MY FAVOURITE STANDARD FLIES. 



THE RED OR OLD JOAN FLY. 



THE first fly I shall describe is the February Red or 

 Old Joan Fly, and, when it is an early mild season, will 

 be seen by the end of January, and be found in greater 

 abundance towards the middle of February. It is an 

 excellent killing fly, and deserves a place in the angler's 

 book. I dress it as follows : Hook, No. 2, or even 

 smaller ; body, ruddy sheep's wool, mixed with an equal 

 quantity of the reddest part of squirrel fur, with a turn 

 of light claret-coloured wool only at the tail, to form a 

 tag ; wings, from the soft quill feather of the pea-hen's 

 wing, which is the nearest approach to the colour of the 

 natural fly. Tie this wing in flat and full. The wings 

 should cover the bend of the hook. For legs, a hackle 

 stained a rather dark claret colour, and two turns will be 

 sufficient. This fly is useful in Devonshire, dressed buzz, 

 with a good brassy dun or grizzle cock's hackle over the 

 same body. 



