CHAPTER IV. 



In selection of Flies, colour, not form Old rule, " Light fly 

 for darkness" &c. rather to be reversed Fastening for 

 Casting-line Ditto for Bob-flies Make-shift GaffCut- 

 and-thrust Rod-spear Simple Clearing-line Fastening 

 for loose Reel Fish slowly with Fly Straight line 

 Hair casting-lines Tailing fly with "Gentle" Fishing 

 near Geneva Versoix Eau de Lyon Lines on Versoix 

 In Trailing, side next shore best In Sea-fishing, stern 

 of boat better than bow. 



I AM persuaded that for fly-fishing colour, not 

 form, is the principal thing to be looked to 

 in the selection of flies. This scarcely any one 

 can doubt who has seen perhaps with a feeling 

 akin to envy the advantage which a provincial 

 furnished with coarse tackle and the roughest 

 home-made flies has on a river which he knows, 

 over another (possibly a better fisherman) who 

 comes to it elaborately equipped, and with his 

 book stored with the choicest specimens of Bow- 

 ness' art, but ignorant of the exact colour to 

 adopt. Had I wanted a convincing proof of this, 

 it was afforded me some years ago whilst fishing 



