FLY-FISHER. 91 



of some one well accustomed to the locality. 

 There is always an old fisherman to be found, 

 who will be ready to give his assistance and 

 advice for a trifle ; and, with regard to trout flies, 

 you generally may rely on his judgment. These 

 men can either dress you a fly, or pick out a few 

 sure killing ones from their own stock ; and the 

 niceties of shade and colour necessary for each 

 locality are apt to escape the discrimination of a 

 stranger. In salmon flies we have not such implicit 

 confidence in the natives ; they vary with every 

 state of the river; but if a man once kills a salmon 

 with any particular fly, the fly is established for : 

 ever in his opinion, though the concurring cir- ! 

 cumstances whfth rendered that fly for the time 

 attractive, may never occur again. Take a man's 

 opinion as to the general character of form, size, 

 and colour, which may govern your choice ; but 

 if you have a good assortment of the usual 

 salmon flies, we should prefer using them to any 

 of those which may be offered you as the manu- 

 facture of the country. The same remarks 

 apply to the sewin flies. 



Having reached so central a position as Bala, 

 a few remarks on the principal fishing stations 

 within a few miles distance, with notes of the 

 writer's " experience," may not be unacceptable. 



A mountain road along the banks of the Tre- 



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