ANGLING IMPROVED. 17 



or passing through mosses or bogs, you must use a 

 larger bodied fly than ordinary, which argues, that in 

 clear rivers the fly must be smaller; and this not being 

 observed by some, hinders their sport, and they impute 

 their want of success to their want of the right fly, when 

 perhaps they have it, but made too large. 



4. If the water be clear and low, then use a small 

 bodied fly with slender wings. 



5. When the water begins to clear after rain, and 

 is of a brownish colour, then a red or orange fly. 



6. If the day be clear, then a light coloured fly, 

 with slender body and wings. 



7. In dark weather, as well as dark waters, your 

 fly must be dark. 



8. If the water be of a whey colour, or whitish, 

 then use a black or brown fly : yet these six last rules do 

 not always hold, though usually they do, or else I had 

 omitted them. 



9. Observe principally the belly of the fly, for 

 that colour the fish observe most, as being most in their 

 eye. 



10. When you angle with an artificial fly, your 

 line may be twice the length of your rod, except the 

 river be much encumbered with wood and trees. 



1 1 . For every sort of fly have three ; one of a 

 lighter colour, another sadder than the natural fly, and 

 a third of the exact colour with the fly, to suit all 

 waters and weathers, as before. 



12. I never could find, by any experience of mine 

 own, or other man's observation, that fish would freely 



c 



