Trout Flies. 143 



1. The Red or Brown Hackle with or without wings. 



2. The Black Hackle „ „ 



3. The Hare Lug or water mouse body with wings. 

 These as noted down are essentially the ground- 

 work of a killing fly stock. *' How frequently," he 

 remarks, " do I meet with those in my fishing ex- 

 cursions who, exulting in the possession of five or 

 six dozen varieties of insect imitation, consume 

 the primest portion of the day in testing their 

 attractive powers, now unlooping one because it is, 

 they opine, a shade too dark ; now another on 

 account of its want of tinsel, attaching in turn the 

 latest urban conceit, redoubted as a killer — the 

 *fail-me-never* of some sporting parson or some 

 half-pay hero." 



When one comes to ponder over these various 

 lists (and certainly of late years they have swelled 

 immensely) recommended by the various writers, 

 what a number may be entirely dispensed with. 

 Many of them seem to be invented by tackle 

 makers or crotchety anglers who observe little and 

 know less about the fish they wish to catch. 



Lately Mr. Pennell has started the idea that 

 only three flies are necessary for trout fishing, 

 dressed on different sized hooks. I forget what 

 he calls them, but one is a purple, one a peculiar 

 green and one a yellow, all dressed as hackles. 

 Some people swear by them. I have tried them 



