"The Compleat ^Angler 



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

 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 fore- 

 named great master in the art of angling (for so in truth he is) tells 

 you that no man should, in honesty, catch a trout in 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 sometimes 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 

 must 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. 



JANUARY. 



i. A red brown, with wings of the male of a mallard almost 

 white : the dubbing of the tail of a black long-coated cur, such as 

 they commonly make muffs of ; for the hair on the tail of such a 

 dog dies and turns to a red-brown, but the hair of a smooth-coated 



