The North Country Angler. 73 



hairs, with light mottled large wings/ sometimes 

 double; the body of the whitish stuffing of an 

 old saddle, or such dubbing as may be got in a 

 tanner's yard, and a large white or yellow cock's 

 hackle over all. The body of the fly is at least 

 as thick as a goose's quill, and rather more than 

 an inch long, with a great rough head; my line 

 a yard longer than my rod. When I have thrown 

 it out to its full length, I draw it back by little 

 pulls of about a yard, which makes it swim as if 

 alive. When I hear a fish break the water, and 

 feel my line stop, I generally strike,, though great 

 fish hook themselves by closing their mouths and 

 turning their heads. When the night is not very 

 dark, I have a link with a fly of the same size, a little 

 darker; and when it is so clear, that I can see my 

 line, I put on another with a mottled wing, a 

 brown body, and a black hackle with red points : 

 This fly I make about half the size of the 

 first. 



When I fish with worms, which is the more 

 certain bait, my line is much the same for 

 strength and length; my hook large; I put on 

 two well scoured dew-worms so,, that the four 

 ends may hang equally down : I use no lead, 

 draw it on the top as the fly, and when a fish 

 takes it, I do not strike, but give in my rod top, 

 to let him go down to the bottom with it> and 

 swallow his great mouthful. If I am weary of 

 this, and there are any fine streams, I troul with 

 a minnow, which is the best way of all. 



When I fish with minnow at night, I get 

 them in the evening, choose them of a middle 

 size, bright and little bellied; I throw a little salt 



H 



