TACTICS. 235 



instance, and how would he tell whether to mount the blue or the grey 

 fly? 



So far as the foregoing examples of the " meddling faculty " are 

 concerned, the student will, of course, arrive at some conclusion for 

 himself, but I cannot help thinking that they take away some of the credit 

 which the English race possess for common sense and intelligence. 

 Meanwhile, we may do well to consider the two following common-place 

 examples of practising the four-fly system when one fly fails, another is 

 tried. On what principle, then, should the Angler make his choice from 

 the long list of Standards described in another chapter ? 



The reader must distinctly understand beforehand that obstinate 

 fish, or, as some put it, " fish off the feed," can be induced to rise and 

 take a fly of some sort. That very fly in most instances is to be found 

 among the numerous standards given, though the absence of a few non- 

 descripts or obscurities, sometimes useful on ordinary occasions, is, 

 perhaps, to be regretted. 



He should also understand that I am merely laying down the method 

 of procedure which a good Angler would generally pursue ; and that I am 

 not here alluding to any special difficulty arising from a sudden change of 

 temperature, a sudden fall of water, or even intervals of nausea, produced 

 by pollution. 



Now the tactics of Fishermen are governed by the circumstances 

 that present themselves. Take, as the first of these examples, bright 

 times, fish properly trained to the bright and dull fly system, and an 

 ordinary Catch, in which a mixed wing fails to attract their notice. I 

 should use a fly on, for instance, the Spey or Dee, of a particular class 

 (say the "Gold Eiach"on the former, the " Akroyd " on the latter). 

 This selection would be equal, in respect of colouring, to that, say, of a 

 " Jock Scott " another class of fly which might be used on other rivers, 

 on all, in fact, with perhaps half a dozen exceptions. 



Then, a silver body ; and be guided by the character of the river as 

 to what sort on the Wye, a " Silver Grey "; on the Usk, a " Wilkin- 

 son " ; on the Lochy, a " Silver Doctor." In the fourth trial a " Grub," 

 also suited to the river as regards colour of tail, body, and hackle. 



For the second example, when a bright or a conspicuously-dressed fly 



