8 The Complete Angler 



months of the year, I say, he that follows that rule, 

 1 shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as he 

 that makes hay by the fair days in an Almanack, 

 and no surer; for those very flies that used to 

 appear about, and on, the water in one month of 

 the year, may the following year come almost a 

 month sooner or later, as the same year proves 

 colder or hotter: and yet, in the following Dis- 

 course, I have set down the twelve flies that are in 

 reputation with many anglers ; and they may serve 

 to give him some observations concerning them. 

 And he may note, that there are in Wales, and 

 other countries, peculiar flies, proper to the particu- 

 lar place or country ; and doubtless, unless a man 

 makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly in that 

 place, he is like to lose his labour, or much of it ; 

 but for the generality, three or four flies neat and 

 rightly made, and not too big, serve for a Trout in 

 most rivers, all the summer: and for winter fly- 

 fishing it is as useful as an Almanack out of date. 

 And of these, because as no man is born an artist, 

 so no man is born an Angler, I thought fit to give 

 thee this notice. 



When I have told the reader, that in this fifth 

 impression there are many enlargements, gathered 

 both by my own observation, and the communica- 

 tion with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to 

 wish him a rainy evening to read this following 

 Discourse ; and that if he be an honest Angler, the 

 east wind may never blow when he goes a-fishing. 



I. W. 



