TROUT-FLIES. lOI 



are best for worm fishing, will also be found most favour- 

 able 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 with it. When in season, the 

 creeper is commonly from an inch to an inch and a 

 quarter long. 



The rod, line, and hooks recommended for worm- 

 fishing, and described in the following chapter, omitting 

 the shot or sinkers, and setting the hooks a little 

 closer together, will be found the best tackle for 

 creeper-fishing. 



About the middle of May the creeper changes from 

 the larval into the fly state, casting its tortoiseshell- 

 like covering, and unsheathing its wings, of which, how- 

 ever, it makes but little use. Mr. Stewart, whose ex- 

 cellent 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. Except, however, on very large rivers 

 like the Tweed, I confess I think the large one is to be 

 preferred, both because it is more easily put on and 

 kept on the hooks, and because it presents a more 

 natural appearance in the water. The fly is nearly the 

 same length as the creeper, and the tackle used for one 

 should be used for the other. In fact, when the creepers 

 are changing the angler will often find it convenient to 

 fish indiscriminately with either the one or the other. 



