiggering
angling
a lightly hooked
judge from
many
recall
having it
it
Salmon are perhaps more given
do not know. to
How
a strange way.
in
my own
instances of
Altogether, how-
fish.
feel
nervous and un-
comfortable.
Sometimes a
fish
seems
to dive in
your
own
mto
rat-holes or under a ledge.
bank, or to be trymg to find
under its
way
Hooked
fish
running in under the fisherman's
of these tactics
is
to
try
1
he object
and fray the tackle
against the ledge or other projection, and is
it
necessary for the angler to keep his rod in
a horizontal position, with a good strain on the fish.
Some
years ago a curious instance of a
somewhat similar occurrence happened to me when fishing a small Hertfordshire stream. I had hooked an undoubtedly good-sized fish which at once ran to
my
in
under
my own
bank, and,
astonishment, continued running line off
the reel,
I
imagined that the trout had run
bank.
DRY-FLY FISHING
312
round a post
and was
With a view
of disentansflino- the line from
it,
back
in
the stream.
stepped up to the place, and found
I
at
right angles to the course of a stream a large
up which
drain-pipe,
probably being
had bolted,
fish
usual hiding-place
its
Keeping the rod
feeding.
in
when
it
not
a horizontal posi-
and standing immediately over the mouth
tion,
of the pipe,
I
continued playing this
my
chief, in fact
line
my
fish,
my
only care being to prevent the
from coming
with any portion of
in contact
the circumference of the pipe.
This perform-
ance lasted some
me
some hours
minutes
to
;
it
seemed
and at length inch by inch I recovered line, and eventually had the satisfac;
tion of landing a four-pound
This happened
condition.
trout
the
in
in perfect
morning,
and, strange to say, the only other fish that
day was a three-pound
fish
I
killed
hooked
at the
same place in the evening, which pursued the same tactics, and eventually succumbed to the same treatment. Use of the landing net.
.
it, it.
Havingf ^ tired your fish, keepino' still below \ place the landing-net in the water below .
The
net should invariably be held
lower hand
;
right-hand
bank,
left-hand
bank
;
that
and
is
to say,
looking
if
in the right.
landing a trout
is
you are
The
if
the
you are on the
up-stream,
on
in
the
in
the
left-hand
position of an angler
illustrated in the frontispiece,
AND LANDING
HOOKING, PLAYING, which
a reproduction
is
made
drawing-
of a
313
from a photograph taken by Messrs. Elhott
&
Fry.
Keeping the net judging
length
the
bring the
to
and drop
it
of
the
to
into
the
its
side.
the net do not
lift
it,
When
but draw
the fish out of the net,
hook
it
if
the fish it
is
it
down and
stun or
is
in
to the bank.
undersized un-
Do
but drop
kill it
quietly.
you
If
on the
find
sick
and disposed
back, nurse
or
side
is
it
it,
to
holding
place where the current
is
a few minutes recover and
pain,
knock
it
in
in
a
not too strong, and
ninety-nine out of a hundred cases
sizable
turn it
proper position with head up-stream,
its
on the head
it
will
swim away. to put
If
out of
it
and remember that one smart blow on
the right spot at the
is
sufficient.
summit of the
head joins the body. in
that
gently and return to the water.
not dash
in
down
it
ready for the net
Take
in
accurately
draw
Remember
net.
turning on
it
line
the net,
fish
the test of a fish being its
and well sunk, and
still
spinal
The
right spot
is
column where the
Straighten
it
out, lay
your basket on dry rushes or grass or
it
nettle,
or in a linen bag, or wrapped up in a towel.
As soon
as
it
stiff,
if
you want
it
to look
mouth and bend it down bellyhog its back, as this always makes look more shapely.
well, close the
wards fish
is
to
3U
CHAPTER
XI.
AUTOPSY. Theadvan-
/'"X
lages "f autopsy.
I
NE
V-xI
of the
should
and
habits
be
and observe the
study
to
habitat
of
his
sportsman
a
of
objects
first
quarry,
so
as
to
acquire an intimate knowledge of the class of
food most affected by
and improve
sustain
siderable this
it
and best calculated
A
condition.
its
con-
amount of attention has been paid
branch of the subject
to
to
in reference to birds
preserved and even bred entirely for sporting
Considering the paramount import-
purposes.
ance of
this point to the
only lure
is
food,
is
it
fly-fisherman,
an imitation of the surprising
how
fish's
whose natural
persistently
he
deludes himself and others by neglect of the simplest
plan
of
observation,
that
viz.,
of
examining the contents of the trout or grayling's
stomach, and thus ascertaining for a fact
the nature of the meal on which
has been assuaged. of not insect still,
The
its
appetite
continual complaint
being able to discover the species of
on which the
fish
are feeding, or worse
the confident tone in which one
is
assured
AUTOPSY
315
that the angler could see the trout taking iron-
blue or olive duns, and yet could not persuade
them
look at the
to
tedious
from
never seems to occur to
grumblers who indulge that,
Yet it the large number of reiteration.
these vain laments
in
provided they can succeed
feeding
fish
— not
becomes
best imitation,
frequent
its
an
always
in
catching a
easy feat
— the
remedy is in their own hands, and a few moments devoted to an autopsy will solve the problem.
Having caught your
and
fish,
smart tap on the head, hold
it
killed
it
in the left
by a How hand
with back downwards, and with a sharp knife, inserted at the vent, edge upwards, so as not
make one
to cut into the entrails,
up to the pull
Turn
gills.
incision right
the flanks outwards, and
the whole of the
internal
upwards and clear of the
fish,
arrangements
except, of course,
just at the throat,
where a clean cut
to sever the tube,
and thus separate the
from the remainder of the is
a longitudinal
the
digestive
A
cut open
contains.
to
show
the
bladder,
of
the
XVII.
showing pyloric
stomach
undigested food
it
tube leading from the stomach which contains only digested food,
can be discarded. the
portion
entrails
The
to the vent,
end,
air
required
Plate
section of a trout,
organs,
appendages, &c. is
fish.
is
throat
Commencing
at the gullet
and stomach should be
slit
to
DRY-FLY FISHING
3i6
down
longitudinally,
and the contents turned
out into a small vessel containing water.
Perhaps,
many
the fish are rising freely,
if
anglers will think they would never have the patience to perform this operation deliberately. certainly
It
not a waste of time to do so
is
;
but one's sympathy must be with the ardent
sportsman, who, having secured one, burns to achieve the further distinction of making
But
brace.
there
a
you cannot have the patience,
if
often an
is
it
way
easy
of getting a part
of the information you require by opening the
mouth of the
fish
and taking from
it
on the
point of a knife a few of the last insects
has seized but
not
these into a vessel of water,
an
through
ordinary
some
after
and examining
magnifying-glass
experience,
whether they are
Turning
swallowed.
yet
and
will,
fisherman
the
tell
insects,
it
so,
if
further
study will enable him to determine the order, family,
they
genus, and
and
belong,
perhaps species to which the
stage
in
which they
are being taken by the fish.* Floating portion of
autopsy.
However,
to return to
the contents of the
vessel into which the undigested food has been
The
turned.
'-
The
subject first
angler is
part
description
first
thing
that will
strike
an
desiring to study this branch of the to " Dry-Fly Entomology," the
referred
which is devoted to the and life history of the angler's of
classification, flies.
AUTOPSY observant student
and therefore
lighter than water,
food
is
ing
on
the
consists
a
that
winged
of
The
bottom.
the
to
but
surface,
float-
larger
far
being of greater specific gravity,
proportion,
sinks
one portion of the
that
is,
317
portion
floating
and nymphse
insects
on the point of assuming the winged It
may be asked how
this last
fact
just state.
to be
is
ascertained,
and any one taking the trouble
can prove
to his
it
own
satisfaction.
Let him take two or three of the floating nymphse, and as
many
of the sunk ones, and
soak them for a few minutes is
in
water
which
in
dissolved a small piece of ordinary washing-
The
soda.
addition of the alkali
is
necessary
to counteract the action of the digestive fluid
of the
fish,
neglected,
is
digestion
strongly
acid,
continue
will
if
some
for
may be
from soda, these nymphae
free
and
After washing thoroughly in water to
time.
in
which
methylated
without
for
spirit
apparent
any length of time
To
change.
immersed
be
When
of cloves.
for
clear
them
examination, they
sufficiently for microscopical
should
kept
some days
perfectly
transparent
in
oil
they
should be placed on the stage of the micro-
scope under a low-power objective, such as
which
equivalent
to
magnifying powers respectively of about
15
3
ins.
and
30.
i^
or
A
in.,
great
are
contrast
will
be at once
DRY-FLY FISHING
3i8
apparent between those that floated and those In every one that floated
that sank.
seen that inside the setse or
be
will
it
nymph
of the
tails
are plainly visible the sets of the sub-imago
which the
just about
is
same way,
emerging from
each of the six
in
it
and
;
in
in the
legs,
head, in each antenna, and even in the abdo-
men
the
itself,
outline,
every
with
corresponding limb or organ, of
detail of the
the sub-imago
may be
seen.
appearance,
general
In
distinct
nymph
the
just
before changing to the winged insect consists
of two
distinct portions,
the
inner or
solid-
looking portion being the sub-imago complete in
all
its
parts excepting
that the wings are
folded up inside a pair of oval-shaped covers.
