THE COMPLETE ANGLER 293 



the art of angling, for so in truth he is, tells you that 

 no man should, in honesty, catch a trout till the middle 

 of March, yet I hope he will give a man leave sooner 

 to take a grayling, which, as I told you, is in the dead 

 months in his best season : and do assure you (which 

 I remember by a very remarkable token), I did once 

 take upon the sixth day of December one, and only 

 one, of the biggest graylings, and the best in season, 

 that ever I yet saw or tasted ; and do usually take 

 trouts too, and with a fly, not only before the middle 

 of this month, but almost every year in February, unless 

 it be a very ill spring indeed ; and have sometimes in 

 January, so early as New-year's tide, and in frost and 

 snow, taken grayling in a warm sunshine day for an 

 hour or two about noon ; and to fish for him with a 

 grub, it is then the best time of all. 



I shall therefore begin my fly-fishing with that month, 

 though I confess very few begin so soon, and that such 

 as are so fond of the sport as to embrace all oppor- 

 tunities, can rarely in that month find a day fit for their 

 purpose ; and tell you, that upon my knowledge these 

 flies in a warm sun, for an hour or two in the day, are 

 certainly taken. 



JANUARY 



1. A RED BROWN, with wings of the male of a mallard 

 almost white : the dubbing of the tail of a black long- 

 coated cur, such as they commonly make muffs of ; for 

 the hair on the tail of such a dog dies and turns to a 

 red brown, but the hair of a smooth-coated dog of the 

 same colour will not do, because it will not die, but retains 

 its natural colour, and this fly is taken in a warm sun, 

 this whole month through. 



2. There is also a very little BRIGHT DUN GNAT, 

 as little as can possibly be made, so little as never to 

 be fished with, with above one hair next the hook ; and 



