PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



THE BLACK GNAT. 



The Black Gnat is generally first seen early 

 in May, and sometimes congregates in flocks 

 of hundreds if not of thousands. If nicely 

 made, and finely fished, a well-filled basket is 

 often the result. I have found it to answer 

 best as a hackle. Hook o or oo; feather 

 from the bastard-wing of the Swift, or small 

 hackle from a very dark brown (nearly black) 

 hen's neck : silk, the colour of Irish snuff ; a 

 very fine piece of black Ostrich's herl put on 

 open like a screw to show the silk. 



THE ORANGE DUN. 



The Orange Dun may be looked for about 

 the middle of May, and lasts to the end of 

 October. There are several distinct ephemerae 

 known by this general name, of which the three 

 following will be found the most useful to the 

 angler, ist. The Dark Orange Dun ; hook, o, 

 i, 2 ; wing from the Merlin Hawk's wing ; 

 silk, deep orange ; hackle from a dark-blue 

 cock or hen's hackle ; no dubbing. 2nd. 

 Orange Dun ; hook o, i, 2 ; wing from the 

 Starling's quill ; hackle from dun cock or hen ; 

 silk, orange. 3rd. Light Orange Dun ; hook 

 o, i, 2 ; wing from a light-coloured Sea-gull or 

 Sea-swallow ; hackle, very light-blue dun ; silk, 

 tawny or faded orange. All these flies may be 

 made as hackles, by feathers of their various 

 shades, which are often to be found on the 

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