This sub-imago
is,
however, entirely enveloped
a thin covering, which
in
is
perceptibly larger
and projects beyond the outline
than,
Attached
insect itself
covering are
all
required
for
its
in
the water, and
subsequent
and these organs
stage,
are,
or
these
the
most
prominent
mouth organs, and the
winged
without excep-
shed with the larval envelope.
tion,
the
the organs which are especially
provided for the larva living not
of,
to this apparently loose
are
the
Among various
branckicr, or external
portion of the breathing apparatus.
The the
less
developed nymphre, which sank
water when the
in
autopsy was originally
AUTOPSY
There
appearance.
larval covering
legs
however, quite
have,
performed,
a
different
no indication of the
is
The
being loose.
solid-looking
are
319
and
setae
the latter often
limbs,
armed with formidable claws. The mandibles and other mouth organs are prominent, and firmly attached to the head. to
phosis.
In considering
drawn
from
bered that
nymphae
is
to
between
sunk and
be the
floating
must be remem-
it
of the floating specimens were
all
rising to the surface for the purpose
of emerging from
imago
of
the autopsy,
in
there
fact,
deduction
the
comparison
the
proportionate quantity
nymphae
In
impending metamor-
suggest an
nothing
state,
the
envelope
in
the sub-
and hence were taken
in
mid-
down amonp"
water, while the sunk ones were
the weeds or on the gravel, and must be considered as bottom food.
The remainder autopsy
will, at
of the floating portion of the
the
consist entirely of
in fact, so,
or
little
first
glance, be thought to
winged
insects.
among which must be
Some
are,
classed curses
black Diptera of various sorts, winged
ants, beetles, aphis,
any of the winged Tri-
choptera, and a portion of the residue, which at
a superficial examination
Ephemeridae.
imago
state
look like winged
will
Such of these as are are
easy
to
separate,
-course, represent floating flies
in the
and,
taken by the
of
fish.
DRY-FLY FISHING
320
Of
the duns or Ephemeridse, apparently in the
sub-imago stage, examination
have
it
wings
their
will
a
that
folded
still
gitudinal nerving
be found by microscopic
up along the
fracture or
to
A
decomposition of the wing-covers.
examination the
will often
abdomen
is
still
enveloped
the
in
be inferred that these, again,
by the
fish
Hence it when taken
In
fact,
the tendency of
careful scrutiny of the contents of the
both
trout
direction,
viz.,
proportion
when
nymphal
were nymphae, and were not on the
surface of the water.
of
further
bring out the fact that
shuck with the branchice attached.
may
lon-
but the transverse folding
;
become extended, owing
has
proportion
considerable
and that
of the
floating,
grayling
of showing fish's
all
is
how
insect food
and how large
a
stomachs
one
in
small is
a
taken
proportion
belongs to the middle and lower depths of the stream. .Sunk portion of autopsy.
Considerable space has here been devoted to
^^
smaller or floating portion of our original
autopsy, as this
is
essentially the part requiring
study by the votary of the dry
fly.
A
brief
outline of the probable composition of the solid
mass of sunk animal matter, forming by
far
the greater portion of every autopsy, will not
be out of place.
Apart
from small,
semi-
digested or detached pieces, the predominating larvae
found
in
stomachs of
fish killed
in
chalk
AUTOPSY
321
Streams are those of the smaller and mediumsized Ephemeridae, both in the early or larval
As
stage and in that of the nymphae.
nymph immediately
remarked, the
metamorphosis to the sub-imago
before
before the
is
not found
among the sunk portion of the autopsy. The immature larvae of the Mayfly, in
burrows excavated
in the
be expected, rarely found I
mud,
living
are, as
in the fish's
might
stomach.
have never discovered any of the fiat
of Ephemeridae
in
either
trout
or
larvae
grayling.
These are the immature forms of the eenera Eceyurus and Heptagenia, of which the March Brown and Yellow May Dun are the best
known
British
under side of stones
They adhere
They
species.
live
on
the
swift shallow water.
in
closely to the stones, and,
after
covering themselves with sand or other fine detritus, are so like
whether the
questionable
them
at all
them
;
and
if
in colour that fish
they did,
it
would is
it
is
notice
even more
questionable whether they could detach them
As a
from the stones. siderable
general
number of shrimps
rule,
a con-
are present,
as
well as a few caddis in their cases, stones which
are probably the undigested residuum of other caddis- cases, often snails,
and not infrequently
water bugs {Corixcs), which are referred to
in
a subsequent paragraph. Plate 21
XVIII.
is
a reproduction from micro-
DRY-FLY FISHING
322
scopic drawings taken from
and
—
Ephemeridae
are
3
nymphs, and
another
3
i
which
in
life,
and
nymph
i,
2
immature
2
on
just
point of changing to the sub-imago state
;
the
4
is
the fresh-water shrimp {Gaiiimarus pulex), and
and 6 are caddis or larvae of Trichoptera with
5
Sometimes there are a few
their cases.
of
smaller
the
and,
Perlidae,
rarely
larvae
the
in
minnows or bullheads. During the autumn grains of corn are found in grayling, Test,
my
but not, as far as in
the contents of the
and, altogether,
trout,
may perhaps be
grayling's stomach as
personal experience goes,
more heterogeneous than
From that
a
that of the trout.
scientific point of view,
fishermen
fly
described
it is
desirable
should prosecute steadily
from day to day, and from season to season, the study of autopsy.
avail unless they well
little
learn,
and inwardly digest
study,
and work out
teachings
which
for
"
and
truly
"mark,
the results of their
themselves the ultimate
tend
will
however, be of
It will,
assist
to
them
in
selecting patterns likely to be acceptable to the
feeding It
Theories
deduced from autopsy.
-
of
fish.
has been shown that the larger proportion r
,
i
the conteuts 01 the
grayling consists shrimps,
&c.,
i
stomach
of larvae,
which
are
r
01
a trout or
nymphae, invariably
caddis, in
the
middle and lower depths of the water, from
which
fact
the
inference
mav be drawn
that
PLATE
AUTOPSY Epiemerelk
ignita
Nyrapt
btrimp
r.aexis j'Tympli
(ffam?7iarus puleX'j
3
^
Cadd IS
Xarva
Case
Caddi;
Case
dr-ra
6
J
AUTOPSY the major part of their food
A
surface.
323
taken below the
is
natural deduction from this would
be that the sunk
would be more
fly
tempt than the floating
one.
likely to
The
sparely
dressed patterns used in the North for wet-fly
some forms of some cases water-
fishing are probably taken for
water-bugs,
larvai,
and
beetles,
or
in
has been confidently said by
it
an adept of their
north-country anglers that
work sad havoc on some of the
style could
shallows
well-stocked
The
which
the
may account
rule
with sunk
fly,
for the fact that, tried in the it
has not proved success-
hands.
would tend
first-rate
do not as a
art of fishing
Hampshire streams, ful in their
chalk streams.
the
disciples of the dry fly
understand
It
of
to elucidate this subject
performer would pay a
visit to
the chalk
streams and try the sunk
roughly.
It
must not be
in
if
a
one of
fly
tho-
private water,
where the trout are unsophisticated, and when on the feed take anything insect,
of the Test or Itchen. as
looking
like
an
but on one of the well-whipped waters
to
the
result.
I
have very
Judged
failures
If,
on
the
have been due
other to
doubt
by any attempts
heard of up to the present time,
doomed.
little
it
hand,
is
fore-
previous
want of knowledge
or experience on the part of the fisherman,
might revolutionise
fly-fishing
it
as practised in
DRY-FLY FISHING
324
Hampshire.
If,
question
is
to inquire
take these wary fish
am
I
inclined to
be a fiasco, the
should
this
predict,
however, as
whether
is
it
natural
possible to
when feeding under water
with an imitation of their natural food.
The nymphae have been
successfully
imi-
tated by patterns which have occasionally done
Strange to say, however, on the days
well.
when they have done well, fishermen on the same waters have also done well with the dry It
fly.
when
has generally been
in the early spring,
the trout are comparatively easy to catch,
and no one would seriously advise the use of a sunk fiy on a day when the floating would
is
no record of the sunk
chance the It
in
At other times of
as well.
kill
on
such
dry-fly
waters,
certainly
is
fly
the year there
having had any
and
occasionally
somewhat
must be remembered, an autopsy of nymphae
efficacious.
too, that the presence
just
on the point
of changing to the winged state indicates that
the
fish,
although, as a rule, under such con-
ditions looking
the
active
downwards, has yet followed
nymphae towards the
surface.
If
one of them should succeed in reaching the surface, and splitting open the nymphal shuck struggle out into the winged state,
and swallow the
angler's
it.
If
very
perchance at best
it
is
not
would seize
unlikely that the trout or grayling
this
imitation
moment
should be
AUTOPSY down towards
floating
and
two birds
that the
goes
or, if all
will
right,
nose lightly cocked
its
sailing jauntily along,
325
it is
also not unlikely
be killed with one stone,
a good
added
fish
to those
already in the basket.
shows that the Autopsy '
diet of o praylingf J o
'-
more various than
that of trout.
is P'^' of jjjjg
This
may
rule,
less
•'
account difficult
grayling
for
than
catch
to
being,
number of
to find a
bugs,
insects
In addition
trout.
grains of wheat and oats,
it
is
large
like
to
uncommon
not sorts
different
looking
a
as
of water-
house-flies,
cowdung-flies, and other forms in both larval
and perfect
number
stages, besides, of course, the usual
and nymphse of the smaller
of larvae
Ephemeridae,
shrimps,
paunch of a single grayling. indicate a love of a meal in
possibly a this
cause
the
&c., in
capacious
This seems
many
to
courses, or
sort
of feminine curiosity, and to
may
be attributed the success of
fancy patterns, such as red tags, orange tags,
green
insects,
coch-y-bonddhu, bumbles, Wick-
hams, &c., with Salmo tkymallus. speaking,
man
it
may
Generally
serve to encourage the fisher-
to persevere with a feeding grayling,
no matter how unlike
try pattern after pattern,
anything he
may
see on
the surface of the
stream, in hopes of at length chancing on
combination of feathers,
which
will
tempt the
and
tinsel
fish
and
to rise
some
silk or quill
and take the
g'^^y-
more
various than that of trout.
