210 LIVE FLY AND BEETLE FISHING. 



of the water. In order to do this effectually, the 

 impaled fly is made to float and flutter by the action 

 given to the line, occasionally settling upon the water 

 for a brief interval. Just before twilight, upon a 

 summer's evening, this system of angling is very 

 deadly, and more especially so on small brooks. 

 Here the fish are then wide-awake, and upon the 

 forage for moths, minnows, and other legitimate food 

 which approaches within grabbing distance ; and any 

 other larger insects prevalent that may be placed be- 

 fore their notice are extremely likely to be absorbed. 

 The large white grass moths are capital lures for this 

 purpose. The flies most in repute for daping and 

 dibbing purposes, are the May fly, stone and cinnamon 

 flies, the blue bottle, the alder and oak flies, as also 

 the common house fly. The first of these is usually 

 carried in a small basket, specially made for the 

 purpose, which is strung upon the creel strap. The 

 remainder, being flat-winged flies, may be kept in a 

 glass bottle, the cork having a small, gradually 

 widening nick made in one side, to allow the passage 

 of one fly only when partially drawn, as also to admit 

 air. A fly will always frequent the opening, no 

 matter how quickly they may be extracted. The size 

 of the hook usually employed is a No. 7 Kendal, with 

 shortened shank. Sometimes two flies are placed 

 upon the hook at once, with the smaller of them next 

 the point. This is often found to answer, as the hooks 

 are more obscured and the bait more significant and 

 tempting to a large fish. Always fish over the eddy 

 of a rise, and whenever the bank of wood of any 



