Blue-bottle and Oak-fly Fishing. 103 



spring, should be used, for you will then be able to keep 

 it well up, and the line clear of the water, and the fly only 

 on the surface. 



Since the waters are generally very clear and low when 

 this fly comes on, every precaution must be exercised by 

 the Angler in keeping out of sight. Therefore, always 

 fish up stream or across ; creep, crawl on your knees, get 

 behind anything that projects, or by any means keep out 

 of sight, and you will be sure to kill fish. 



The Blue-bottle Fly. 



GET a soda-water or other small bottle, tie a piece of 

 string round the neck to attach to the strap of your creel, 

 or carry it in your pocket. Have a cork through which 

 you have inserted a quill for air ; catch your flies, and 

 keep them in this. With a good-sized fly-hook you can 

 fish this fly as the May-fly, and it is an excellent bait, as 

 I have frequently found when every other failed. 



And for dabbing among bushes it is by far the best. 

 Use for this purpose a stiff nine-feet rod, strong tackle, 

 and a strong wired hook with a short shank ; and when a 

 fish rises, strike and throw him out at once, so that you 

 may" not disturb the water and scare other fish away. 



These flies are to be used whenever they can be obtained. 



The Oak-fly or Downlooker. 

 PLATE II. cxcvi. 



THIS is a fly found on the boles of oak and other trees 

 in April, May, and Juije. Its head is always pointed down- 

 wards ; hence its name. The wings are short in propor- 

 tion to the body and lie flat on the back. Carry and 

 use it as the blue-bottle. It is a very great favourite of 

 the trout; hence the artificial resemblance is a very 

 deadly fly. For further description see fly list. 