DRY-FLY FISHING
326
object
glittering
in
without any
mouth,
its
suspicion of the barbed sting lurking unseen
Lessons to be learned from autopsy.
among Xhe
the fibres of the hackle.
studv of autopsv has taught me one ^ ^ ' lesson, viz., that the precise shade or tint of *-
the
and the exact imitation of the
artificial
natural fly most plentiful on the water are not
all-important
so
The
to imagine.
a
same
ferent
contents of the stomach of
by
or
dif-
even different orders, are
side.
packed
closely
varieties of
belonging to
Insects
species.
often side
many different
same genus, or many
families,
seem
fly-fishermen
almost invariably comprise
fish
species of the
the
many
as
The
larvae
together
in
and nymphae
the
gullet
and
when separated and examined,
stomach
are,
found to
differ in colour
from the palest prim-
rose to the deepest olive, from a light buff" to
a deep chocolate-brown.
Some to
are so small as to be scarcely visible
naked eye,
the
others
are
quarters of an inch in length. the
nearl,y
three-
Some
are in
most rudimentary condition, and
again
are just
others
about to undergo the meta-
morphosis to the sub-imago and change from a grub living
Now
fish,
ously, insects,
stage,
will
in
the water to a
winged
feeding as they do almost continutake
all
and
ev^ery
one of these
no matter what colour or no
insect.
matter
whether
small
in
or
which
com-
AUTOPSY paratively
large
— Ephemeridae,
Diptera,
Perlidae,
Crustacea
—
of what
fly
as
or which pattern
Reasoning from of fish
tempt
some
in
The
?
well
cannot be so
it
327
this point,
Trichoptera,
much is
offered to them.
what
is
the secret
difficult
seems
deduction
logical
the question
being so
rivers
and
Mollusca
as
be
to
and
that a combination of bright clear water
frequent flogging must be one cause.
to
Probably
the presence of a great
quantity and variety
of suitable food
river,
enable the
very to
little
in
the
to satisfy
fish
exertion,
render them
is
tending to
as
their appetites with
another cause tending
particular,
and not easy
to
beguile with any artificial, no matter how good an imitation of the natural insect.
To What, if
then,
reasoning
the
carry
a
further
little
must the angler learn and attempt
he wishes to achieve success on a
The
water.'*
the subject
is
difficult
longer one lives and the more studied, the
more
forcibly are the
upon one's mind.
lessons impressed
being frequently cast over get to
The know
fish
the
appearance of gut, and to be suspicious of flies
— sometimes
finest
gut
is
that
the
lightly It
even the natural ones.
The
greatest care must be taken
artificial
and
all
no more successful than moderately
The
stout gut.
:
that
it
fly is
is
placed on the water
perfectly dry
and cocked.
must be so placed on the stream as
to float
DRY-FLY FISHING
328
down without
the smallest semblance of drao-
or check, following" precisely the natural run of the current. In addition to
all
of these points, one
that
is
the above conditions should be fulfilled in
all
the
and before the shyest
cast,
first
have the
slightest
deluded.
This sentence has
many
written it is
suspicion
that in
it
can
fish
being
is
substance been
times before in this book, but
so essentially the most important factor in
determining the success or want of success of the angler that no apology reiteration.
It
is
needed
in fact,
;
its
should be impressed over and
over again on the mind of every dry-fly
man
for
fisher-
he might be tempted to say,
the immortal words differently applied
in
of Moliere, though very " Je les
by him,
graver en lettres d'or sur
la
veux
faire
cheminee de
ma
salle."
The vered
by that
experience of any angler
in the practical
trout
and
who has
perse-
study of the food affected
grayling
when thoroughly on
over nice or particular
must tend
to
prove
the feed they are not
in their choice,
and
are,
variety.
human congeners, fond of change and Some of the forms of animal life found
may be
fairly
like their
and
described
in
the above words,
besides, the eloquent lessons taught as to
the habits of the fish must prove of considerable interest, not only as mere entomological
AUTOPSY
329
specimens, but also as conveying a faint idea of the marvellous
numbers and
sorts of larvae,
beetles, Crustacea, &c., living in the water.
In a previous chapter a curious, though certainly not unique, result of
ferred
In
to.
end of May, the
case,
this fish
an autopsy was
one evening
were apparently
Snails in
fish.
Corixce in
fish,
re-
the
at
rising furi-
ously and splashing heavily, and yet the only
one
had been regaling
killed
water-snails, or Limnaeae.
Any
itself chiefly
on
one fishing that
evening would, judging- from the ordinary dicta
on the subject, have been certain
of writers
that they were taking
some
and kept on changing one for another,
about the
of sedge
sort
he arrived
fly
some mon-
at
size of a grilse
had by any chance succeeded ing, or killing a fish with
pattern, colour, or size
An
If
fly.
in rising,
he
hook-
any particular pattern,
he would have been convinced that success.
fly,
probably trying larger and larger
patterns, until at last strosity
large Caddis
it
was the
which had achieved
this
examination of the contents of
the stomach would, however, have entirely dis-
sipated this notion, and after
ing
all,
that
it
was,
an accident, brought about by a pass-
humour
of the trout or the chance circum-
stance of the propitious In
shown him
fly floating close to its
nose at a
moment.
July,
1886,
Mr.
Marryat
and
I
were
wandering rather than fishing on the Test
in
DRY-FLY FISHING
330
when we
the middle of a hot, calm afternoon,
noticed a fish rise quietly and apparently take
some small
This was repeated several
insect.
times, not exactly at
one
spot, but
over an area
of perhaps two or three square yards.
The
rise was too deliberate for either smutting or bulging, and yet did not look as if the fish was
taking duns or spinners, of which, by the way,
A
there were very few on the water. quill
on a ooo hook tempted the
one, nearly to
2 lbs.
—
proceed to
make an
Of undigested
fish
at the first cast,
work immediately
cinnamon
—a good
and setting
after landing the trout
we
autopsy.
food there was not much, and
what there was consisted
of,
say, thirty to forty
specimens of one and the same species.
It
was a small water-buo- with short broad head and beautiful purple eyes. The elytra or wingcovers were artistically marbled in a deep purple Under these was colour on a neutral ground. a pair of fine transparent flying- wings. hind-leofs in
were
the lowest
out into a
frino^ed with hairs all over,
joints these hairs
perfect
paddle.
Marryat knew the insect
at
The and
were spread
Fortunately,
Mr.
once as one of the
Corixse,* a small water-bug about a quarter of
an inch
in length,
for a time, but
* "
which remains under water
has to come to the surface occa-
Dry-Fly Entomology,"
p. 144.
AUTOPSY sionally for
air,
and can
fly
331
as well as swim.
This creature had not been found by previous autopsy. first
In
r888,
edition of this book,
to relate, since
then
I
when
added
in a
writing- the
that,
had only found
I
me
strange
it
on one
and that during the summer of 1887 a trout of about 3 lbs. caught in the same
occasion, in
same shallow.
part of the ever,
I
Since then, how-
have continually found
it
in autopsies
offish killed on the Test, Itchen, Kennet, and
other streams, and
it
common
a
is
the chalk streams
in all
have
I
insect found
fished, but not
affecting very rapid water.
One
eveninor '^
early ^
the
in
autumn of the
same year, in another part of this stream, there was a very fine show of the sherry spinner, metamorphosis of the blue-winged olive
the
[Epkeinere/la at the
A
igiiita).
was
fish
rising freely
lower end of a deep hole, just where the
stream began to flow rapidly.
Naturally the
was a pale-coloured detached badger, followed by various patterns of red and ging'er quills, none of which procured any first
fly
A
response hare's-ear it,
a
and
try
to
short
was
sedge
after
handsome
a
rest
and a change
successful
sharp but
trout
of 3
lbs.
in
to a
deludino-
determined fight 2 ozs.
was
safely
in the landing net.
Following" the to
maxim
make an autopsy
in
of never attempting the
Fuii-grown crayfish in
dark,
we waited
trout.
DR Y-FL Y FISHING
33^
we
until
and
abnormally the
The
arrived home.
condition
was
gullet
In
full.
a
was
in perfect
its
its
and even
spinners,
fish
belly seemed mouth and all down compact mass of sherry
but
colour,
extracting this the
after
lower portion of the stomach seemed much distended.
Further manipulation then extracted
partially digested
remains of
crayfish, the largest of
fully-grown
five
which would, when ex-
tended,
have measured
length.
Just imagine the powers of digestion
four
fully
inches
in
of a trout to dissolve not only the interior soft portion but the hard calcereous shell of these Crustacea.
Besides, only consider the appetite
of a fish able and willing to take thousands of
sherry spinners with this mass of undigested food in
its
capacious
maw.
