100 MODERN TRACTICAL ANGLER. 



14 to 16 feet long will be found most convenient, as, 

 whether the angler is fishing from the shore or the boat, 

 it enables him to work his flies better than a shorter rod, 

 and to command a greater reach of water. The general 

 rod described in the chapter on Tackle embraces a 

 double-handed fly-rod designed for this purpose. 



Fishing with Natural Flies. 



"creeper" and stone-fly fishing. 



Creeper and stone-fly fishing is confined to the Border 

 and Lowland Scotch rivers ; at least, I never remember 

 to have met with it elsewhere, and it may therefore be 

 regarded as a branch of the art rather local than general. 

 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 obtaiaed in quan- 

 tities sufficient for angling purposes. It will live for 

 a day in any perforated can or bait-box, even if kept in 

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

 always selecting rapid rather than still parts of the 

 stream. The bright weather and low clear water, which 



