118 ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



and tinges of the flimsy fabrics of the natural flies. 



The air changes the hues of some of the new-hatched 

 aquatics. The favorite spring fly of a successful craftsman 

 was a small one dressed with orange silk and cock-pheasant's 

 small purple hackle only. He knew nothing of the natural 

 fly, which probably was the needle brown, then hatching in 

 great numbers, but usually dressed with water-rail, swift, 

 etc. It is very likely the purple hackle, when in or on the 

 water, throws off the steely blue tinge of the wings of the 

 newly-hatched needle brown. It is not every fly, from the 

 most skilful hands, that pleases the bright eyes of the fish. 

 If a craftsman makes three or four all of the same sort 

 and materials, some will be preferred to others. Passing 

 from Mickley to Black Robin with a brother or two of the 

 angle, we bespoke a craftsman silently plying his art. He 

 had only just begun. Said he had rose some good grayling, 

 but they " wadn't tak hod," I saw him make three or four 

 casts with his flies, which he watched as if they were alive, 

 but with the same results. The fish rose, but turned tail 

 without touching them. He turned aside to avail himself 

 of the chance a change might give, saying he would dress 

 them another or two of the same sort, " they'll mebbe like 

 'em better." Many a time that day I saw him with bent 

 and quivering rod hurrying down the rough margin of the 

 streams of Hackfall. Towards evening we repaired to 

 Richard Heath's. Soon after Walbran came in, his ample 

 basket was full of fine trout, grayling, and smelt, but princi- 

 pally large grayling, which were all soon caught a second 

 time with the silver hook. The best like imitations can 

 scarcely be pronounced good until tested by the fish. 

 Hackled flies are generally better taken than those that 

 are winged ; but dress both, and give the fish which they 

 prefer. 



I have seen a craftsman sit on a stone, make short work 

 and sound work of the checkwing. He took the partridge 



