GENERAL DIRECTIONS, OBSERVATIONS, ETC.
The fly-fisher may have acquired perfection in the art of throwing the fly; he may fish with the finest gut and the smallest and most killing flies; but unless he keep out of sight of the fish, he may just as well stay at home—he will take no fish. If a splash in the water, caused by the clumsy falling of the line, frighten away the fish, the sight of the fisherman himself will send them all to their holds, to a distance of thirty or forty yards from him! Trout are very sharp-sighted, timid and wary; and whenever they chance to see the fisherman, no bait whatever will be sufficient to tempt them to take it, and the utmost skill and dexterity will be thrown away.
When you observe a trout rise at a fly, throw your fly about a foot above where you judge his head to lie, and a little to the left or right of him. If he does not rise at your first cast, throw again three or four times. He will not take your fly unless it be presented to him temptingly, and near to him. He will not quit his post for your fly if it be out of his feeding circuit; and a few casts may bring it into that desirable locality. Trout always lie with their heads looking up the stream, watching for what it may bring them; and when they are taking the fly readily, they swim within a few inches of the surface of the water; but they will not go out of their feeding circuit to take any fly.
The very instant you perceive a trout has taken your fly, strike him at the same instant by slightly elevating the wrist. This should be done with the utmost rapidity, or the fish will manage to reject the treacherous imitation that has deceived him, and you will not rise him again for hours afterwards. In fact, I have often seen a good-sized trout that had escaped after having been hooked, not only afterwards invariably refuse the artificial fly, but quit his lair and take to his shelter the moment he perceived the tail line fall on the water.
When you have hooked a fish, you must necessarily act as the nature of the place will allow. If embarrassed with bushes, &c., get him out as quickly as possible. You may chance to lose him in the endeavour, but if you have not space for playing him, what is to be done? If you are in a situation to be able to play him, do so, keeping him well in hand with your bent rod. Never check a trout strongly in his first run, if avoidable. If he should be approaching anything that would endanger your line, strive to guide him gradually from it, by gently inclining your rod in the direction you wish him to take, always keeping him, as I before observed, well in hand with your bent rod. Never pull directly against him; for, if you do, you will probably cause him to plunge and leap in such a manner as to endanger your tackle, or tear the hook from its hold in his mouth. Trout, like many reasoning animals, may be easily guided, but never compelled, if of good size and strength, until, by playing him, he has been made too weary and exhausted for further contention. A small fish may of course be landed at once, but a fish of good size and strength should be played, if possible, until he becomes so exhausted by his struggles as to offer a favourable opportunity for introducing him into the landing net. If you have space for playing the fish, and are unencumbered by bushes, &c., perseverance, patience, address, and sang froid, will generally enable you to secure the largest trout.
It is difficult to give directions where to find trout in a trout stream. I have found them in every part of the stream. Good-sized trout often lurk near the edge under the banks, especially in narrow streams. I always try there first. They also lie in the currents of the stream watching for their prey. If there be any impediment in the stream, such as a large stone, &c., which, by projecting above or near the surface of the water, causes an increased rippling, never miss such a spot, but throw just above the rippling, drawing the fly through it. Towards evening trout are roaming about more freely in every part of the stream. It is of frequent occurrence to see a trout sailing up and down near the edge of the stream for a determinate distance. He is then in search of food. Keep out of sight, and he will probably take your fly.
Where trout are moderately plentiful, fish every yard of water.
As a rule, small and fine is the fly-fisher’s maxim. In clear, bright water it is almost useless to use any thick-bodied fly. The smallest and thinnest-bodied flies are preferable in clear, bright water, and the larger in thick water, or on a windy day. You may successfully use any of the flies I have enumerated: small for clear, bright water, and larger for thick water or a blustering day.