Flies for February, March, and April. 9 43 



variety or another, differing simply in shade, is to 

 be found in the water during the whole of the 

 season. The earliest representative comes out late 

 in February or early in March, and continues to be 

 a special favourite till June. 



This species of the blae is dressed with the star- 

 ling-wing and black hackle, tied with black silk on 

 a No. 2 hook. 



3. The March Brown. With the exception of the 

 sand or gravel-bed fly, there is perhaps no more 

 deadly artificial lure than the March brown. In an 

 open season it makes its appearance in March, but 

 if the weather be cold, its advent may be delayed 

 till April. It generally lasts till the beginning of 

 May. When it is said that a fly is " in season," the 

 reader is not to understand that he will find a rep- 

 resentative of it on the water at all times during 

 the fishing months. For the temperature of the 

 water is always an important factor in the develop- 

 ment of flies. Thus the blaes come out on what 

 we should call a warm day in early spring; but 

 when the season advances, and the temperature 

 generally is raised, a comparatively cold day is 

 more favourable for their appearance. The sand- 

 flies, on the other hand, appear on the water only 

 when the day is hot, with bright sunshine. If the 

 morning be warm, the March browns may fre- 

 quently be found on the water as early as nine 