Is
it
surprising
that with a plentiful supply of food they
grow
so rapidly and reach such major proportions
When
Vegetable matter in an autopsy.
I
autopsinga trout
in the
found a small quantity of weed, and as
was the
first
time
I
}
spring of 1887 this
ever found free vegetable
matter in a trout's stomach,
it
was only natural
make a microscopic examination. The to weed contained a considerable number of small larvae
and pupse enveloped
cocoons, and these were
in
smooth, tapering
pronounced by the
Rev. A. E. Eaton to be larvee and pupae of one of the Diptera is
to
known
as Simitliwn reptans.
It
be inferred that neither the weed nor the
AUTOPSY
333
case was taken as food by the
fish,
but that
attempts to secure the succulent grub
its
had
to include these unconsidered
On
the 8th October, 1887, a fine and genial
— with
Wickham,
a
in
happened
I
landed right at the
and
first
and
steadily,
the
first
dash
away with
the
fly.
of the cast
was
frayed,
to
tymg on
on a fresh to
five
lbs.
a
a swift run.
killed
previously,
attempt, and the fish
slowly in
— 6f
notice
to
a deep hole just inside
The Wickham, which had rose
it
trifles.
day, after killing two brace of grayling
rise
in
was
fairly
succeeded
in
Finding that the
hooked, g-ettino-
fine
end
devoted a few minutes
I
a fresh point, and before knotting
fly,
a quiet
run about four
rise in the
yards above the place where the
had just been hooked and
lost
attracted
fish
my
notice.
looked liked smutting, as there did not
It
seem
to
be any quantity
of
fly
visible
on
the water, yet every few minutes another quiet
same spot. Selecting a female black gnat on a 00 hook, and fishing rise
was to be seen
at the
with caution, casting only occasionally once or twice,
and then resting the
some minutes, other feeding
made a
altogether for
persevered, especially as
fish
was
visible.
At length
mistake, and was duly killed
ling, 2 lbs.
fish
I
fish
14 ozs.
Suspecting that
which had broken
away
just
no it
—a gray-
it
was the
before,
a
DRY-FLY FISHING
334
was
search
Wickham
instituted
discover
to
either the
mark of the hook, but
or the
neither
could be discerned. Willow
flies
mouth,
its
number
considerable
/^
in grayling.
however,
careful autopsy
of willow flies* in
tempted
on our return
me
in the
especially as the Perlidae in the
are seldom found
cut
away below
the
together from the
and removed
gills
fish.
I
state
The whole
were taken
stomach, gullet, &c.,
of the
then
and turned a mass of willow of water, and with a spatula
flies
a
evening,
winged
Test grayling.
in
make
to
out, al-
the gullet
slit
into a saucer
commenced
select-
ing a few of the best specimens for preserva-
The
tion.
hard
spatula
in the saucer,
something
struck against
and the Wickham was there
and then taken out of the water and
dried, to
be preserved with the remainder of the contents of the stomach.
This was evidently the very
grayling which had previously broken me.
was feeding on
the
natural
willow
flies
It
and
and took a Wickham, was hooked, broken, and within a short time met its end Strangest of all, howwith a black gnat. yet rose at
ever,
bodily
it
must have swallowed the after
had been cut
breaking off
away,
below the
artificial
for
aills
the
fly
gullet
and with the
Leuctra geniculata, " Dry-Fly Entomology," pp. 107, 108.
AUTOPSY remainder of the
its
entrails
335
removed
entirely from
fish.
What
a
strange
answer
to
the
charge of
cruelty brought against fishermen, that a fish
should succeed the hook,
in
unhooking
and a few minutes
a victim to another patterns in any
on which
it
itself,
then swallow
later take
artificial,
way resembling
neither
and
fall
of the
the natural
had been continuously feeding
!
fiy
336
CHAPTER
XII.
TROUT OR GRAYLING. Sporting qualities of the grayling.
I
'
'HE
treated
questloii
I
in
this
in
•
.
,
i
that of attempting to guide
-^
discriminating from the rise or
whether the grayling. flicting
I
fish
chapter i
its
position
Hkely to be a trout or a
is
must premise that there are con-
opinions as
the desirability of in-
to
Many
troducing grayling into trout streams. first-class
fishermen say that they do not care
for grayling fishing, possibly
never really tried they are
forward
not
—but
—
-I
will
not
and
ingenuous
who wrote
Cotton,
because they have
or equally possibly because
it,
quite
say straight-
candid
Then
they are giving.
opinion
is
angler
the
the
in
they quote
that extraordinary sentence
about the grayling being the deadest-hearted fish that
swims.
Cotton certainly never killed
a three-pound grayling on a Test shallow
;
if
he had, with his power of discrimination and strong
desire
for
truth,
written that sentence.
he
Some
could
not
have
fishermen have
been heard to say that they wished the
last
pike in the Test might be choked in the act of
TROUT OR GRAYLING swallowing the
smart
many
it
sound,
childish
is
however
This,
last grayling.
and
these
I
A
in
its
way
quite
is
and with
as trout fishing,
wish to be numbered,
ofravlingf J ^ ^
equal ^
of ^
With
weig^ht o
more
a
is
when once hooked than
difficult fish to kill
trout.
as
selfish,
fishermen consider that grayling
good
as
may
337
the single exception, that
it
the
very
Advantages and disadvanlages of grayling in trout streams.
seldom weeds you with that pertinacity exercised by the
and
is
trout,
tries
it
more often
the
lost unless
more,
tackle
it
is
hooked
in
the leathery ring forming the outer margin of the mouth, in which case the hold
any part of the there,
can
once
get
better than
Even when hooked
trout.
grayling have
is
a
nasty
below the
habit,
angler,
of
they
if
boring
down-stream and hanging the whole of their weight on the are
hooked
it
line, is
below them than
and hence as soon as they
more it
is
essential
even
with the trout.
to
p^et
When
they catch sight of the fisherman their rush as
brilliant
trout.*
The
is
and as prolonged as that of any
00
difficulty of distino^uishing; '
between the
\xQ\x\.
o-raylina- is no doubt a trout and of a ^ > <^ great as to the rise, per se, unless a glimpse
rise of
^
In " Making a Fishery," Chapter X. is devoted to consideration of the arguments for and against the introduction of grayling into a trout stream. 22 -•'-
a
detailed
Distinguishing
from
g'''iyii"g
rising.
^hen
DRY-FLY FISHING
338
is
caught of the dorsal
nent a feature
in
tailing
is
fish, it
whether
the grayhng.
tail
convex one of the
The
surprising.
although distinctly
and considering
trout, this is
tail
a
of
tinged with
and more
lighter
some-
grayling,
yellow,
silvery
is,
I
than that of
which always appears to
the trout,
to
of a grayling and the straight or
forked
think,
With regard
shape between the
difference in
slightly
what
so promi-
is
barely possible to be certain
trout or grayling,
it is
marked
the
which
fin,
me
a sort of
dark-brown hue when standing out of the water. Position of
In attempting to distinguish trout from gray-
rising trout
ami grayling compared.
ling
when
rising, the point to
be considered
is
the position of the rise rather than the nature of
it.
I
mean
position with regard to the
its
character of the water and the time of the year,
modified by the general
rule, less
rising
the
more
or less
feeding,
taken,
it
is
The
just
rise close to the
early spring,
have taken up
grayling,
rising.
prone to
In the
than trout. trout
fact that grayling are,
their
as
a
bank
before the
positions,
and are
over the stream, when
all
having spawned, are also
difficult
to
be certain which
is
best judges are then often mis-
whether
it
be on
a shallow
or
on a
smooth glide above a shallow, or anywhere, in Towards the fact, excepting deep still water. end of the summer the end of July and
—
August, when both
fish are
in
good
condition,
TROUT OR GRAYLING
339
the rule of guidance to be observed
that the
is,
the banks, and the
trout are generally under
grayling more frequently in the middle of the stream.
Long
stretches of
smooth water of moderate
and uniform depth with a are
usually
A
dubs.
styled
steady current
by our northern
good number of
generally
indicate
ling
near the bank
rises
fairly
rises
a
may be
it
friends
these dubs
in
When
grayling.
Dubs.
gray-
taken as
an extra heavy one, and very likely an extra
wary one, and than a
it
will
rise at shorter intervals
trout.
One
particularly aggravating feature
both trout and grayling in
which they
that
have
to
way
time
when they
The number
of grayling
will feed at the
are just out of season.
about
the pertinacious
is
be returned
and the and the number
in the spring,
extraordinarily large ones too,
of trout, and large trout too, taken in October
and sometimes November, are certainly most annoying. There is, however, a consolation returning
in
these
large
handled with care there being
in
fish.
is
If
they are
no doubt of
their
the stream, and later on the chance of
may fall to your lot. Perhaps would not console our pot-hunting friends much.
catching them this
Trout when keep very much
feedino-, ° in
and
one spot. ^
feedinu; o
steadilv, /
Thev do •'
'
not as
^"^^^^9'^^ ^'?y shift
grayling ^'^^^'^
when
positions rising.
DRY-FLY FISHING
340
a rule travel
and
far,
Now
up-stream.
travel
they do they generally
if
a feeding grayling
in quite a different position.
considerable area.
The
traveller.
when
is
seldom a persistent
reasons for these peculiarities
A
rising are not difficult to find.
amount of study of the
and
fish
its
the reasons.
to elucidate
sufficient
trout
ranges over a
It
deviates from right to
It
up and down, but
left,
is
small
habits are
A
rising
poised near the surface of the water, so
is
that to take in the fly raise its
is
it
head and open
its
only necessary to
mouth.
