THE TROUT. 91 



and play from the butt : no fisherman will condescend to use 



a stiff rod." 



"Flies. The colour of your fly must be adapted to that of 



the water a dark fly for dark water, a bright fly for bright 



water." 



" It is useless fishing in dark water with a dark fly." 

 "The brighter the water, the darker the fly, and vice 



versa!' 



"In trout-fishing three or four flies should be used." 



" No fly-fisher requires more than one or two flies on his 



cast.' 1 



" Reels. A multiplying reel is indispensable in fly-fishing." 

 " A multiplying reel is a mockery and a snare ; it is sure 



to fail you at the pinch." 



I cordially assent to this last dogma; but I have 

 merely selected the above, from some dozens more 

 or less contradictory, to show how widely really 

 practical men differ in their opinions on the most 

 essential points, and to justify my offering advice 

 founded exclusively on the results of my own ex- 

 perience and practice. 



With regard to rods, I very much prefer a light, 

 rather long, pliable one, one that plays nearly 

 down to the grasp, an Irish rod, in short; and my 

 favourite maker is Kelly of Dublin. No doubt a 

 rod of this description is bad to throw against 

 wind ; but I hate throwing against wind, and I 

 never do so if I can possibly help it ; the necessity 

 is of rarest occurrence. Mr Stewart, the great 



