88 TliOUT FISHING 



the bob fly is attached should be longer than that 

 to which the middle fly is tied, so that the collar 



fradually rising from the water, from the stretcher 

 y to the line, may just allow the middle fly to 

 be seen, whilst we are bobbing the bob fly on the 

 surface of the water. For the bob fly, then, select 

 the blues these are generally a lively class of 

 flies j and so I suppose we may be acting more in 

 conformity with the natural habits of the fly we 

 represent, by making it dance and sport about on 

 the surface of the water. I have certainly observed 

 that some flies do better as bob flies than others ; 

 I mentioned the March brown these flies may be 

 observed to be strong on the wing ; they dip them- 

 selves, and just when they please, rise from the 

 water and dip again ; they are not easily washed 

 under water, as more delicate flies are ; and have 

 more power to direct their flight, and command 

 the movements of their bodies. 



Some use more than three flies, and if the wind 

 is not high, you may put on as many as you can 

 manage to throw properly ; but more than four 

 are sure to become a nuisance by entangling the 

 collar, and hitching in just everything you do not 

 want them to do ; and at most disagreeable times, 

 as when playing a trout with a bob fly, your 

 stretcher catches in a stake in the middle of a 

 deep stickle ; or just when, your fish being tired, 

 you are about to lift him over some little bush, 

 you find your numerous flies each hooked in the 

 branches of a blackthorn, placed as if on purpose 

 to molest you ; if, therefore, you do not care to be 



