154 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



be always beautifully cocked. If it is a consid- 

 eration to be reckoned with, a hackled fly will 

 outlast a dozen winged ones, being easily dried 

 and humoured back into shape; while, on the 

 other hand, a winged fly is almost hopelessly 

 ruined when taken by a fish. In my own fish- 

 ing I use a new fly over each fish an extrava- 

 gant habit, perhaps but I love to see a natural 

 looking artificial floating on the water. An old, 

 mussed-up fly may continue to take fish as did 

 the one fly we all have recollections of, that 

 took fish until it was worn to a ravelling, and 

 no other would do; nevertheless, the use of a 

 fresh fly is good insurance against defeat, and, 

 aside from its extravagance, the practice is rec- 

 ommended. 



If the angler is to fish with a floating fly, the 

 necessity of some imitation of colour and form 

 is quite evident, but imitation need not be car- 

 ried to the extent of copying minute variation 

 of colour in slavish detail. To copy the form 

 of the natural fly is, of course, practically im- 

 possible. The quantity of hackle used on the 

 artificial to represent the legs of the natural 

 (which number six at most) could hardly be 

 lessened, so great is its aid in floating the fly. 

 Mr. Halford recommends tying the tail of the 



