ARTIFICIAL-FLY FISHING, &C. ^57 



to rise for a fly, however skilfully made or thrown. 

 Fly-fishing certainly partakes more of science than 

 bottom-fishing, and, of course, requires much time, 

 study, and practice, before the Angler can become 

 any thing like an adept at making or casting a fly j 

 indeed, artificial-fly making is somewhat difficult to 

 learn, but more difficult to describe. The young 

 Angler would gain much more information on the 

 subject, by attending a Fly-fisherman, while he is 

 casting or making an artificial-fly ; if he cannot avail 

 himself of such knowledge, he must persevere, and 

 strictly follow the directions I shall offer to his 

 notice, in both making and casting a fly. There 

 are many excellent Fly-fishermen who never trouble 

 "themselves to make a fly, yet kill Trout, in every 

 Trout stream they fish, with flies bought at the 

 London tackle -shops, where the Angler may get a fly 

 made to any pattern, colour, or shape, he chooses 3 in 

 truth, flies are now made so well at those shops, that 

 it is not worth the Angler's trouble to make them. — 

 Note. The artificial flies, sold at the fishing-tackle 

 shops, are principally made from the directions given 

 by Bowlker, of Shrewsbury 3 and, perhaps, have been 

 but little improved during the last century : but, 

 among the modern writers on Fly-fishing, the Angler 

 may consult Captain Williamson s Angler s Fade Me- 

 cum, and Bainbridges Fly-Fishers Guide, probably, 

 with some advantage. 



* I should, certainly, recommend the young Fly-fish- 



• erman, in the first instance, to purchase his artificial 



z2 



