CHAPTER XIV. 



ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



THERE are flies and flies. Nearly every angler has his 

 favorites, both in general and special flies. Very often the 

 preference is purely fanciful, but it is a pardonable weak- 

 ness, to which we are all more or less prone ; and then it 

 can not do much harm, for I believe that, in most instances, 

 we are more choice in the matter than the fish themselves. 

 The facts are, that, when fish are rising freely, almost any 

 fly will kill ; but when they are shy and diffident, it is only 

 flies of certain colors, or combinations of colors, and skill- 

 fully cast, that seem to induce a rise. Perhaps, after all, it 

 is the manner of offering, rather than its peculiar features, 

 that renders a particular fly more killing than others at cer- 

 tain times. 



But that there are some flies that are more generally and 

 uniformly killing, day in and day out, on various waters, is 

 a fact proved by practical experience, and generally admit- 

 ted by fly fishers. Among these are notably the Coachman, 

 Grizzly King, Professor, Red Ibis arid the several hackles 

 or palmers. These were all originally trout flies, but they 

 answer as good a purpose for the Black Bass when made of 

 the proper size, which is nearly twice as large as the ordi- 

 nary trout fly. 



We really do not know, exactly, what color or combina- 

 tion of colors, or just what form or size, they prefer. Some- 

 times they will take any thing made of feathers, tinsel, silk, 



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