Hence
it
takes up a position where a continuous stream of fly
is
position,
down, and
floating
run where
it
if it
should
shift its
probably be up the particular
will
it
can see this apparently unending
string of insect food.
With
the grayling the case
grayling even
when
is
rising well
different. is,
A
as a rule,
not less than two feet below the surface, and in
some instances much lower down. cally
examined,
it
Anatomi-
does not appear to have
been constructed with an idea of feeding on surface food at
the for
all.
The
position and shape of
mouth of a grayling seem better adapted picking up an object from the bottom of the
river than for feeding
Our
grayling
is,
on the
surface.
as before stated, at a depth
of about two feet below the water, and out of its
curious
pear-shaped eyes
it
is
carefully
TROUT OR GRAYLING
341
scanning every object floating over Presently vision
sees within the limited area of
it
—and
there
good reason
is
that the area of vision of
limited it
head.
its
— what appears
fish
all
like
its
to believe
is
somewhat
an insect of the sort
affects as food.
secures
water
and
this
nicety,
miscalcula-
through that depth to
it
miss
why
reason
the
is
a
to
the
if
'
smallest
rising
cause
will
'
The
in
and,
surface,
calculated
prey.
its
however,
tion,
the
been
has
distance
of
towards
rises
It
the
object,
grayling so
fre-
quently rise falsely, whether at the natural or at the artificial
missed the tive
Having taken
fly.
or having
again retires to the compara-
fly, it
depth at which
it
by some fresh passing of consideration will
was
lying, until attracted
insect.
show
A
small
amount
that the rays of light
entering the eye of the grayling at the lower
depth
spring from a larger area than those
will
entering
the
eye of the trout comparatively
near the surface, and the grayling fore see flies like
take
to
of flash
is
covering a wider area and be
them.
or flick
a grayling
when
not visible.
There
is
a kind
often
caused by the dorsal rising,
although the
of
comparatively small
grayling,
or
fin
fin
This particular kind of
eminently characteristic those
will there-
of
itself
rise is
and of
medium-sized,
say from a pound to a pound and a half; the
I'^^asons
why
grayling so
"^^ "^f^"
DRY-FLY FISHING
342
specimens
larger
much more
affect
a slow, subdued
like that of the trout.
Although there are many places must be doubtful as
angler
the
bability of a
rise
grayling, there
the pro-
to
being; that of a trout
it
is
the final portion of a smooth glide above a
a similar
breaking, or
is
where the
position at the point
smooth water pours over a short fall. latter case it seems almost impossible to so,
or a
This place
a grayling.
rough run, just where the water in
which
in
one place where he may be
is
almost certain that is
rise,
remain
in
except
comparatively deep down there
little
is
pected, this often miss faster
miss
it,
it
the
more
and the advice can it
does not drag
fish
As may be in
fairly is
ex-
which they fly.
likely they
it
course,
they are
fly,
natural or artificial
the
a
the water where
another position
travels
so long as
in
or no current.
is
Of
rise well there.
the act of taking the
in
for
Yet grayling do
such a position.
and sometimes
In this
The are
to
be given that impossible for
go too slowly. To borrow from the salmon fishermen one of their phrases, which it
to
admirably describes
it, it is well where poshang to the fly in such a position. Grayling when rising do so more frequently than trout, and although they cannot be said
sible
to be less shy, they certainly are
of being fished
for,
more
tolerant
and when only lying
in
TROUT OR GRAYLING deep down
position comparatively
sometimes by a
can
angler be
p^rayling: J ts
ti
streams,
trout
into
the water
fly.
There are many reasons whv J J introduced
in
pertinacious
worried into taking the
be
343
should
provided
introduction q{ grayling into trout
streams.
there
plenty of food for both, and from an
is
angling point of view the strongest practically gives three extra
is
months of
that
it
fishing
without doing the trout any particular harm.
Trout and grayling are
not, as
same time
class of water.
same
the
in
a
when
grayling take to the stream
at the
rule,
The
the trout are
dropping out into the deeper water after spawning,
and
As
vice versa.
which each causes
but so do
ova
tolerated
notably
many
in
considerable
strictly
less friend the dabchick.
hear the
preserve rivers,
from
If these birds
trout- streams
On
harm-
so-called
less of the destruction of ov^a
grayling.
numbers,
the water-birds, such as ducks
and swans, not forgetting our exterminated
many
Grayling very pos-
other living things which are
by those who
some of
destruction
to the other, there are
points to be considered. sibly eat trout
the
to
we
were
should
wrought by
the other hand, the
trout
not only eat the ova, but the young fry of both their
own
species
and
that
of the
grayling,
while the grayling only feeds on the ova, and
does not, as alevins.
far as is
The
trout
known touch
the trout
themselves are therefore
DRY-FLY FISHING
344
more destructive of
possibly
their
own
species
than the much-mahgned grayling.
There
?nhe kndfng "^*'
one marked peculiarity of a gray-
is
when hooked, viz., that it seems to have a far more wholesome dread of the net than trout. Hence it not infrequently happens with ling
large ones that when, to the fisherman's notion,
they are apparently tired out, the angler, holding his net in the water, gives the grayling a
view of
it,
and
lease of
life.
brilliant
a
former
Off rush
it
as
This
efforts.
ous position. fish,
seems
it
It
starts,
with so rapid and
frequently is
new
to get a sort of
to
eclipse
all
certainly a very danger-
seems so
surprising- that the
which has been almost on
its
and
side,
apparently at the mercy of the angler, should all
of a sudden muster couraoe and streno'th
for so
determined a prolongation of the struggle,
that, if the
angler has to any degree lost his
presence of mind at the suddenness of catastrophe
Of
a
imminent.
is
course
it,
if,
in his
excitement, the fisherman
should by chance have tightly gripped his line to the rod for the final coup with the landing-
— either a break,
net, the effect will
be disastrous
or the
come unhooked and wobble
fish
will
down-stream on the surface of the water, so the angler has a friend with him
done up
that
who can
use a net, he can very often get the
if
out of the water after
hook.
it
fish
has escaped from the
TROUT OR GRAYLING happened
This has
twenty times at least rience,
and yet
in the
cannot
I
me
to
345
grayling
with
my
course of
recall
to
expe-
memory
a
single instance of having succeeded
in
out with a net a trout which had once
managed
taking
to oret clear of the hook.
In conclusion,
I
would proffer a few words Fish
fair,
never take undersized or ill-conditioned
fish,
of advice
to
all
honest anglers.
never refuse to brother angler a day's fishing or a pattern
fly.
Give, as freely as
I
have en-
deavoured to do, the benefit of any discovery
you have made or experience you have gained in the ofreat
cause of "Anoler
v.
Fish."
INDEX. A
BAD
light, 200.
Accuracy with under-handed Action of rod, „ rods ,,
cast, difficulty of attaining, 83.
23.
— slow or quick, 31.
Advantages and disadvantages of grayling in trout streams, ^^y. comparative, of dry-fly and wet fly, 59. „ of casting up-stream, 92.
„
„
„ double-handed rod, 2. „ dry-fly in still, bright weather, 61.
„ „
,,
,,
Advice
„ selecting apparently unfavourable places, no.
single-handed rod,
to abstain
3.
from fishing trout bulging at mayfly nymphs^
253-
Advice
to leave tailing fish alone, 171. ,,
,,
strike slowly, 293.
Against or across the wind, casting, 78. Air and water, temperature of, as affecting hatch of duns, 188. „ pump, use of, in dressing reel lines, ;i7. " Alexandra "for tailing fish, 171.
Aluminium for reels, 34. Approaching a rising fish, April
— selection of
Artificial fly,
fly,
136.
233.
dragging caused by travelling across natural
set
of stream, 124. Artificial
fly,
dragging caused by travelling too quickly,
„ „ „ „ mayfly, occasional use
„ „
„
„ of,
after
mayfly season
262.
mayflies, patterns
,,
of,
Attaching eyed hooks to cast „
August
—
Autopse,
„ „ selection of
how
256.
size of, 256.
„
„
to,
„ fly,
315.
265.
— Hall knot
for, 47.
Turle knot
for,
117.
slowly, 123.
48.
is
over
INDEX Autopsy, advantages
347
of, 314.
floating portion
of, 316. lessons to be learned from, 326. sunk portion of, 320.
„
„ „
theories
„
deduced from,
vegetable matter
,,
Average number of eggs
Bags and
in,
laid
322.
332.
by mayfly, 243.
baskets, 49.
Bay, slow running, fish rising Beaufort scale, 204. Beds, celery, 127
in,
Bends or corners, favourable,
132.
Blue-winged
121, 145.
olive, 278.
„
„
hatched
in captivity, 279.
dressing reel lines, 37. Boxes for flies on eyed hooks, 50.
Boiled
oil for
Brass reels, 34. Bridge or hatch, fish rising just above, 113. Bright sun as influencing sport, 199. Brogues, fastening, 55. Bulging, definition of, 156. fish,
„
patterns
for, 165.
„ various methods of dealing with, 164. indications of, 163.
„ ,,
Butting a
fish, 295.
Caddis and
cases, 322.
Cants 275. Captivity, blue-winged olive hatched in, 279. mayfly eggs hatched in, 243. ,, ^
Carrying mackintosh, method of, 55. Cast, dry switch, 89. long, conditions under which necessary, „ over-handed, 71. „ ,,
short, difficulty of, 85.
