In his first book "Floating Flies" F.M.Halford wrote: "For obvious reasons it is as well not to enter on any controversy as to the comparative merits of the two schools of fly fishing:-the wet or North Country style, and the dry or South Country style. Each is beyond doubt effective in its own particular streams and under circumstance favouring its use and a considerable degree of science is attained by the earnest followers of both. We Southern anglers are far too prone to look down on what was wittily described in "The Fishing Gazette" as the "chuck and chance it" style and our North Country friends are too apt to chaff us for our enforce idleness when the fish are not rising. Let each pin his faith to the particular school in which he believes, but at the same time let each admit that there is a certain degree of skill in his opponent's method, and arguments to be advanced in favour of its relative success. One word of advice, however, to our North Country and Scotch friends:-when you find in one of the streams you frequent that your trout from being overfished are shy, do not be too wedded to your old notions to try the advice of a " Southron" and see if a single floating fly, fishing upstream will not be effectual in basketing some of your otherwise unattainable fish. In that bible of soft hackle flies, "Brook and River Trouting" the authors recommend a number of Halford's flies for times when the fish prefer a floating fly. Bill
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jimmy D. Moore Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:55 AM To: *Hill Country Fly Fishers Subject: [VFB] QUOTE FOR THE DAY "There are days and hours when the wet fly has not a chance against the dry fly, and there are days and hours when the dry fly has not a chance at the wet fly." G.E.M. Skues (1858-1949) **************************************************************************** ********************************** George Edward MacKenzie Skues was, without any doubt, one of the greatest trout fishermen that ever lived. His achievement was the invention of fly fishing with the nymph, a discovery that put a full stop to half a century of stagnation in wet fly fishing for trout, and formed the bedrock for modern sunk fly fishing. Skues' achievement was not without controversy, and provoked what was perhaps the most bitter dispute in fly fishing history, between himself and F.M. Halford who was a dry fly fanatic. An interesting note is that the controversy between lovers of the wet and dry flies continues. ======================================================== Jimmy D. Moore - Retired Scout Executive, BSA, Moderator Fly Fishing World Email List,Member VFB, HCFF, GRTU, FFF,NAFC - Life Member. Contributor - Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Outdoor Humor Writer. Author of "MOON HOLLER MISFITS" Click URL for info. http://home.earthlink.net/~rayado/rayadoflyfishingflypatternstips/index.html "Being able to read trout streams is just as valuable to a fly fisherman as the ability to read a defense is to a Quarterback." ======================================================== --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.637 / Virus Database: 408 - Release Date: 3/20/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.637 / Virus Database: 408 - Release Date: 3/20/2004
