PRACTICAL FLY-FISHER. 43 



at the bottom, armed with a double hook ; two flies are employed, 

 the hooks pass through the thorax of the flies, their heads pointing 

 differently, being placed on the hook what is commonly called 

 " head to tail.' 1 It is best used with a strong breeze behind you ; 

 then by raising your rod, the line floats out with the breeze, and by 

 practice may be dropped gently and very naturally on the water. 

 On the Rye, this fly is scarcely observed ; the Green Drake being 

 very abundant as at Driifield and the streams of Derbyshire. 



I may here be permitted to relate an incident that occurred to me 

 some years ago, whilst fishing with the Author at Tanfield Mills. 

 I went to have a day's May fly (Stone fly) fishing in the manner I 

 have described : and having obtained a good supply of the natural 

 flies, I turned into the river opposite the Mill to fish up stream to 

 the mill dam, which crosses the stream some two hundred yards 

 above. The morning was beautiful, south wind, warm, half sun- 

 shine, half clouds. I found the fish feeding greedily, and soon filled 

 a fifteen pound basket. It was almost impossible to allow the fly 

 to fall on the surface without rising or hooking a fish. All at once 

 the amusement ceased ; not a fish could be seen to move. I 

 examined my stock of flies, and found, as often occurs from over- 

 crowding, their wings so injured as to be nearly useless as baits. 

 I hastened to a small island in the middle of the river to obtain a 

 fresh supply of flies, thinking any further want of success dependent 

 on the injured state of the insects ; after stopping some time in 

 search of the flies, I heard some one calling loudly to me : I found 

 it was my friend Mr. Jackson, who had observed the river rising 

 rapidly. I made an attempt to cross the stream, but I found the 

 current had so increased as to render it impossible for me to do so ; 

 my friend immediately fetched a horse, and rescued me from my 

 dangerous position. This river is very liable to sudden and 

 unexpected floods, from thunder storms passing over Wensleydale, 

 when not a drop of rain falls in the country below. 



In resuming my description of the flies that fish well in the 



