| The Value of Observation | | | | if a fly were placed a yard or so above this |
| | | | point and allowed to float down to the rock a |
| | | | feeding fish would rush forward-often as much |
| | | | as two feet-and take it, immediately turning |
| The beginner must learn to look with eyes | | | | or backing into his position again. I had |
| that see. Occurrences of apparently little | | | | assumed from this observation when the fly |
| importance at the moment may, after | | | | passed the rock or backwater without a rise |
| consideration, assume proportions of great | | | | it should be retrieved and another try made. |
| value. The taking of an insect, for instance, | | | | |
| may mean nothing more than a rising trout; | | | | This fish satisfied me, however, that when |
| but the position occupied by this fish may | | | | really feeding, or when inclined to feed, |
| indicate the position taken by others in | | | | trout may be lured comparatively long |
| similar water. | | | | distances by inviting-looking morsels. Either |
| | | | he did not decide to take the fly until just |
| The flash of a trout, changing his position | | | | as it was passing him or else he liked the |
| preparatory to investigating the angler's | | | | exercise of the chase. In any event, he was |
| fly, will frequently disclose the spot | | | | not peculiar in his habit, because four more |
| occupied by him before he changed his | | | | fish were taken in the same manner the same |
| position; and, later on, when the fish are | | | | day. |
| not in the keenest mood for feeding, a fly | | | | |
| presented there accurately may bring a rise. | | | | In most cases when the fly is cast above a |
| The quick dart up-stream of a small trout | | | | boulder lying in swift water (which I |
| from the tail of a pool is a pretty fair | | | | consider, under certain conditions, one of |
| indication that a large fish occupies the | | | | the best places to look for brown trout) it |
| deeper water above; it indicates just as | | | | will be taken as it approaches the rock, the |
| certainly, however, that the angler has | | | | trout darting out and retiring immediately to |
| little chance of taking him, the excitement | | | | avoid being caught in the swifter water on |
| of the smaller fish having probably been | | | | either side of his stronghold. But if it is |
| communicated to his big relative. | | | | not taken, and is permitted to float down |
| | | | with the current, it may bring a response. |
| The backwater formed by a swift current on | | | | |
| the upstream side of a boulder is a favourite | | | | It was a somewhat similar observation which |
| lurking-place of brown trout. I was fishing | | | | prompted the practice and, I must say, rather |
| such places one day, and found the trout | | | | dubious development of what some of my |
| occupying them in rather a taking mood. In | | | | friends are pleased to call the "fluttering" |
| approaching a boulder which looked | | | | or "bounce" cast. This cast is supposed to |
| particularly inviting, and while preparing to | | | | represent the action of the fluttering |
| deliver my fly, I was amazed to see the tail | | | | insect, the fly merely alighting upon the |
| and half the body of a fine trout out of the | | | | water, rising, alighting again, repeating the |
| water at the side of the rock. | | | | movement three or four times at most; finally |
| | | | coming to rest and being allowed to float |
| For a moment I could not believe that I had | | | | down-stream. It rarely comes off, but when it |
| seen a fish-the movement was so deliberate | | | | does it is deadly; and, for the good of the |
| and I came to the conclusion that it was | | | | sport, I am glad but when it does it is |
| fancy or that a water-snake, gliding across | | | | deadly; and, for the good of the sport, I am |
| the stream, had shown itself. Almost | | | | glad that it is difficult, though sorry, too, |
| immediately, however, I saw the flash of a | | | | for the pleasure of accomplishing it |
| trout as he left the backwater and dashed | | | | successfully is really greater than that of |
| pell-mell into the swift water at the side of | | | | taking fish with it. |
| the boulder. | | | | |
| | | | The cast is made with a very short line-never |
| Down-stream he came until he was eight or ten | | | | over twenty-five feet-and the fly alone |
| feet below the rock, when, turning sharply | | | | touches the water. The action of the fly is |
| and rising to the surface, he took from it | | | | very similar to that produced by the method |
| some insect that I could not see. Up-stream | | | | known as "dapping," but instead of being |
| again he went, and shortly resumed his | | | | merely dangled from the rod, as is the case |
| position in the dead water, showing half his | | | | when "dapping," the fly is actually cast. It |
| body as he stemmed the current at the side of | | | | should be permitted to float as far as it |
| the rock. Once more this performance was | | | | will after its fluttering or skipping has |
| repeated, and I knew I had stumbled upon an | | | | ceased. |
| interesting experience. | | | | |
| | | | The beginner practising the cast will do well |
| Hastily measuring the distance, hoping to get | | | | to cast at right angles to the current, and |
| my fly to him before some natural insect | | | | he should choose rather fast water for his |
| might excite him to give another exhibition | | | | experimenting. The speed of the water will |
| of gymnastic feeding, I dropped it about | | | | cause the fly to jump, and the action it |
| three feet above him, and, contrary to my | | | | should have will be the more readily |
| usual method of retrieving it as it floated | | | | simulated than if the first attempts are made |
| past the up-stream side of the boulder, I | | | | on slow water. |
| permitted it to come down riding the top of | | | | |
| the wave, when the same flash came as the | | | | ----------------------SIDEBAR--------------- |
| trout dashed after it. | | | | ------- |
| | | | |
| The fish could be plainly seen almost | | | | Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth |
| directly under the fly. As it reached the | | | | of knowledge for the beginner fly fisher as |
| rapidly flattening water below the rock, he | | | | well as the experienced angler. |
| turned and took it viciously, immediately | | | | |
| darting up-stream again. He was soundly | | | | The preceding article was an excerpt from: |
| hooked, however, and I netted a fine fish | | | | "Secrets To Fishing The Dry Fly - Vol II" by |
| lacking one ounce of being a pound and a | | | | G.M. |
| half. My experience heretofore had been that | | | | |