SPINNING AND BAIT-FISHING. 423 



CREEPER' AND STONE-FLY FISHING AND 

 WASP-GRUBS. 



Creeper or stone-fly fishing is a very local sport, and, indeed, 

 so far as I am aware, is practised nowhere but on the Border 

 and Lowland streams of Scotland. 



Having said all I know on the subject of this fishing and 

 it is not much in the ' Modern Practical Angler ' l I quote 

 the following from its pages : 



The creeper is the larva of the stone-fly (Scottice, May-fly), in 

 which condition it passes most of the winter and spring months, 

 living under stones in shallow water, from whence it may generally 

 be readily obtained in quantities sufficient for angling purposes. 

 It will live for days in any perforated can or bait-box, even if kept 

 in the pocket, and for a longer time in a little water. 



The rod, line, and hooks recommended for trout worm-fishing, 

 and described under that heading, omitting the shot or sinkers, and 

 setting the hooks a little closer together, will probably be found, 

 on the whole, the best tackle for creeper-fishing. The mode of 

 baiting and using the creeper is as follows : Put the upper hook 

 through the shoulder, and the lower hook through the tail of the 

 creeper, so that it may hang straight on the line : when baited, 

 use it precisely in the same manner as the worm, always selecting 

 rapid rather than still parts of the stream, and, of course, fishing 

 up. The bright weather and low clear water, which are best for 

 worm-fishing, will also be found most favourable for the creeper. 

 The stone-fly usually remains in its larval or * creeper ' condition 

 until the middle of May, and from early in April until this time 

 heavy baskets may often be made of it. When in season, the 

 creeper is commonly from an inch to an inch and a quarter long. 



About the middle of May the creeper changes from the larval 

 into the fly state, casting its tortoiseshell-like covering, and un- 

 sheathing its wings, of which, however, it makes but little use. Mr. 

 Stewart, whose excellent chapter on the subject should be studied 

 by all Border anglers, considers that the fly is even more deadly 

 than the creeper. He advocates the use of two flies as the bait. . . 



1 Fifth edition : George Routledge & Sons. 



