Trout Flies. 1 5 7 



this river I have used the following three flies, 

 always with success, — a small Cocktail, a small 

 Alder, and a small Governor, and whether at Mit- 

 cham, at Beddington, or elsewhere, these flies 

 have proved the favourites. In the evening, late, 

 a large Alder, dressed on 8 hook with grey hackle, 

 is most deadly, and many a big fish have I taken 

 with this fly, not only in the Wandle, but in every 

 river in the South of England. It used to be 

 dressed to perfection by Jones, of Jermyn Street, 

 in my day. Put it on as it gets dusk, in June, July, 

 and August, and you may be sure of some grand 

 sport if you can only keep the fish out of the 

 weeds. You must, with this fly, use a strong 

 cast, so that you may fight the fish, and pre- 

 vent them getting to their hiding places. The 

 big fish of the river rarely come out till nightfall. 



Amongst practical fly-fishers opinions widely 

 differ as to whether the exact imitation of the 

 natural fly is necessary for success, or whether 

 colour and size are not more important. The 

 American editor of Walton believes (what appears 

 to be the most sensible solution) that the truth lies 

 between the two extremes. He says : " The reader 

 may be aware that anglers differ widely in their 

 theories respecting the choice of flies, some con- 

 tending that the nicest possible imitations should be 

 made of the fly on the water, or rather that on which 



