6 SALMON. 



The principal method of Angling for Salmon is with the 

 Artificial Fly. The fly-rod for Salmon should be from sixteen 

 to eighteen feet in length, according to the size of the river 

 you intend to fish ; and should be furnished with two long 

 tops and one short one, the latter to use when minnow fishing 

 and the spare fly-top in case of a fracture. 



The Line should be from sixty to a hundred yards long, on 

 a free-running check winch. Some first-rate fishermen prefer 

 the line of prepared plaited silk, not tapered, whilst others 

 never use anything but silk and hair, tapering towards the 

 end. 



The Casting-lines are of plaited gut, twisted gut, and extra 

 stout single gut ; usually three yards long. 



The Flies vary exceedingly ; in Ireland, it is the practise 

 to use them large and gaudy ; whilst in Scotland, dull flies 

 with, in general, a speckled wing, and claret or orange body 

 ribbed with gold twist, are more killing ; in English rivers 

 rather a smaller fly is used than in Scotland, but in a greater 

 variety of colors. The size and color of Salmon Flies, how- 

 ever must always vary considerably according to the depth 

 and color of the water, the state of the weather and season 

 of the year. There are scarcely any rules of an universal 

 character to be laid down ; experience must be the sole guide 

 in the matter. If a description were to be given of all the 

 killing flies, their names would be legion, and would require 

 a greater amount of space than our present limits will permit. 



There are three parts principally to be learnt in fly-fishing 

 for Salmon: 1st to throw the fly properly, 2nd to work 

 it when in the water, and finally, to hook and play the 

 Salmon till it is within reach of the gaff. The best Salmon 

 fisher is not he who throws the longest line, but the one 

 who throws it adroitly to a moderate distance and makes the 

 best of his fly when in the water. 



The following is the most natural manner of throwing the 

 Salmon Fly : the right hand grasps the Rod above the winch, 

 the left being below it, and the right foot advanced. Bring 

 your Rod and Line freely in an easy semicircular sw^eep over 

 the right shoulder, until the right arm is extended in a verti- 

 cal direction over the right side of the head ; then giving a 