,,
steeple, 87.
„
switch, 89.
„
under-handed, 80.
„
„
„
,,
difficulty of attaining
positions,
when
good
cultivation of
„
definition of, 70.
„
ethics of good, 74.
accuracy with, 83.
specially useful, 82.
Casting against or across the wind, 78. „
86.
style in, 76.
DRY-FLY FISHING
348
Casting, explanation of the plates on, 72. force required in, 75. „
made by
„
noise
,,
upstream, advantages
,,
various styles
rod, 75. of, 92.
of, 70.
Celery beds, 127.
Chalk streams,
Check
62.
to reels, silent or noisy, 34.
Choice of a rod, 2. " Circumstances affecting sport," Mr.
W.
H. Pope, 212.
Class of places to select, loi. " Club " eyed fly-box, Cocking the fly, 83.
52.
Collar gut, knots for attaching to reel line, 42. length of, 43. „
Colour blindness in fish, the theory discussed, 217. " Colour, exact shade of," theory Mr. B. W. Smurthwaite, Colour of fishing suit, 56.
—
„
question, 215.
,.
„
Mr. C. E. Walker's views, 220.
„
„
Sir Herbert Maxwell's views, 218.
Coming
short, 205.
„
,,
„
„
fish
hooked outside when,
209.
grayling, 210.
„
,,
in bright sun, 210.
„
,,
sometimes an indication of shyness, 208.
Commencement
of the " curse
"
season, 238.
Comparative advantages of dry-fly and
Comparing rods, 27. Comparison of rise of large and small
wet-fly, 59.
fish, 161.
Conditions favourable for dry-fly, 60. „ wet-fly, 61. „ „ under which long cast is necessary, 86. „ Corixae in fish, 329. Cotton, " fishing fine and far off," 84. Crayfish,
full
Cultivation of
grown,
good
in trout, 331.
style in casting, 76.
"Curse" season, commencement downward, 79.
of,
Cut,
Dace „
or roach, rise
of, 161.
rising in trout streams, 130.
Decrease of mayfly, 242.
Deep
eddies, fish rising in large, 108.
238.
INDEX Deep
349
pools, grayling rising in, 131.
water preferable to shallow for evening „ Definition of bulging, 156.
rise, 283.
„ casting, 70. „ dragging, 115, „ floating fly, 58. „ hatch of fly, 187.
„
,,
„
„ rising, 156. „
„ rod returning quickly, 23.
„
„ smutting, 156.
„
„ sunk fly, 58. „ tailing, 156.
„
Diaries, fishing, 204.
Difference between mayfly
nymph and
larva, 246.
Difficult places to fish, 109.
under-handed cast, 82. hooking fish when drifting, 99. Difficulty of attaining accuracy with under-handed Difficulties of acquiring
„
„
,,
,,
„
„
cast, 83.
fishing very swift water, 129.
,,
„ judging length of line to cover a rising „ spotting rise from a distance, 155. very short cast, 85. ,,
fish, 141.
Disadvantages and advantages of grayling in trout streams, of fishing from high bank, 133. „ Distance thrown by steeple cast, 88.
j^yj
to get within throwing, 136. ,, Distinguishing grayling from trout when rising, iVJ-
Double-handed rod, advantages of, and single-handed rods, 2. ,,
Downward
2.
cut, 79.
Dragging caused by
artificial fly travelling
across natural set
of stream, 124.
Dragging caused by ,,
artificial fly travelling
)t
))
,»
M
)>
,}
definition of, 115.
,,
natural
,,
to prevent or retard, 117.
116.
fly,
Drawn and undrawn Dressing
too quickly, 117.
»
gut, 199.
reel lines, 36.
„
„
,,
boiled
,,
,,
,,
Hawksley's recipe
,,
„
,,
use of air
oil for, yj.
pump
for, 38.
for, 37.
Drift, half, 97.
Drifting, 95.
„
difficulties of
hooking
fish
when,
99.
slowly, 123.
DRY-FLY FISHING
)5o
Drifting, reasons for general non-success of, 97.
when, when, 99.
„
to return line
„
to strike
96.
Drowning a fish, 297. Dry fly and wet-fly, comparative advantages „
conditions favourable
,,
fisherman's field glass, 179.
of, 59.
for, 60.
spread of, 64. rough or rainy weather, 67.
,,
fishing,
,,
in
„ still, bright weather, 61. purists, 66.
.,
„ ,,
switch, 86.
Drying the fly, 77. Dubs, 339. Duns, hatch of, temperature of Dyeing gut, 45.
East wind Easterly
air
and water as
affecting, 188.
as influencing sport, 196.
and northerly winds, hatch of
fly
as
affected by,
Pictet's opinion, 198.
Eaton, Rev. A. E., Ebonite reels, 34. Eddies, fish rising ,,
life
history of mayfly, 242.
in small, 121.
large deep, fish rising
in,
108.
Edge, glass, in. Efficacy of the
first cast,
137.
Eggs, average number of, laid by mayfly, 243. mayfly, hatched in captivity, 243. „ Elliott and Fry's instantaneous photographs, 73. Ephemeridje nymphs, 322. Evening rise, 273. deep water preferable to shallow, 273. „ „ „
,,
„
,,
,,
,,
patterns for early, 280.
Mr. E. Williamson, 281. „ „ „ red spinner for early, 276.
smuts for early, 277. „ „ " Exact shade of colour" theory, by 'Wx. B.
W. Smurthwaite
221.
Explanation of plates on casting, 72.
Eyed hooks,
45.
boxes for flies on, 50. Hall knot for attaching to cast, 47. ., „ Turle „ 48. ,, „ ,, „ ,, „ Eyes, turned-down, for hooks. 46. up, for hooks, 46. ,, ,, ,,
„
INDEX Fastening
351
brogues, 55.
Favourable conditions for
dry-fly, 60.
„ wet-fly, 61. corners or bends, 132. ,, Fear of grayling of the landing net, 344. „
„
Ferrules, "
Lloyd" treble
,,
parallel, 14.
„
tongued,
grip, 16.
14.
Field glass for dry-fly fisherman, 179. " Fine and far off," Cotton, 84. First cast, efficacy of, 137.
Fish, butting a, 295. „
darting rapidly to surface
,,
drowning
„
when
rising, 160.
a, 297.
fighting, 150.
,,
good hands and judgment when playing, hooked outside when coming short, 209.
„
in
,,
„
leading
deep pools,
in position, 153.
„
jiggering, 311.
,,
„ ,,
minnowing,
309.
a,
130.
„
„
150.
playing the, 296. precautions to be observed when stalking, 133. rising, how to present fly to, 154.
deep eddies,
in large
108.
„
„
„
„
„ „
„
slow running bay, 121, 145. in small eddies, 121. just above hatch or bridge, 1 13
„
near foot-path or road, 113.
,,
„
in
„
smutting, patterns for, 178. strain on rod while playing, 298. tailing, methods and patterns for, 170.
„
taking mayfly imago, 259.
„
„
299.
„
„
„
,,
„
nymph,
„
252.
patterns
„
for, 254.
sub-imago, 256. theory of colour blindness in, discussed, 217,
„
„
,,
,,
,,
travelling while rising, 153.
„
typical, to cast for, 102.
well on the feed, 158. „ Fishes' stomachs, variety of food found P^ishing diaries, 204.
„
" fine and far
„
from high bank, 133.
off,"
Cotton, 84.
in,
326.
DRY-FLY FISHING
352
Fishing
suit,
material,
„
the
„
the water, 59.
and colour
fit
of, 56.
rise, 59.
very swift water, difficulty „ Fittings, "Weeger" winch, 21.
of, 129.
winch, 20.
„
Flies on eyed hooks, boxes for, 50.
Floating fly, definition of, 58. Floating portion of autopsy, 316. Fly, April, selection of, 233.
„
August, selection of, 265. cocking the, 83. definition of hatch of, 187. drying the, -JT.
,,
floating, definition of, 58.
„
hints for recovering
„
how
„ „
„
when hung
up, 104
to present to rising fish, 154.
,,
July, selection of, 264.
„
June, selection
of,
262.
„
May,
of,
237.
„
natural dragging, 116.
selection
,,
November and December,
„
October, selection
,,
paraffin for waterproofing, 78.
„
selection
„
September, selection
„
sunk, definition
of,
selection
of,
270.
269.
of,
general remarks on, 230. of,
267.
of, 58.
Food, variety of, found in fishes' stomachs, 326. Footpath or road, fish rising near, 113. Force required in casting, 75. to use in striking, 294. ,, Francis Francis, the late, on double and single-handed rods, Full-grown cray-fish in trout, 331.
Get
within throwing distance, 136. Glass edge, in.
Good
casting, ethics
of, 74.
„
hands and judgment when playing
„
style of casting, cultivation of, 76.
Grannom
fish,
299.
season, 234.
Gravel patches on a shallow, 106. Grayling and trout, position of rising, compared, 338. „
coming
„
diet of,
„
fear of the landing net, 344.
short, 210.
more various than
that of trout, 325.
3.
INDEX Grayling
353
in July, 264.
streams, advantages and disadvantages
,,
in trout
„
in
„
introduction into trout streams, 343. reasons why, so frequently rise falsely, 341. reasons why they shift their position when rising, 339.
„
„
of,
337.
