APRIL. 41 



wax hue and transparency ; eyes, dark or black. Is alto- 

 gether of a light dim ambry tinge and dim transparency. 



This fly is the produce of the codbait. They commence 

 hatching this month, and are plentiful in May and June, 

 and again in autumn, but are out most in the dusk of even- 

 ing. There are vaiieties of them, some darker freckles and 

 smaller size. The artificial cases of some of the codbait 

 tribe have small particles of vegetable substances mingled 

 with those of stone, attached to them, which may impart a 

 darker shade or freckle to the flies. The largest codbait 

 creepers, when the case is covered with particles of stone 

 only, produce the largest and lightest colored flies. 



They are imitated with feathers from the landrail, brown 

 owl, dotterell, brown hen, etc., with tawny, coppery colored 

 silks, of lighter or darker shades. 



NOTE FOR APRIL. This genial and life-cheering month 

 teems with sport for the flyfisher. Hungry trout and smelt 

 in abundance, unscathed through winter and the streams 

 ample, they forage and feed without fear or scruple. Any 

 of the flies hitherto described that may be hatching or on 

 the water, may be fished this month ; the needle, dark, 

 light, red, mottled, and bloa brown, with the Royal Charlie; 

 the blue, brown, checkwing, iron blue, dark brown, and 

 dark Drakes ; the plover, freckled, and light duns, etc. ; or 

 in the language of the craft, who have handed down the 

 feathers rather than the flies the snipe bloa, inside and 

 outside of woodcock, landrail, partridge tail, partridge grey, 

 fox-cub, hen pheasant, partridge brown, water-hen and 

 orange, plover bloa, moorcock, brown owl, etc. By those 

 traditional materials the craft along the banks of the 

 streams, both imitate and distinguish their flies, which are 

 the finest of the aquatic tribes for small flyfishing, and are 

 all in full force hatching and breeding daily. The weather 

 affects them : a fine warm time sets them all afloat ; cold, 



