CHAPTER VI 



SALMON AND SEA TROUT FLIES 



THE colour and dressing- of salmon flies have, during 

 the last twenty years, undergone a mysterious change. 

 Dull colours were at one time solely used, and any- 

 thing in the nature of a brightly-coloured specimen 

 was to be deprecated so much so that Stoddart says 

 for the dressing of a certain fly he permits as a luxury 

 a rib of silver tinsel, provided it is tarnished, and 

 warns anglers against the display of gaudy Irish 

 patterns in Scottish waters. 



Fine fish were undoubtedly caught on these less 

 showy flies, yet to-day all the best killing" patterns are 

 brightly coloured; in fact, as many gaudy colours as 

 possible are crowded on some of the patterns, even 

 going so far as the new prismatic-coloured flies in- 

 vented by Mr. W. Baden-Powell. Indeed, nowadays, 

 contrary to Stoddart's instructions, the Irish flies are 

 of duller colour than the Scottish. The Durham 

 Ranger, Wilkinson and Blue Doctor are prime 

 favourites on the Tweed, and no colour is considered 

 too gay or tinsel too bright. The only conclusion to 

 come to is that the tastes of fish differ and vary from 

 time to time, and this opinion is endorsed by Francis 

 Francis and other eminent authorities. 



The dressing of the salmon fly differs from other 

 varieties in several ways. First of all, the hook is 

 generally a Limerick of the eyed variety in preference 

 to the sneck bent hook. The flexible gut eyes are not 

 recommended, as they are liable to weaken with much 



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