32 ANGLING FOR GAME FISH. 



Late in the evening during the hot months there is hardly a 

 better fly. 



To these flies I would add the "Wickham's Fancy.* It kills 

 everywhere, and, as Francis Francis said, "it is one of the best 

 general flies ever invented." It kills as well as any fly on a 

 bright day. Nor must the Alder (see page 45) be omitted, it 

 being a killing fly from May until the end of the season. The 

 Sedges above mentioned should have naturally flat wings. Flies 

 with no wings at all float very well, for in whatever position 

 they fall, they are on their legs. I will refer to some flat- 

 winged and fancy flies for Southern streams when I come to 

 wet-fly fishing (see page 42).t 



I should mention, that when the bodies of flies are detached — 

 i.e., not made on the hook-shank — they should be semi-trans- 

 parent, otherwise they have no advantage. What is wanted is a 

 hollow, detached body, which will float under any circumstances. 



Casting the Ply. — In the first place, bear in mind all 

 through your fly-fishing babyhood that the rod has to do 

 far more work than the arm ; in fact, the arm, except 

 in long or peculiar casts, does very little. Begin by winding 

 ioz. of lead wire near the top of the rod; then stand with 

 elbow close to side, and, by sharp, short movements of the wrist 

 only, make the rod bend first forward and then backward. You 

 will thus learn how, aided by the weight of the line (in this 

 case represented by the lead), a very great amount of play can 

 be got out of the rod by short but sharp^ movements of the 

 wrist. Next, remove the lead, put a reel on the rod, and the 

 running line through the rings, and do a little preparatory 

 practice. 



Having drawn about eight yards of line off the reel, get 

 it out as best you can. Then raise the rod-point a little, and 



* Wings, medium or light starling. Body, flat gold, ribbed with fine gold wire. 

 Hackle, bright red bantam cock, carried from shoulder to taiL Whisk, red cock 

 hackle. 



t Mr. Alfred Jardine has lately invented some flies with fish-scale wings, which 

 are the best imitations of natural flies I have ever seen Hardy Bros, tie them. 

 They are very different to the pike scale-winged flies brought out some time ago. I 

 have not given them an extensive trial, but I find that they will kill trout when 

 other flies fail. Of course, fish-scale wings do not last as long as feather wings, 

 but I would advise a few of these flies being kept in one's book, to be used to 

 circumvent the extra shy fish one occasionally meets with. 



