THE NATURAL FLY. 141 



ductive, sleuth-like, piscatory sport. The length of the rod 

 must depend on the situation and closeness of the waters. 

 If the banks are shrouded with trees and shrubs, then a 

 thirteen or fourteen feet rod, fitted with a light reel, will 

 be best. If the banks are comparatively open and un- 

 sheltered, then a long rod will be necessary. One eighteen 

 feet long will not be too long, as it will enable the angler 

 to keep well out of sight, and use a blow-line. The line 

 itself should be of fine tried stout gut, about a yard long, 

 attached to a foot silk line, which may be lengthened or 

 shortened according to circumstances. The hooks should 

 be short in the shank and neatly whipped, and of sizes 

 adapted to the bait you use. 



The living insects used as baits for this description of 

 fishing are various. House-flies, wood-flies, stone-flies, 

 green and gray drakes, blue-bottles, moths, cockchaffers, 

 grasshoppers, beetles, bees, ants, are used according to circum- 

 stances. Whatever fly is on the water, or whatever insect 

 is plentiful along the river-banks or water-side, may be 

 used with effect. Great care is, however, requisite in plac- 

 ing the insect on the hook, so as not to kill it or harm it. 

 If properly hooked, it ought to display all its natural 

 motions, but it cannot do this if it is roughly handled or 

 clumsily used. If one fly only is used, insert the hook 

 under one of its wings, and bring it out between them at 

 the back. If two flies are used, the first fly must be hooked 

 between the wings, at the upper part of the back, and the 

 second fly be placed with the head reversed, and the hook 

 inserted under one of its wings, and come out at the back. 

 This is an excellent mode of baiting, and generally proves 

 a seductive one for the fish. The May-fly is hooked through 

 the thorax, and then placed heads to tails. In baiting with 



