OK FLY MAKING. 125 



First, then, time is essential, as a matter of course, 

 for the practice of this pleasing art. We often hear it 

 asserted * ( that life is too brief to admit of fishermen 

 making their own flies;" every art and pursuit demand 

 a given amount of application, more especially until a 

 thorough practical knowledge of it is acquired. To 

 claim an exception in the case now before the reader, 

 would certainly be unjustifiable ; but in the particular 

 circumstances to which we have made allusion, it cannot, 

 we think, be denied that it is an advantageous accom- 

 plishment to the fly-fisher. Another fact, well known 

 to all practitioners, whether amateur or professional, is, 

 that the creditable construction of well-known artificials 

 requires a certain amount of studious application. Many 

 dozens have frequently to be made and discarded before 

 the hand acquires the accurate " knack" for each different 

 description of fly; therefore, with well-known " stand- 

 ards," the professor has unmistakably the advantage, 

 large quantities of each of those most difficult to make 

 being produced before another variety is taken in hand. 



some five feet in diameter, rising out of the water. Wishing to ex- 

 change greetings, my friend stopped on the left of the rock and myself 

 on 'the right. We found upon inspection that our end flies were identi- 

 cal, gray and Mack palmers tied very "buzz." Mine was much worn 

 and jagged his a " spick and span " fresh one. In a few moments, 

 and in a sort of an automatic way, we commenced casting, chatting 

 freely in the meanwhile, our flies dropping within two or three feet of 

 each other. Soon the talk ceased on my part, being stopped by a plucky 

 rise and a lucky strike. Not to be tedious, I then and there killed five 

 fish, and my friend did not get a rise. After the fish had stopped rising, 

 we queried over and discussed the matter without avail, and it was 

 only after 1 had thrown my flies across the pool in hope of getting a 

 loiterer, that my friend struck the keynote of the solution, as he ex- 

 claimed : " Look at your tail-flyit leaves a wake behind it like a stern- 

 wheel steamer." True it was my jagged, frayed old palmer was fur- 

 rowing the water as a plow would a fallow field. From that day I 

 fear that I have been somewhat of a Pennellite on the fly question. I 

 give the chapter on fly tying without further comment, premising that 

 the amateur tyer will get more than one wrinkle from it. 



