THE COMPLETE ANGLER, *AKf 



CHAPTER V, 



Of FlSHlNG-AT-THE-TOP With NATURAL-FLY-** 



Management of the rod and line with an Ann* 

 FICIAL-FLY. Directions how to MAKE A FLY* 



PlSCATOR-JuNIOIU 



FLY-fishing, or fishing-at-the-top : is, as I said 

 before, of two sorts ; with a natural and living fly, or 

 with an_artificial and made fly. 



First then, of the NATURAL-FLY ; of which we 

 generally use but two sorts ; and those but in the two 

 months of May and June only ; namely, the Green- 

 drake,, and the Stone-Jly : though I have made use of 

 a third, that way, called the Camlet-fly, with very 

 good success, for Grayling ; but never saw it angled 

 with by any other, after this manner, my master only 

 excepted, who died many years ago, and was one of 

 the best anglers that ever I knew. 



These are to be angled-with with a short line, not 

 much more than half the length of your rod, if the 

 air be still; or with a longer very near, or, all out, 

 as long as your rod if you have any wind to carry it 

 from you. And this way of fishing we call DA PING, 

 DABBING, or OIBBING*; wherein you are always to 

 have your line flying before you up, or down, the 

 river, as the wind serves and to angle as near as you 

 can to the bank of the same side whereon you stand ; 

 though where you see a fish rise near you, you may 

 guide your quick Jly over him^ whether in the middle, 

 or on the contrary side ; and if you are pretty well out 

 of sight either by kneeling, or the interposition of a 

 bank or bush you may almost be sure to raise, and 

 take him too; if it be presently done ; the fish will, 

 otherwise^ peradventure be removed to some other 



* See, in Chap. VII, lnfra t MAY art* 11, directions how to bait with 

 the Green-drake fly. 



