WITH ROD AND LINE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 21, 23 November 1910, Page 10

WITH ROD AND LINE

Specially Written for the “ Weekly Graphic."

By

MAJOR BOYD WILSON.

ABOUT SOME FLIES. FLIES, that is to say the artificial presentment of certain species of the “ Ephemeridae ” and *• phyzyganidae,’’ fed on by trout, arc a source of perennial interest to the angler. It is a well-known fact that trout are capricious to a degree regarding the fly they prefer, and the theory that the supply creates the demand would appear to carry with it a certain amount of reason. All those who have passed their first novitiate in the peculiarly fascinating art of fly-fishing for trout can hardly •lutve failed to notice that, when there is only an occasional fly sailing down the stream, it is suffered to pass by in security. and no tell-tale ring on the surface denotes the feeding trout; but let the

flies Jiatch out in numbers, and speedily a change comes over the scene. The advanced guard is probably allowed to pass by unmolested, for they are as yet undetected by their natural enemies, but first one trout and then another commences to feed, and soon the whole river, which a short half - hour ago seemed tenant less, is now rovered with the unmistakable dimples caused by rising fish. The supply has created the demand. This is seen in the Old Country during the day more often than in New Zealand, for in England hatches of flies are liable to occur at any time during favourable, weather, .while here, so far as the writer's experience has enabled him to judge, the usual time for the best rise or hatch of fly is in the gloaming, the hour that precedes the darkness. On a warm evening ephemeridae will then Im* observed, some flitting about in close proximity to the •water, and others being carried down by the current on its surface; it is then that the quiet plop of the rising fish will >bv heard, and soon the whole of the shallows and quieter waters of the pools will •be instinct with rising fish sucking down the insects thus bountifully provided for their delectation. Should, however, the evening prove to lie cold or raw, or Otherwise unpropitious for the hatching of the water flies, the cliances are that there will be little or no evening rise,

thus giving point to the argument that the supply creates the demand. It is at the time of the rise, when the natural flies are sailing down the river, “ not in singie spies, but in battalions,” and the traut are eagerly availing themselves of the feast that is spread before them, that the angler must make the very best use of his opportunities; and to do this it is essential that he have on his cast a more or less realistic copy of the natural insect that for the moment is engaging the attention of the feeding trout. Be it March Brown, Blue Dun or Red Spinner, the fact remains that only the fly which is floating in abundance on the stream will find favour with the piscine palate. At such times as these the selection of the proper fly is a comparatively simple matter; let the angler catch one of the natural insects, and choose the nearest representative that the fly-book contains, and he will not go far wrong, nor will he make much

mistake if, for evening fishing, the wings of the artificial fly are several shades lighter in colour than the natural, but he must be sure that both in siz* and appearance hrs artificial resembles the fly on the water; for otherwise he may flog the stream and cover rise after rise quite fruitlessly, unless this important item has received due attention. It is when there is no rise of fly, but when there is presumably a proportion of feeding fish in the shallows and ripples on the lookout for what the stream may bring down to them, that the choice of fly becomes more difficult. The only course open to Hie angler is to put on the fly or flies which previous experience has taught him have been acceptable under similar circumstances, and if these are not looked upon with favour, to endeavour, by a process of elimination, to arrive at what is pleasing to the fishy tastes. A marked instance of this fell to the writer’s lot last season. A start was made with the red-tipped Governor for tail fly, and an Irish March Brown as dropper, but both flies failed to elieit a bid, although both weather and water conditions appeared favourable. After vainly whipping some promising reaches, a change was made to a Red Spinner, and a Sedge, lioth of which were received with the same indifference. I’everil of the Peak and other patterns followed in

equally ineffective succession, until at last, almost in desperation, a tiny Black Wing, with hare-leg body, a favourite Tweed fly, was mounted. This -solved the problem; trout after trout fell a victim to the seductions of the plain little fly, and a friend, who had had equal difficulty in hitting off the right prescription, also put up a similar fly, and was at once rewarded. ■ Although . subsequently tried many times on the same water, this was the only occasion in the writer’s experience, that this particular fly was so markedly successful. The red-tipped Governor is probably the most useful all-round fly in New Zealand waters, but high in the list of useful flies are such as Irish March Br.iwn, Sedge, Peveril of the Peak, Black Gnat, and Tisd-all’s R.A.B. For the evening rise the Coachman is a standard pattern, although it would be well if the angler were to provide himself with an assortment of flies, tied with varying bodies added to the white wings of the Coachman.

Dr. Findlay admits that the Chunhtg Bill has no quarrel with the touring “bookie.” The man who collects from office boys and servant girls, and who terrifies his clients into embezzlement and theft by haunting the office doorstep, is let sublimely alone. It -is a scandal that he should be let alone. The crimes he has caused are legion. The subtle temptation put in the path of 'the young, and the terrorism exercised when fancies turn out as they generally do, ought to be summarily ended.—Ker. J. Sorth-, Wellington. Dr. Gibb has said that he has sung and whistled the tunes of the hymns in the Hymnary. and he did not like them. I am not surprised at that.— Rev. A. Millar, at the Presbyterian Assembly.