38 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



CHAPTER V. 

 FLY FISHING. 



FLY FISHING is by far the most exquisite department 

 of the gentle art. There is, generally speaking, a greater 

 degree of skill necessary to complete*he adept, more 

 nice calculation, and a superior style of arrangement. 

 The advantages of the fly over the ground fisher are, 

 however, not a few : he avoids the trouble of collect- 

 ing and preparing his bait, the filth and cruelty of at- 

 taching it to his hook, and those numerous uncertainties 

 accompanying water and weather, which fall oftener to 

 the other's lot. We shall not, however, attempt any 

 disparagement to the merits of the honest bait fisher, 

 since, to our knowledge, he is often a nobly gifted and 

 scientific craftsman, a good and worthy man, zealous 

 in behalf of the art, and in nowise to be underrated. 

 We ourselves, in our younger days, were bait fishers, 

 no great hands we allow, but still tolerably successful ; 

 and if we live on till our arm and eye fail, we shall be 

 bait fishers once more, tottering in second infancy to 

 the river-side, content with a few humble minnows, as 

 fortune directs, or a chance salmon, which pities our 

 age, and is willing, to his own cost, to sound our lead- 

 ing-strings. 



We are now come to treat of the method of fly fish- 

 ing in use with excellent anglers. Your rod and tackle 

 being ready, the wind in your favour down the river, 

 draw out with your left hand a few yards of line from 

 your reel, dip the top of your rod in the water, and 

 with a rapid jerk, you will lengthen as you wish, that 



