TAL Y LLYN. 169 



river trout. The latter are, of course, much oftener 

 on the hook than the former ; and the general size 

 caught in fly-fishing may be said to average from 

 one to two and a half, or three pounds. They are 

 a handsome fish, and exceedingly game.* 



Speaking generally, the flies found most suc- 

 cessful at Tal y Llyn, are the March brown, the 

 blue dun, the coch y bondy, and the black gnat ; 

 three of these should be on the footline together, 

 as in lake fishing it is the universal custom to use 

 that number of flies. The blue dun and the orl fly 

 are also good. Dress them smaller than for river 

 fishing ; and use the finest tackle. 



From before daybreak until about eight o'clock,, 

 and from five in the evening until long after dark, 

 are the best seasons for angling in the warm sunny 

 days of summer. In cloudy weather, when a good 

 stiff breeze curls the lake, a boat is necessary. 

 About sunset, however, when the mountains throw 

 their dark shadows over its surface, you will fre- 

 quently have excellent sport by fishing round the 

 margin from the shore. It is no unusual feat to 

 take thirty or forty pounds of fish in a single day's 

 angling at Tal y Llyn. Living is exceedingly cheap: 

 a man will fare sumptuously at the rate of about 

 two shillings per day, lodging included. 



The lakes of Wales possess one peculiar ad- 



* " Two gentlemen fly-fishing in the neighbourhood of 

 Tal y Llyn, North Wales, killed in six days 51 2 trout, averaging 

 three quarters of a pound each. " JOHNSON'S Sportsman's 

 Cabinet, Sept. 1833. 



