LA MOSCA SECA DE HALLFORD

Page 1

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 150째 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

째^

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

째^

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

Âť

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 45째 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

"째' *째

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

^" p째''' ^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

째^

^"J'^^'^째"^

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 째^

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

36째, 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 40째 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!'^짜"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.

ÂŤ='

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

^速 ^^^ 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, 째

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.

째^

^^'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

^^^^'^'^'째" 째^

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

째* f^'f'^'^'째"

'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

ber째ancrDecem 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

J째J.'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 ÂŤ" 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.

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