PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



dozen kinds of flies, the very counterparts of 

 those seen near home at the same time of year. 

 Instead of beginning to fish with confidence, 

 how do they act ? They send for some tailor, 

 cobbler, or superannuated keeper, who tells 

 them that they have not in their whole stock a 

 fly worth a bawbee. 



What are they to do? He can sell them 

 some which will kill. The fisher generally 

 falls into this trap. 



A gentleman who was at Selkirk in the 

 spring of 1823, inquired for a guide to St. 

 Mary's Loch. He was referred to John 

 Redhead, a Northumbrian, who lived in the 

 town, made rods, lines, and flies ; fished, sold 

 his fish, and found it hard work, by his own 

 account, to scrape up a living amongst the 

 Scotch. 



They fished their way up the beautiful 

 streams of the pastoral Yarrow, and were 

 hospitably entertained for the night at ' Mount 

 Benger,' the house of Mr. Scott < the Elder.' 

 After breakfast the next morning they went to 

 St. Mary's Loch. They angled for three or 

 four hours in vain, having each taken only one 

 small fish. They repaired to the deserted 

 burial-ground of the Covenanters, on the hill, 

 to make a fisherman's meal; which, though 

 homely, is generally accompanied by an 

 excellent appetite. A good stone bridge was 

 seen in the distance. The following discourse 

 ensued 



Gentleman. What bridge is that ? 

 4 



