FANCIES ABOUT FLIES 131 



argument. One thing you may be sure of : namely, 

 that you may as well attempt to make the Tweed 

 run back to its source as to shake his opinions. 



Now, as there is no month in the year when 

 salmon flies are made by nature, so no distinction 

 of species need be observed. My rule has been to 

 adapt my fly, both as to colour and size, to the 

 state of the water : a large fly with sober colours 

 for deep and clear water, and a smaller one, equally 

 unassuming, where it is shallower ; in the throat of 

 the cast, and as long as it continues rough, a large 

 fly also ; at the tail of it, where the water runs 

 more quietly and evenly, a smaller one serves the 

 purpose best. Thus you should change your fly in 

 every stream once or twice. A large and rather 

 gaudy fly is preferable when the river is full and 

 discoloured, that the salmon, which lie at great 

 depths, may see it ; but I never had any great 

 success with very gaudy flies, either in the Tweed 

 or elsewhere, in clear and low waters. Salmon will 

 rise at them, it is true ; but those that have been 

 long in the water will not take them freely when 

 the river is in the state I have spoken of, though 

 they excite their curiosity, and serve them for play- 

 things. I believe it is the fashion now to think 

 otherwise ; so that in these days a golden pheasant's 

 feathers are in as high estimation in Scotland as 

 they always have been in Ireland. 



In tying your flies, you may have some regard 

 to the harmonic colours, as less startling and more 

 natural. You may laugh, if you please, but I 

 would fain think there is something in this. If 

 you know them not, consult Sir David Brewster's 



