102 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



I would willingly fish standing on the lee-shore : and you are to 

 take notice, that the fish lies or swims nearer the bottom, and in 

 deeper water, in winter than in summer ; and also nearer the 

 bottom in a cold day, and then gets nearest the lee-side of the 



water. 



But I promised to tell you more of the fly-fishing for a trout, 

 which I may have time enough to do, for you see it rains May 

 butter. First, for a May-fly, you may make his body with 

 greenish-colored crewel, or willowish-color ; darkening it in most 

 places with waxed silk, or ribbed with black hair, or some of 

 them ribbed with silver thread ; and such wings for the color as 

 you see the fly to have at that season, nay, at that very day, on 

 the water. Or you may make the oak-fly with an orange tawny 

 and black ground, and the brown of a mallard's feather for the 

 wings ; and you are to know, that these two are most excellent 

 flies, that is, the May-fly and the oak-fly. And let me again tell 

 you that you keep as far from the water as you can possibly, 

 whether you fish with a fly or worm, and fish down the stream ; 

 and when you fish with a fly, if it be possible, let no part of your 

 line touch the water, but your fly only ; and be still moving 

 your fly upon the water, or casting it into the water, you your- 

 self being also always moving down the stream. Mr, Barker 

 commends several sorts of the palmer-flies, not only those ribbed 

 with silver and gold, but others that have their 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 color 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 peacock's 

 feather, and grounds of such wool and crewel as will make the 

 grasshopper : and note, that usually the smallest flies arc 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 occa- 

 sion 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 



