82 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



CHAP. XX. 



ARTTFICIAL FLY FISHING. 



FISHING with an artificial fly is certainly a 

 very pleasant and gentlemanly way of angling, 

 and is attended with much less labour and 

 trouble than bottom fishing. The fly fisher- 

 man has but little to carry either in bulk or 

 weight, nor has he the dirty work of digging 

 clay, making ground baits, &c. ; he may travel 

 for miles with a book of flies in his pocket, 

 and a light rod in his hand, and cast in his 

 bait as he roves on the banks of a river, with- 

 out soiling his fingers, it is therefore preferred 

 by many to every other way of angling : yet fly 

 fishing is not without its disadvantages, for 

 there are many kinds of fish that will not take a 

 fly, whereas, all the different species the fresh 

 waters produce, or breed, will take a bait at 

 bottom at some season of the year ; and it is 



