The growth of Salmon, as is well known, is so surprisingly quick, that
Smelts from Ova deposited by Salmon during the Autumn and Winter
months, will in some instances, by the first week in May, be found to
weigh after the rate of five or six to the pound. They rise very freely
at the fly, and afford the angler (who is fond of small fry), lots of
sport, they are partial to streams, and also to a gaudy fly. Smelts
will rise at almost any moderate sized fly, but the three most killing,
are a small black fly, with scarlet or crimson silk body, black fly,
ribbed with gold, or silver twist, golden plover's speckled feather
from the back, and gold twist. They are also rather fond of a fly made
from a partridge's breast feather, and body of crimson floss silk. The
flies must be fastened upon small hooks not larger than No. 1. Few
Smelts are to be seen after the second week in May. There is an old
saying,
"That the first flood in May,
Takes all the Smelts away."
Salmon Trout, or Herling as they are called in Scotland, are a
beautiful and elegantly formed fish, and rise very freely at common
Trout Flies, these fish go into salt water.