MAT-FLT FISHING. 151 



change fly when the drake is on, especially towards 

 evening. He should also be provided with stout 

 shooting-boots and leggings, as the long grass holds 

 gallons of water. 



We remained a week at the Peacock, and managed to 

 get nice bags each day, which were disposed of at 

 breakfast and dinner. The "Wye trout, being of a deep 

 pink, are as good to eat as to catch. 



The best morning's work we had opened with a thick 

 atmosphere and drizzling rain ; but the sun shortly 

 cleared it off. Then the fun began, and we killed 

 5^ brace to one rod in the course of an hour and a half, 

 the fish being all over | lb., some 1 lb., and two of 1^ lb. 

 each. 



Some years ago we produced an artificial drake of 

 our own design, which has proved an excellent killer, 

 and for the benefit of our readers we will now describe 

 it:— 



Hook. — May-fly hook, size to fancy; we like about 



fths of an inch in length. File the shank as thin 



as possible without leaving it too weak, and whip 



on a strand of stout trout-gut. 



Tail. — Two fibres of cock-pheasant tail tied on so as to 



separate out from each other. 

 Body. — A piece of india-rubber tubing, of the size used 

 to make the stems of artificial flowers for ladies' 

 hats. It can be obtained in several shades, the 

 pale yellowy green being perhaps the best for this 

 purpose. 



