io6 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



bodies all made of black ; or some with red, and a red hackle. 

 You may also make the Hawthorn-fly : which is all black, and not 

 big but very small, the smaller the better. Or the oak-fly, the body 

 of which is orange colour and black crewel, with a brown wing. 

 Or a fly made with a peacock's feather is excellent in a bright day : 

 you must be sure you want not in your magazine-bag the pea- 

 cock's feather ; and grounds of such wool and crewel as will make 

 the grasshopper. And note, that usually the smallest flies are the 

 best ; and note also, that the light fly does usually make most 

 sport in a dark day, and the darkest and least fly in a bright or 

 clear day : and lastly note, that you are to repair upon any 

 occasion to your magazine-bag : and upon any occasion, vary and 

 make them lighter or sadder, according to your fancy, or the day. 

 And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a natural fly is 

 excellent, and affords much pleasure. They may be found thus : 

 the May-fly, usually in and about that month, near to the river-side, 

 especially against rain : the Oak-fly, on the butt or body of an 

 oak or ash, from the beginning of May to the end of August ; it 

 is a brownish fly and easy to be so found, and stands usually with 

 his head downward, that is to say, towards the root of the tree : * 

 the small black-fly, or Hawthorn-fly, is to be had on any haw- 

 thorn bush after the leaves be come forth. With these and a 

 short line, as I showed to angle for a Chub, you may dape or dop, 

 and also with a grasshopper, behind a tree, or in any deep hole ; 

 still making it to move on the top of the water as if it were alive, 

 and still keeping yourself out of sight, you shall certainly have 

 sport if there be Trouts ; yea, in a hot day, but especially in the 

 evening of a hot day, you will have sport, t 



But morning and evening, if the day be bright: 



And the chief point of all is to keep out of si^ht. 



" In the month of May, none but the May-fly, 



For every month, one," is a pitiful lye. 



The black Hawthorn-fly must be very small ; 



And the sandy hog's hair is, sure, the best of all 



(For the mallard-wing May-fly, and peacock's train, 



Will look like the flesh-fly) to'kill Trout amain. 



The Oak-fly is good, if it have a brown wing. 



So is the grasshopper, that in July doth sing : 



With a green body make him, on a middle-siz'd hook. 



But when you have catcht fish, then play the good cook. 



Once more, my good brother, I'll speak in thy ear : 



Hog's, red cow's, and bear's wool, to float best appear : 



And so doth your fur, if rightly it fall : 



But always remember, Make two, and make all. H. 



* The Oak-fly is known also by the names of the Ash-fly and the Woodcock-fly ; and 

 Shropshire it is called the Cannon or Downhill fly. 

 f The following observations on Daping and Fly-fishing, by a writer contemporary 



