176 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



GENERAL FLIES 



Of the general flies which are most useful to the angler, and 

 which he will find it very advisable to have a stock of, there 

 are, first, 



The Francis Fly. It may seem egotism in me to place 

 this fly first on the list ; but since its invention, from the 

 accounts I have had of its qualifications, from all parts of Great 

 Britain, from various parts of Europe, and indeed from all 

 quarters of the globe where Salmonidae are found, it certainly 

 appears to have gained, as I hope, a well-earned reputation. 

 I first found it kill well on the Welsh rivers, where I tested it 

 severely against the far-famed coch y bondu ; and in what- 

 ever position it was placed, whether as stretcher or dropper, 

 it killed above three fish for one killed by the coch y bondu. 

 I therefore brought it into public notice, and it was greatly 

 favoured ; but, neglecting it for a season, I did not use it much ; 

 by accident, however, I tried it subsequently in other quarters 

 with the greatest success, and since that time, wherever I 

 have gone, I have found it an unfailing resource when many 

 other favourites failed. It should be dressed, of course, to 

 suit the water : small for light waters, and large for heavy 

 waters or for evening fishing. I have killed well with it dressed 

 on a No. n or 12 hook, and equally well (where it was suitable) 

 on a 7, 8, or 9. The body is composed of copper-coloured 

 peacock's herl, ribbed distinctly with copper-red silk ; hackle, 

 medium blue dun ; wings, two hackle points of a grizzly 

 blue dun cock's hackle (not a hen's), set well up. It is an 

 excellent evening and night fly dressed on a No. 7 or 8 hook, 

 owing to the lively and attractive play of the hackle point 

 wings. Dressed large it kills sea trout well, and it has even 

 slaughtered many a lordly salmon ; while I have seen large 

 numbers of it, dressed like some huge moth, sent out to India 

 to kill mahseer amongst the Himalayas. 



The Coachman. This is one of the best evening and night 

 flies, particularly in the midland and southern rivers, that I 

 know of ; and even in the daytime it kills well on some streams. 

 Hook, No. 9, 10, or ii ; body, peacock herl ; legs, red cock's 

 hackle ; wings, any small white feather, or slip of the same. I 

 suppose that the contrast of the dark body and white wings 

 renders it easily perceived by the fish, hence its attractiveness 

 from May till the end of the season. 



