Winged Flies superior to Hackled. 67 



save the mottled and spotted wing. But those four fixed 

 colours will be found, at certain seasons, quite inferior 

 to some of their modifications ; and the assertion of those 

 who recommend them without qualification is altogether 

 at variance with the principles of really practical Fly- 

 fishing in our English clear- water streams. 



Highly-dressed flies for clear waters are unquestion- 

 ably more killing than a clumsy representation. The 

 great essentials of these are sparseness of wing and hackle, 

 thinness of body and the exact tone of colour, as well as 

 shape of the natural insect that is to be represented. 



Bear in mind, then, that shape, colour, and lightness 

 are the three essentials in winged flies, as well as spiders. 



Mr. Stewart, p. 67, ranks spiders or hackles higher 

 than winged flies. With all due deference, I beg to say 

 that the contrary is true on our English streams, as a 

 friend and I have tested over and over again. Trout 

 may take a winged representation for a fly, but a bundle 

 of feather wrapped round a hook can surely never be 

 taken for such a delicate insect. Yet I by no means 

 assert that a neatly-dressed hackle will not at times kill 

 fish. What I do say is, that a winged fly is, when pro- 

 perly dressed, for all clear waters, more deadly. 



Now I would not insist that the Fly-fisher should be 

 prepared to dress an imitation of every kind of insect he 

 sees the trout feeding upon, but I do urge the necessity 

 of his being able to represent a large class of those that 

 appear the greatest favourites. 



As we know that trout are exceedingly quick and clear- 

 sighted, it is next to ridiculous to say, as Mr. Stewart 

 affirms in his work, pp. 61, 62, " that it is highly impro- 

 bable that they distinguish colour." Now having fished 

 for nearly forty years, and having, during that long 

 practice in English waters, paid some little attention to 

 the craft, I am prepared to affirm, without the slightest 



