142 Natural-Fly Fishing. 



May-fly as a lure are little known elsewhere than 

 on Tweedside. This is not so. On the contrary, 

 it has been well known, and deservedly held in the 

 highest estimation, on the Clyde and its tributaries 

 by every experienced angler since ever I handled 

 a rod. It is the lure to which I devote most atten- 

 tion during the limited period of the fly's exist- 

 ence, and I have frequently captured from 20 to 

 30 Ib. of trout with it in the course of a few hours. 

 Twelve years ago, on the lower reaches of the 

 Clyde, I caught 20 Ib. and upwards daily for six 

 days in succession, and was home again before 

 breakfast on each occasion ; and during the sum- 

 mer of 1882, my son and I killed on the Clyde and 

 one of its tributaries, by its means, 104 Ib. of trout 

 in three consecutive days. 



When circumstances necessitate the use of the 

 artificial fly, it should be fished either up or down 

 stream as a floating live fly : but fished in any way, 

 it will prove but a poor substitute for its natural 

 prototype. 



The Green Drake. 



This fly is known in Scotland as the yellow fly, 

 in England as the green drake. In ordinary sea- 

 sons it makes its appearance in the beginning of 

 June, and usually lasts from a fortnight to three 



