40 OF FISHING FOR 



pitious, and success is obtained with difficulty. 

 When the water is unusually high, though it be 

 not discoloured, the fish seem to be feeding more 

 at the bottom than above : but these two last ob- 

 stacles will not deter the sportsman from trying 

 his skill. 



Choice of Flies. 



The selection of a fly requires more judgment, 

 experience, and patience, than any other branch of 

 the art. The beginner w r ill soon discover that his 

 choice cannot be absolutely decided by reference 

 to the catalogue in the following chapter merely, 

 or to any catalogue whatever. For when a fly is (in 

 the former) said to be in season, it does not follow 

 that it is abroad every day of its existence. The 

 state of the weather, in respect of heat and mois- 

 ture, have great influence in this respect ; he 

 should therefore bear in mind that the Coleop- 

 tera, or Beetle, will be on the water on hot days 

 principally. The Ephemera, or fish fly, on rather 

 cold days. The Phryganea, or water fly, as the 

 Granam, &c. on cloudy days with gleams of sun- 

 shine. The Diptera and other land flies on windy 

 days, as the Cow Dung, &c. He would often do 

 well to begin fishing with a Palmer as a stretcher, 

 and the fly which seems most suitable for the day 

 as a dropper, one yard and three-quarters from it : 



