94 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



portion of the United Kingdom, the best sizes of hooks 

 are Nos. 2, 3, or 4, {vide plate), a larger or smaller size 

 being used as the day is more or less dark or windy, or 

 the water high or low. In the Derbyshire streams. No. 

 I or 2 will generally be found the best sizes. Smaller 

 hooks are sold in the tackle shops, but I have not in- 

 cluded them in my patterns because I regard them as 

 practically useless, No. I being small enough for every 

 purpose usually required. 



COLOUR. 



In small rivers and streams I recommend the use 

 of the " green," as the tail-fly, or stretcher ; and the 

 '' brown," as the bob-fly, or dropper to begin with, both 

 of course dressed small to suit the size of the water : 

 if either fly does not appear to kill, substitute the 

 yellow as the dropper, and the best of the others for 

 the stretcher ; in larger waters the same flies of a larger 

 size. 



In deep lagoon-like reaches of river water, with a 

 breeze on them, and especially in Scotland or Ireland, I 

 recommend commencing with the "yellow" as the 

 dropper, and the " green" as the stretcher. If either of 

 these flies does not kill substitute the " brown." 



Local Anglers will probably, and that almost without 

 an exception, tell the fly-fisher that no flies but local 

 ones are of any use on their lakes or streams, but this 

 opinion is usually based on a very slender experience, 



