PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



the same flies ; both were attentive and diligent. 

 After the lapse of a few hours one of them had 

 eighteen pounds, the other not more than four. 



Two anglers got permission for a day's fish- 

 ing, and the use of a boat, on a lake in Wales. 

 One of them made a few flies for their joint 

 use. The one, at the end of the day's sport, 

 had forty-eight Trout, weighing twenty-four 

 pounds ; the other had not three pounds. 



Let no learner despair, or think to himself, / 

 shall never be a fly-fisher ; / shall never return 

 home with a basket full of fish. Depend upon 

 it, you will. Industry, neatness, and persever- 

 ance, will do anything. I had just your ideas 

 when a youth. I was standing on the margin 

 of that broad and beautiful pool, below the 

 bridge at Cromford ; the flies were on the water ; 

 the fish were rising ; but I could take nothing. 



A brisk and cheerful little man jumped over 

 the wall, and came to me in his shirt sleeves, 

 with a fly-rod in his hand. It was Frank^ the 

 chaise-driver of Matlock, one of the nicest and 

 best fishers in England always true to his 

 colours. And what was far better, one of 

 Nature's gentlemen. I showed him the fish I 

 had been throwing at, and he took them. Then 

 he showed me his flies, and kindly told me what 

 they were, and pointed out their resemblance to 

 those which I had seen upon the water. 



I followed him for some time, to watch him 

 fish, and to ask from him such information as 

 occurrences suggested, which he kindly gave 

 me ; and I have never desponded since. 



