198 SALMON AND TROUT. 



causes ; and for this reason flies which are suitable for clear 

 water will not suit peaty or stained water, and local anglers, 

 having found out flies that will kill on their rivers, establish 

 standard patterns, and will use nothing else. 



Experience has, however, taught me that if due regard is 

 paid to colour, any other pattern will kill just as well. Local 

 professionals are a very prejudiced class of people as regards 

 salmon fishing, and, if they can help it, will never allow a stranger 

 they are attending to fish with any other than local patterns of 

 flies. If he persists in doing so, and does not know the river, 

 he will as likely as not be put to fish where he will get no 

 sport, and it generally ends by his leaving the flies he has 

 brought with him behind at his fishing quarters and filling up 

 his book with local patterns. If he has sport with these flies, 

 which is very likely to be the case, whatever opinions he may 

 have had before he came, when he goes away he will probably 

 have become impressed with the belief that no other flies were 

 suitable to the river he has fished, and no amount of argument 

 will convince him to the contrary. No doubt that is the reason 

 why so many anglers become converts to this theory. 



It may be presumptuous on my part to say I differ from 

 them ; but I have had so many proofs they are mistaken in 

 coming to such a conclusion that I do not hesitate to say so. 

 I have fished a great number of rivers all over the United 

 Kingdom and elsewhere, and I have generally, when not fishing 

 my own water, used local patterns, as it is as well not to fall out 

 with one's attendant, who has it so much in his power to make 

 or mar sport. These flies have generally proved to be killers ; 

 but whenever I have had an attendant who did not understand 

 much about flies, I have always used my own favourite patterns, 

 and have found them just as killing as the local ones. 



When I fished the, river Wye some years ago, the favourite 

 local fly was made up of a dirty yellow rough body, blue cock's 

 hackle, and the wing of a feather from a bittern's neck. Now 

 all the modern patterns are used, the favourite fly in the spring 

 being the 'canary.' What a contrast ! 



