TROUT-FLIES. 59 



in the position of dropper, or bob-fly, and the 

 Green when employed as the stretcher, or tail-fly. 

 The Brown can be used in either position ; but I 

 have found it best, especially on new waters, to try 

 the Yellow and Green first, reserving the Brown 

 as a change in case of necessity ; a necessity, how- 

 ever, which very seldom arises. 



For lake fishing a light double-handed rod from 

 14 to 1 6 feet long will be found most conve- 

 nient, as, whether the angler is fishing from the 

 shore or the boat, it enables him to work his flies 

 better than a shorter rod, and to command a greater 

 reach of water. 



FISHING WITH NATURAL FLIES. 

 " CREEPER" AND STONE-FLY FISHING. 



Creeper and stone-fly fishing is confined to the 

 Border and Lowland Scotch rivers ; at least, I 

 never remember to have met with it elsewhere, and 

 it may therefore be regarded as a branch of the 

 art rather local than general. The creeper is the 

 larva of the stone-fly (Scottice May-fly), in which 

 condition it passes most of the winter and spring 

 months, living under stones in shallow water, from 

 whence it may generally be readily obtained in 

 quantities sufficient for angling purposes. It will 



