Selection of Flies. 17 



Following their guidance, I select for each season 

 those flies which have been proved to be in greatest 

 favour with the trout at that season, and endeavour 

 to have in each case as perfect a representation of 

 the natural insect as art and materials will allow. 



The fault which I have to find with most writers 

 on angling is, that though they do not offer to 

 contest the position that all flies are not equally in 

 demand with the trout, the principle of the selec- 

 tion of the fittest seems to have no place in their 

 works. Their lists are crowded with insects which 

 are rarely seen on the water, and still more rarely 

 accepted by the trout. Indeed the number and 

 varieties given by some authors are almost endless, 

 and can only prove as bewildering to the amateur 

 as they certainly must be useless to him for obtain- 

 ing sport. Should he be persevering enough, he 

 may find that they will all kill now or again ; but 

 this, I fancy, is not the assurance that he seeks. 

 What he needs to know is Have all these flies 

 been shown by actual trial to be equally acceptable 

 to the fish? That is Will they all kill equally 

 well ? And if not, which are the best ? It is in 

 answer to these most legitimate questions that the 

 subjoined lists of flies have been drawn up ; and 

 it is with the confidence which their practical 

 success has inspired that they are submitted to 

 his notice. 



B 



