CHALK-STREAM FISHING WITH DRY FLY. 339 



imitation of his own making, gives a peculiar pleasure and con- 

 fidence : if to this the angler can add the consciousness of 

 skill and dexterity in the use of his rod, he may wander from 

 stream to stream independent of local fancies and piscatory 

 heirlooms, but with a good prospect of sport wherever he may 

 find a rising fish. 



The following is a list of the most useful flies for chalk- 

 stream fishing. It does not profess to be exhaustive, but it 

 will be sufficient, I think, to guide one who is strange to this 

 style of fishing, and to enable him to equip himself with such 

 flies as most southern anglers consider necessary. Several of 

 these flies have already been described by me in the ' Fishing 

 Gazette,' but recent experience has suggested slight modifica- 

 tions in a few cases. However, the patterns here given have 

 all been put to frequent trial by experienced anglers on the 

 Test, Itchen, Kennet, and other streams, and may all be 

 relied on. 



I begin with several dressings of the best of all chalk-stream 

 flies : 



[The hook numbers quoted refer to those of the ' New,' or eyed- 

 hook scale, in which the small numbers represent the small sizes, 

 and vice versci.] 



I. THE OLIVE DUN. 



(1) Body: Olive silk. I know nothing better than Mr. Aldam's 



'gosling green,' but it wants most delicate handling, 

 and great care should be taken not to have too much 

 wax on the tying silk, or it will darken the floss and 

 spoil the fly. A ribbing of fine gold wire is an improve- 

 ment. 



Wings: Dark starling. 



Legs and IWiisks : Hackle stained olive not too yellow, 

 but a dull brown olive. 



(2) Body: Quill dyed olive, with or without gold tag. Wings 



and hackle as before. This pattern admits of several 

 shades, and is, perhaps, the best all-round pattern that 



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