5O FLY PISHING. 



with perfect fairness be commenced in some streams much earlier 

 than in others : an observation that particularly applies to most of 

 the waters in the West of England, which fall in so rapidly as the 

 spring advances, that in by far the greater part of them, the only 

 chance the angler has is to take all the advantage he can of the 

 early part of the season ; as many of these, out of which 1 have 

 at that time taken my dozens and scores, are so diminished 

 by the beginning of May, and sometimes even weeks earlier, 

 that the only times they can afterwards be fished with any prospect 

 of success is after heavy rains; and then if the stream is raised to a 

 sufficient height, the waters are commonly too discoloured for fly 

 fishing ; falling in again to their former low ebb before they be- 

 come sufficiently clear for the purpose. In places like these it is 

 quite fair to begin fishing as early as February, and it must also 

 be kept in mind that in these smaller streams, though the fish 

 seldom acquire the perfection they do in the large rivers, they 

 usually mend in condition much earlier ; added to which, in almost 

 every one of these that is protected in a moderate degree from the 

 destructive ravages of the poacher, the trout are so plentiful, that 

 all an angler can achieve amongst them produces no visible dimi- 

 nution of their numbers, however it may serve to put them on 

 their guard against the deceit he designs to practise upon them. 

 For the reasons before given therefore, the generality of the small- 

 er waters may be fished as early as the middle of February, yet 

 the larger rivers should be free from the angler's invasion till at 

 least a month or six weeks later. Fly fishing may be continued 

 from this time till Michaelmas, after which it is fair to give the 

 trouts a respite, and permit some few to remain for the next 

 season, as well for future sport as to increase their species. 



I shall next attempt to point out some of the best flies that can 

 be used, commencing with those that come in first, and treating of 

 the rest in their respective orders as they come in season. Few of 

 these make their appearance till the spring is somewhat advanced, 

 but yet some attractive ones may be used even as early as Feb- 

 ruary. The earliest fly I am acquainted with is the blue water 

 beetle, which may be fished with all the year through, but is most 

 in request early in the spring. It is made with a dark peacock herl 

 body trimmed very full, with a dark blue hackle over all. It 

 should be used as a stretcher fly, and should be fished with a little 

 under water. This fly, to be used as a stretcher, with the little black 



