271 THE YOUNG ANGLES. 



ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 



Artificial fly-fishing consists in the use of imitations of these flies 

 and of other fancy flies, and is unquestionably the most scientific 

 mode of angling, requiring great tact and practice to make the flies 

 with neatness and to use them with success, and calling forth as it 

 does so much more skill than the ordinary method of bottom fishing, 

 it merits its superior reputation. It possesses many advantages over 

 bottom fishing, but at the same time it has its disadvantages; it is 

 much more cleanly in its preparations, inasmuch as it does not re- 

 quire the angler to grub for clay and work up a quantity of ground- 

 baits, and is not so toilsome in its practice, for the only encumbrances 

 which the fly-fisher has are simply a light rod, a book of flies, and 

 whatever fish he may chance to catch ; but there are several kinds 

 of fish which will not rise at a fly, and even those that do will not 

 be lured from their quiet retreat during very wet or cold weather. 

 It would be as well if the young angler could go out for some little 

 time with an old experienced hand, to observe and imitate his move- 

 ments as closely as possible; but as many of our readers will not, in 

 all probability, be able to enjoy such an advantage, we subjoin 

 some instructions by which they may pursue this interesting branch 

 of angling. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL FLY-MAKING. 



The artificial flies sold at the fishing-tackle shops are manufactured 



so skilfully and naturally, that in our opinion the young angler would 



find it much more to his advantage to purchase them ready-made 



than trouble himself with their fabrication; but for the guidance of 



those who would rather fish with a fly of their own contriving, we 



$ proceed to describe the proper method of making some few out of the 



J many in use as plainly and as concisely as we can, candidly stating, 



* however, that when they have done their very best until after long 



\ practice they will manufacture a very inferior article to that sold at 



the first-rate fishing-tackle shops. 



The mere enumeration of the various articles necessary for arti- 

 ficial fly-making will appal a timid boy, while a patient, persevering 

 boy will delight in the difficulties. They are feathers of no end of 

 birds, and fur, and hair of a great variety -of quadrupeds, 

 also sewing silk of different tints and thicknesses, and gold 

 and silver twist. Amongst the tools, a pair of fine- pointed 

 scissors and a pair of small pliers must be enumerated ; wing-picker 

 or pointer, pair of fine spring -forceps, silks of all kinds and colours, 

 wax, spirit-varnish and brush ; and these should be kept in one of 

 the cases which are made expressly for the purpose. Before you 

 .begin your task, see that you have all the materials you imagine will 

 be required in readiness and close at hand, and also try the strength 

 of the gut ; then take the hook in the left hand, sticking the hooked 

 end in a cork which is made fast ; wind some silk round the bare 

 \ ^ook two or three times, and lay the fine end of the gut on the under 

 ; side of it, and beginning at the bend, wind the silk three or four 

 f tiiufcs round both the gut and the hook, fasten in the hackle, and 



