LINES AND REELS. 47 



in Loch Leven !" At the end of the first day, 

 however, my basket, which included seven Trout 

 weighing 14 Ibs., was found to be heavier than 

 both theirs. This result I attribute of course 

 solely to the flies, not, be it well understood, to 

 the fisherman. 



I will not go so far as to say that there may 

 not be exceptional occasions or even exceptional 

 rivers on which some local pattern of fly may 

 not prove more killing than the three flies I recom- 

 mend ; but I am quite satisfied that taking the 

 average of waters and weathers, and the great 

 saving of time in the avoidance of experimental 

 changings of flies, my patterns which have been 

 tested frequently against the best local flies on 

 half the principal Trouting waters in the British 

 Islands will kill more fish in the course of the 

 year than any others at present generally known. 



FLY-RODS, LINES, HOOKS, &c. 



As regards fly-rods it is difficult to give any 

 opinion upon a matter which is so much one of 

 taste, and dependent to a great extent on the 

 strength and height of the individual angler. As 

 far as my experience goes, a twelve-foot rod 

 inclined rather to stiffness than to pliancy, will be 



D 



