TACKLE 215 



Herbert Maxwell with regard to salmon flies 

 in his delightful book on salmon fishing, and 

 am prepared to admit that there may be many 

 other sets of four patterns of equal virtue. 

 But the accidents of personal success have led 

 me to fix upon these four, and therefore I give 

 them in the belief that, though other patterns 

 may succeed as well, none will do better. 

 For sea trout let me take the following : 



1. Soldier Palmer. I have found no better fly 

 than this, when a river is in good order after a 

 spate. A good size is one tied on No. 8 Pennell- 

 eyed, Limerick hook, and this is the form in 

 which I use it ; its merits are not confined to sea 

 trout, for in one day on a single-handed rod, 

 while fishing for sea trout, I once landed five 

 grilse, weighing altogether 28 pounds, on this 

 fly. I do not think it has the same virtue in 

 smaller sizes when the water is low and clear. 



2. Jay wing, black body, ginger hackle, silver 

 twist. This fly is not so good as the former 

 in highly coloured water, but is most excellent 

 and reliable in clear water ; the size may be 

 varied from No. 4 to No. 8. 



3. Woodcock and yellow. Succeeds in the 



