160 MAY-FLY FISHING. 



the barb of the other. Selecting a middle-sized 

 creeper the best are not the largest, but the 

 yellowest take the lower hook and put it through 

 the creeper crossways a little above the tail, then 

 take the upper hook, and put it through about the 

 shoulder, according as the size of the creeper suits 

 the tackle. Two hooks possess this advantage over 

 one, that the second hook prevents the creeper from 

 slipping down on the shank of the hook, which, 

 when one hook is used, it always does. In large 

 rivers such as Tweed, or rivers inhabited by large 

 trout, it may be advisable to use two creepers, in 

 which case they should be baited in the same 

 manner, and upon the same tackle as will subse- 

 quently be recommended for the May-fly. The 

 creeper should be used in the same manner as a 

 worm. fishing up stream without a sinker, and in 

 the same kind of water, which as we have fully 

 described in worm-fishing it is unnecessary to repeat 

 here. The only difference is, that whereas the 

 angler will frequently catch trout with the worm in 

 moderately still water, he will scarcely ever catch 

 one with the creeper, and should therefore confine 

 his operations entirely to strong water. The state 

 of water and weather most suitable is exactly the 

 same as that looked upon with most favour by the 

 worm-fisher a small clear water and a sunny day, 

 with a breeze. The best time of day entirely 

 depends upon the weather ; if the weather is mild, 

 trout will take readily early in the morning, but in 



