78 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



the resemblance to nature not being so complete in 

 the one fly as in the other, fewer trout are deceived 

 by it. The third case shows that trout can detect 

 that a hook is an unnatural appendage. 



The great point, then, in fly-dressing, is to make 

 the artificial fly resemble the natural insect in shape, 

 and the great characteristic of all river insects is 

 extreme lightness and neatness of form. Our great 

 objection to the flies in common use is, that they are 

 much too bushy ; so much so, that there are few flies 

 to be got in the tackle-shops which we could use 

 with any degree of confidence in clear water. Every 

 possible advantage is in favour of a lightly dressed 

 fly ; it is more like a natural insect ; it falls lighter 

 on the water, and every angler knows the importance 

 of making his fly fall gently, and there being less 

 material about it, the artificial nature of that 

 material is not so easily detected ; and also, as the 

 hook is not so much covered with feathers, there is 

 a much better chance of hooking a trout when it 

 rises, We wish to impress very strongly upon the 

 reader the necessity of avoiding bulky flies* 



The artificial flies in common use may be divided 

 into two classes. There is first the winged fly, which 

 alone, properly speaking, merits the appellation ; and 

 there is the palmer hackle or spider, by which last 

 name we mean to call it, believing that if it resembles 

 anything in the insect tribe, it is a spider. As a 

 means of capturing trout, we rank them higher than 

 the winged imitations. When trout are taking, 

 winged flies will answer very well ; and sometimes. 



