252 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART n. 



to do, I will assure you, that I have not lost, I think, one syllable 

 of what you have told me : but very well retain all your directions, 

 both for the rod, line, and making a fly, and now desire an 

 account of the flies themselves. 



PiSCATOR. Why, Sir, I am ready to give it you, and shall 

 hare the whole afternoon to do it in, if nobody come in to inter- 

 rupt us ; for you must know (besides the unfitness of the day) 

 that the afternoons, so early in March, signify very little to angling 

 with a fly, though with a minnow, or a worm, something might (I 

 confess) be done. 



To begin, then, where I left off, My father Walton tells us of 

 but twelve artificial flies only, to angle with at the top, and gives 

 their names ; of which some are common with us here ; and I 

 think I guess at most of them by his description, and I believe 

 they all breed and are taken in our rivers, though we do not make 

 them either of the same dubbing or fashion. And it may be in 

 the rivers about London, which I presume he has most frequented, 

 and where 'tis likely he has done most execution, there is not much 

 notice taken of many more : but we are acquainted with several 

 others here, though perhaps I may reckon some of his by other 

 names too ; but if I do, I shall make you amends by an addition 

 to his catalogue. And although the forenamed great master in 

 the art of angling, for so in truth he is, tells you that no man 

 should, in honesty, catch a Trout till the middle of March, yet I 

 hope he will give a man leave sooner to take a Grayling, which, 

 as I told you, is in the dead months in his best season : and do 

 assure you, which I remember by a very remarkable token, I did 

 once take upon the sixth day of December one, and only one, of 

 the biggest Graylings, and the best in season, that ever I yet saw 

 or tasted ; and do usually take Trouts too, and with a fly, not 

 only before the middle of this month, but almost every year in 

 February, unless it be a very ill spring indeed ; and have some- 

 times in January, so early as New-year's tide, and in frost and snow, 

 taken Grayling in a warm sunshine day for an hour or two about 

 noon : and to fish for him with a Grub, it is then the best time 

 of all. 



I shall therefore begin my fly-fishing with that month (though, 

 I confess, very few begin so soon, and that such as are so fond of 

 the sport as to embrace all opportunities can rarely in that month 

 find a day fit for their purpose), and tell you that, upon my 

 knowledge, these flies, in a warm sun, for an hour or two in the 

 day, are certainly taken. 