October, 269.
deep pools,
,,
rising in
„
sporting qualities
„
to distinguish
„
when
„
willow
of,
131.
336.
from trout when
rising, ly].
to cast over, 146. flies in,
Greenheart rods,
334.
5.
whipping, 12. „ „ Grip of the rod, 71. Gut collar, knots for attaching to reel
line, 42.
collars, length of, 43.
drawn and undrawn,
199.
dyeing, 45. knot for tying strands together, 44.
wet box
Half
for, 43.
drift, 97.
" Hall " knot for attaching eyed
Hand
hooks
to cast, 47.
playing, Mr. Lloyd, 306.
Hardy's experiments on rod Hatch-holes,
1
testing, 28.
14.
Hatch of duns, temperature
of air
and water as affecting, 188. and easterly winds, Pictet' s
as affected by northerly
„
of
„
of
„
with northerly winds, 193. or bridge, fish rising just above, 113.
fly
opinion on, 198. fly,
definition of, 187.
„
„
Hatched
in captivity,
„
„
Hawksley's recipe
Blue-winged olive, 279. mayfly eggs, 243.
for dressing reel lines, 38.
„
tests for rods, 29.
„
wet box
for gut, 43.
Heavy banks of weeds, playing trout hooked among, High bank, fishing from, 133. Hints for recovering fly when hung up, 104. Hooked fish, effects of slacking, 300. „
„
„
,,
,,
Hooked 23
308.
leading
a, 309. policy of slacking in
awkward
places, 301.
running in under fisherman's bank, 311. „ outside when fish coming short, 209.
DRY-FLY FISHING
354
Hooking
fish
when
drifting, difficulties of, 99.
Hooks, eyed, 45. turned-down eyes „
for, 46.
turned-up eyes for, 46. up, hints for recovering fly when, 104.
„
Hung Ideal
position for a rising trout, 102.
Imago, mayfly, 250. Imitations of larvae, reasons for their non-success, 192. „
smuts, 176.
,,
Indications of bulging, 163.
„ smutting, 174.
„
„ tailing, 168. Influence of weather on sport, 186. „
Introduction of grayling into trout streams, 343. "
J.
R." eyed fly-box,
Jammed, „
screw
13.
fittings for, 15.
when jammed, 20. from getting jammed,
„
to loosen,
„
to prevent,
Judging
20.
fish, 311.
Jointed and spliced rods, Joints,
when,
prevent joints from getting, 20.
,,
Jiggering
50.
to loosen joints
from the
size offish
20.
rise, 157.
July fishing, 263. „ grayling in, 264. „
selection of
Jumping
fly,
June, selection of
fly,
„
„
,,
Keeping Knot
264.
trout, 159.
262.
where no mayfly hatches, 263.
out of sight, 61.
for fastening
mackintosh
to
basket
lid, 55.
„ „
tying strands of gut together, 44. " Hall," for attaching eyed hooks to cast, 47.
„
"Turle," „ „ for attaching gut collar to reel
„
Knots
Landing
„
48.
line, 42.
net, 48.
„
„
grayling's fear
„
„
use of the, 312.
of,
344.
Large and small fish, rise compared, „ deep eddies, fishing in, 108.
161.
sedge, 284. „ Larvic, imitations, reasons for non-success
of, 192.
INDEX
355
Leading a hooked fish. 309. Length of cast, 43. line required to cover rising fish, difficulty of judg-
„
,,
„
„ rod, 22.
„
,,
ing, 141.
taper of reel line, 41.
Lessons to be learned from autopsy, 326. Life history of mayfly, 242.
(Rev. A. E. Eaton), 242.
„
„
(Pictet), 242.
Light, a bad,
2Cxd.
Line, throwing a slack, 120. " Lloyd," treble-grip feriule, 16.
on hand playing, 306. „ " Lloyd's " experiments on playing trout, 305. inferences drawn from, 307. „ „ Long cast, conditions imder which necessary, 86.
Loose rod-rings, 20. Loosening joints when jammed,
Mackintosh, ,,
Manufacture of
20.
carrying, 55. knot for fastening to basket split
cane rods,
lid, 55.
8.
(H. P. Wells), Material for fishing
reel line, 35.
„
„
8.
suit, 56.
Materials for reels, 34. „ rod-making, 5. „ Maxwell, Sir Herbert, views on colour question, 2(8. May, sedge flies in, 239.
selection of
„
Mayfly,
237.
fly,
artificial, size of, 256.
„
average number of eggs laid by, 243. decrease of, 242. difi'erence between nymph and larva, 246.
„
eggs, 242.
„
hatched „ imago, 250.
„ „
,,
in captivity, 243.
„
„
fish taking, 259.
„
,,
"spent gnat," Mr. Marryat's pattern, 260.
„
larva, 246.
„
„
habits
„
„
just hatched, 244.
„
life
„
metamorphosis, 247.
history
of,
246.
of, 242.
DRY-FLY FISHING
356
Mayfly nymph, 246. advice to abstain from fishing trout bulging
„
„
at,
253-
bulging
252.
„
,,
fish
„
„
patterns for fish taking, 254.
at,
occasional success of other
,,
,,
use of
,,
„
patterns
„
Pictet's life history of, 242.
during hatch is
of,
258.
over, 262.
256.
of,
„
Rev. A. E. Eaton's
„
season, 240.
„
sub-imago, 249.
„ „ Mayflies, size of
flies
when season
artificial,
life
history of, 242.
fish taking, 256. artificial, 256.
Metamorphosis of mayfly, 247.
Method of dressing reel lines, Hawksley's, Methods and patterns for tailing fish, 170. of plaiting reel lines, 35. various, of dealing with bulging
„ „
Minnowing trout, 150, 156. Model rods and their copies, 26. Moving slowly, necessity for, when
38.
fish, 164.
stalking
fish, 133.
Natural
fly dragging, 116. Necessity for moving slowly Net landing, 48.
when
stalking
fish, 133.
Noise made by rod when casting, 75. Noisy or silent check to reels, 34. Non-success of drifting, reasons for, 97. „ imitations of larva, reasons for, 192. sport, 188.
„
North wind as influencing
Northerly winds, hatch of fly with, 193. and easterly winds, hatch of „
as
fly
affected
by,
Pictet's opinion, 198.
November and December, selection of Number of eggs laid by mayfly, 243.
Nymph
Occasional
when
success of other
use of
artificial
over, 262.
October, grayling „
in, 269.
selection of
246.
322.
fish rising quietly
,,
270.
and larva mayfly, difference between,
Nymphs, Ephemeridae, „
fly,
fly,
269.
taking, 167.
during hatch of mayfly, 258. mayfly after mayfly season is
flies
INDEX October, trout
Over-handed
Paraffin
357
in, 268.
cast, 71.
for waterproofing
fly, 78.
Patches, gravel, on a shallow, 106.
weed,
„
,,
„
,,
„
,,
„
107.
tails of,
Patterns for bulging
fish, 165.
early evening rise, 280.
Mr. E. Williamson, 281.
„
„
„ fish
taking mayfly nymphs, 254.
,,
„
smutting
„
„
tailing fish, 178.
fish, 170.
of mayflies, 256.
„
„ sedge
„
flies,
285.
Photographs, Elliott and Fry's instantaneous, 73. Pictet's opinion on hatch of fly as affected by northerly and easterly winds, 198. Places to be avoided, 125. „ select, class of, loi. usually neglected by anglers, 112.
„ ,,
Plaiting reel lines,
methods
of, 35.
Plates on casting explained, 72.
Playing a
fish, effects
of slacking, 300.
„
„
„
good hands and judgment,
,,
,,
„
policy of slacking in
„
„
,,
„
,,
„
„
the fish, 296.
299.
awkward
places, 301.
on rod, 298. trout among heavy banks of weeds, 298. ,,
strain
„
in
weedy
places, 302.
Point ring, revolving steel, 20. Pools, deep, fish in, 130.
Pope, Mr.
W.
H., on " Circumstances affecting sport," 212.
on " Studies offish feeding," 184. ,, „ „ Position, ideal, for a rising trout, 102. of rising trout and grayling compared, 338. „ Positions where under-handed cast is specially useful, 82.
Precautions to be observed when stalking a
Preventing joints from getting jammed, or retarding dragging, 117. „ Purists, dry-fly, 66.
Quiet Rain
rises, 158.
as influencing sport, 199.
Rainy or rough weather, dry
fly in, 67.
20.
fish, 133.
DRY-FLY FISHING
358
Reasons
non-success of drifting, 97. non-success of imitations of larvae, 192. why rising grayling shift their positions, 339. for general
„
„
„ „
grayling so frequently rise falsely, 341.
,,
Recipe for dressing reel lines, Hawksley's, 38. Recovering fly when hung up, hints for, 104.
Red deer
fat for reel lines, 40.
sedge, 259. spinner for early evening
„ „
Reel
rise, 276.
lines, dressing, 36.
„
,,
„
„
knots for attaching gut collar length of taper of, 41.
to, 42.
„
„
material
„
„
„
,,
methods of plaiting, 35. Mr. Hawksley's recipe for dressing,
„
„
substance
„
„
use of air
,,
,,
,,
for, 35.
38.
of, 41.
pump
boiled
in dressing, 37.
oil for
dressing, 37.
„ red deer fat for, 40. „ striking from, 294.
„ „
Reels, 33.
aluminium,
34.
brass, 34.
ebonite, 34. materials for, 34. silent or noisy check
to, 34.
