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