FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 119 



22. The Coch-y-bondhu is an imitation of a little beetle 

 out in great numbers in June. Some years they are 

 much more plentiful than others ; the imitation may, 

 however, be used at times all through the season. I 

 believe, when fly fishing was in its infancy, that this 

 insect was the fisherman's sheet-anchor. It is still a 

 great favourite, especially in Wales, many professional 

 fishermen always having it on their cast and, as they 

 would say, it is bound to kill whenever the fish are feed- 

 ing on anything of the beetle species. But, generally 

 speaking, I consider its killing powers overrated, and 

 only use it at the time that the actual insect is on the 

 water in June, and now and then when the May fly is on 

 the water, when it is a very good fly, tied large, on a No. 

 7 hook. 



Hooks, Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 13. 



Body : Bronze peacock's herl, tied very fat, either with 

 or without gold wire, or with a tip only of gold tinsel. 



Hackle : Dark red with a black streak. 



(Coch-y-bondhu.) 



A few years ago there were unusually large flights of 

 lady-birds out, and I then killed both trout and grayling 

 very well with a small Coch-y-bondhu, which is as good an 

 imitation of that little insect as you can have. 



