102 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



to be of two pieces. And let not your line exceed especially for 

 three or four links next to the hook, I say, not exceed three or 

 four hairs at the most ; though you may fish a little stronger 

 above, in the upper part of your line : but if you can attain to 

 angle with one hair, you shall have more rises, and catch more 

 fish. Now you must be sure not to cumber yourself with too 

 long a line, as most do. And before you begin to angle, cast to 

 have the wind on your back ; and the sun, if it shines, to be before 

 you ; and to fish down the stream ; and carry the point or top of 

 your rod downward, by which means the shadow of yourself, and 

 rod too, will be the least offensive to the fish ; for the sight of any 

 shade amazes the fish, and spoils your sport, of which you must 

 take great care. 



In the middle of March, till which time a man should not in 

 honesty catch a Trout ; or in April, if the weather be dark, or 

 a little windy or cloudy; the best fishing is with the palmer-worm, 

 of which I last spoke to you ; but of these there be divers kinds, 

 or at least of divers colours : these and the May-fly are the ground 

 of all fly-angling : which are to be thus made : 



First, you must arm your hook with the line, in the inside of it : 

 then take your scissors, and cut so much of a brown mallard's 

 feather as, in your own reason, will make the wings of it, you 

 having, withal, regard to the bigness or littleness of your hook ; 

 then lay the outmost part of your feather next to your hook ; then 

 the point of your feather next the shank of your hook, and having 

 so done, whip it three or four times about the hook with the same 

 silk with which your hook was armed ; and having made the silk 

 fast, take the hackle of a cock or capon's neck, or a plover's top, 

 which is usually better : take off the one side of the feather, and 

 then take the hackle, silk or crewel, gold or silver thread ; make 

 these fast at the bent of the hook, that is to say, below your 

 arming ; then you must take the hackle, the silver or gold thread, 

 and work it up to the wings, shifting or still removing your finger 

 as you turn the silk about the hook, and still looking, at every 

 stop or turn, that your gold, or what materials soever you make 

 your fly of, do lie right and neatly ; and if you find they do so, 

 then when you have made the head, make all fast : and then work 

 your hackle up to the head, and make that fast : and then, with 

 a needle or pin, divide the wing into two ; and then, with the 

 arming silk, whip it about crossways betwixt the wings : and then 

 with your thumb you must turn the point of the feather towards 

 the bent of the hook ; and then work three or four times about 