Retarding or preventing dragging, 117. Returning the line when drifting, 96. Ring, point, steel revolving, 20. Rings, rod, loose, 20. upright, 20. „ „ Rise, estimating size offish from the, 157.
evening, 273. reason
falsely,
of large
why
and small
grayling so frequently, 341.
fish
compared,
161.
„ roach or dace, 161.
spotting the, 151.
from a distance,
„
difficulty of, 155.
Rises, quiet, 158. ,,
splashing, 162.
Rising, dace, in trout streams, 130. „
definition
,,
fish,
of,
156.
approaching, 136.
,,
„
in large
„
„
in
deep eddie,
108.
slow-running bay, 121,
INDEX Rising
359
small eddies, 121.
fish in
„
above hatch or bridge, 13. near footpath or road, 113. quietly when taking nymphte, 167.
„
travelling while, 153.
just
„
„
1
grayling in deep pools, 131. quickly, 208.
reasons
why
grayling
shift their positions
when, 329.
slowly, 207.
from trout when, 2)yjand grayling, positions of compared, 338.
to distinguish grayling
trout
ideal position for, 102.
„
Roach or dace, rise of, 161. Road or footpath, fish rising
near, 113.
Rod, action of, 23. advantages of double-handed, „ single-handed,
,,
choice of grip
2. 3.
a, 2.
of, 71.
Hardy's experiments on length
testing, 28.
of, 22.
making, materials
for, 5.
returning quickly, definition
of, 23.
steel-centred, 24. strain on, while playing a fish, 298. testing, 29.
Rod-making, materials
for, 5.
Rod-rings, loose, 20. upright, 20.
„
Rods, comparing, 27. double and single-handed, glued cane, 7. greenheart,
2.
5.
Hawksley's tests for, 29. model, and their copies, 26. slow and quick action spear
spliced split
of, 31.
for, 21.
and
cane,
„ „
varnish
jointed, 13.
7.
manufacture of, whipping, II.
8.
for, 12.
whipping greenheart,
12.
Ronalds, when to cast to a very shy fish, 144. Rough or rainy weather, dry-fly in, 67.
DRY-FLY FISHING
36o
Rough
run, tail of a, 107.
Run, quick, how
Screw Sedge „
smooth water above,
to fish
121.
fittings for joints, 15.
flies in
May,
239.
patterns
,,
„
large, 284.
„
red, 259.
„
season, 266.
„
small, 283.
„
splashing
of,
285.
at, 286.
Selecting apparently unfavourable places, advantages Selection of
fly,
of, 110.
April, 233.
August, 265. general remarks on, 230. June, 262.
where no mayfly hatches,
,,
263.
July, 264.
May,
237.
November and December,
270.
October, 269.
September, 267. September, trout in, 267. Shallow, deep water preferable to, gravel patches on a, io6. ,, Sherry spinner, 279. Shift their position, reasons
why
for
evening
grayling,
283.
rise,
when
rising, 339.
Short cast, difficulty of, 85. coming, 205. „ grayhng, 210. „ „ „
,,
in bright sun, 210.
„
„
sometimes indication of shyness, 208.
Shrimp {Ga/iu/iarus pulex), 322. Shyness, coming short sometimes an indication
of,
208.
Silent or noisy check to reels, 34.
Single and double-handed rods, 2. Single-handed rod, advantages of,
3.
Size of artificial mayflies, 256. „ fish, estimating,
„
Slacking a hooked „
„
Slack
line,
from the
fish, effect of,
„
throwing
„
policy
rise, 157.
300.
of, in
awkward
places, 301.
a, 120.
Slow and C|uick action of rods, '31. Slowly moving, necessity for, when stalking Slow-running bay, fish rising in, 121, 145.
fish, 133.
INDEX Small and large
fish, rise
361
compared, 161.
„
eddies, fish rising in, 121.
„
sedge, 283.
Smooth water above a quick
run,
how
to fish, 121.
Smurthwaite, Mr. B. W., on " exact shade of colour theory," 222. Smuts for evening rise, 277. imitations
„
of,
Smutting, definition
176. of,
,,
indications
,,
fish,
156.
of, 174.
patterns
for, 178.
Snails {^LininacB) in fish, 329. Spear for rod, 21.
Spent gnat, 251. Mr. Marryat's pattern, 260. „ „ trout taking, 259.
,,
,,
when
to present to a trout, 261. Splashing at sedge, 286. „
,,
rises, 162.
,,
Spliced and jointed rods, 13. Split
cane rods,
7.
„
„
„
manufacture
,,
,,
„
varnish
„
„
„
whipping,
of, 8.
for, 12.
II.
Sport, bright sun as influencing, 199. east wind as influencing, 196. ,, „
north wind as influencing, 189.
„
rain as influencing, 199.
thunder as influencing, 202. weather as influencing, 186. „ Sporting qualities of the grayling, 336. Spotting the rise, 151. a rise from a distance, difficulty „ Spread of dry-fly fishing, 64. „
of,
155.
Staining gut, 45. Stalking fish, precautions to be observed when, 133. Steeple cast, 87. „
„
distance thrown by, 88.
Steel-centred rod, 24.
revolving point ring, 20.
,,
Strain on rod while playing fish, 288.
Streams, chalk, 62. Strike slowly, advice ,,
when
to,
293.
drifting, 99.
Striking, 292.
force to use
,,
24
in,
294.
DRY-FLY FISHING
362
Striking from reel, 294. too quickly, 206. „ Style of casting, cultivating a good, 76. Styles of casting, various, 70.
Sub-imago mayfly, 249. Substance of
reel line, 41.
Success, occasional, of other
Sun bright, as influencing Sunk fly, definition of, 58.
flies
during hatch of mayfly, 258.
sport, 199.
portion of autopsy, 320. „ Swift water, difficulty of fishing, 129.
Switch
cast, 89.
„
dry, 89.
Tactics
to
pursue with trout when weeded, 304.
Tail of a rough run, 107. Tailing, definition of, 156.
methods and patterns
„
fish,
,,
indications
of,
for, 170.
168.
Tails of weed patches, 107. Taper of reel line, 41. Temperature of air and water as
affecting hatch of duns, i88.
Testing rods, 29.
Hardy's experiments,
„
„
28.
Tests for rods, Hawksley's, 29. Theories deduced from autopsy, 322. Theory of colour blindness in fish discussed, 217. Throwing a slack line, 120. distance, to get within, 136.
„
Thunder as influencing "
Tom
sport, 202.
Fool's light," 274.
Travelling
fish, 152.
up-stream and rising simultaneously, Trout and grayling, position of rising compared, 338. diet of grayling more varied than that of, 325. „ trout,
„
„
fighting, 150.
,,
full-grown crayfish
,,
ideal position for rising, 102.
,,
in
,,
„
„ „ ,,
„
in,
153.
331.
October, 268.
September, 267. jumping, 159. minnowing, 150, 156. playing among heavy banks of weed, 298. in
,,
rising
in
and
weedy
places, 302.
travelling up-stream simultaneously, 153.
INDEX
363
Trout streams, advantages and disadvantages of grayling
in,
streams, introduction of grayling, 343. taking spent gnat, 259.
weeding, 303.
when
rising, to distinguish grayling from, 337.
weeded, tactics to pursue, 304. " Turle" knot for attaching eyed hooks to „
Turned-down eyes for hooks, 46. Turned-up eyes for hooks, 46. Tying strands of gut together, knot Typical
fish, to
cast, 48.
for, 44.
cast for, 102.
Under-handed
cast, 80.
„
„
accuracy with,
„
,,
difficulties of acquiring, 82.
,,
,,
positions
Undrawn and drawn
difficulty of attaining, 83.
where specially
useful, 82.
gut, 199.
Unfavourable places, advantages of selecting, no. Upright rod-rings, 20. Up-stream casting, advantages of, 92. Use of air-pump in dressing reel lines, 37. „ „ red deer fat for reel lines, 40. the landing net, 312. ,, ,,
Variety
of food found in fishes' stomachs, 326. Various styles of casting, 70. Varnish for rods, 12. Vegetable matter in an autopsy, 332. Very shy fish (Ronalds), when to cast to, 144.
Waders,
54.
Walker, Mr. C. E., views on colour question, 220. Water and air, temperature of, as affecting hatch of duns. Waterproofing fly, paraffin for, 78. Weather, advantages of dry-fly in still bright, 61. as influencing sport, 186.
,,
dry-fly in
„
Weed
rough or rainy,
patches, tails
Weeded, when trout, Weeding trout, 303. Weeds, heavy banks "
Weeger
67.
of, 107.
tactics to pursue, 304.
of,
playing trout among, 308.
winch fittings, 21. Wells, H. P., on manufacture of split cane rods, Wet box for gut, Mr. Hawksley's, 43. ''
8.
DRY-FLY FISHING
364
Wet
fly
and dry
fly,
comparative advantages
of, 59.
„ favourable conditions for, 61. When not to cast, 144. „
,,
„
to cast to grayling, 146.
„
a very shy
Whipping greenheart
fish
(Ronalds), 144.
rods, 12.
split cane rods, 11. „ Williamson, Mr. E., on patterns for early evening
Willow
Winch
flies in
grayling, 334.
fittings, 20.
"Weeger,"2i. „ Wind, casting against or across,
78.
east, as influencing sport, 196. ,,
„
north,
„ northerly, hatch of
„ fly
189.
with, 193.
rise, 281.
