404 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART II. 



though I confess very few begin so soon, and that such as 

 are so fond of the sport as to embrace all opportunities, can 

 rarely in that month find a day fit for their purpose, and 

 tell you that, upon my knowledge, these flies in a warm sun, 

 for an hour or two in the day, are certainly taken. 1 



fishing is practised it has been ascertained, from experience, that the best 

 flies are those which are not shaped professedly in imitation of any 

 particular living insect. Red, black, and brown hackles, and flies of the 

 bittern's, mallard's, partridge's, woodcock's, grouse's, bald-coot's, martin's, 

 or blue hen's feathers, with dubbing of brown, yellow, or orange occa- 

 sionally blended, and hackles, red, brown, or black under the wings, are 

 the most useful flies that an angler can use in daylight, on any stream, all 

 the year through. For night-fishing in lakes, or long still ponds, no fly is 

 better than a white hackle. The angler must be guided in his selection of 

 flies by the state of the water whether clear or dull, smooth or ruffled by 

 a breeze ; and also by the state of the weather, as it may be cloudy or 

 bright. When the water is clear, and the day rather bright, small flies 

 and hackles of a dark shade are most likely to prove successful, if used 

 with a fine line and thrown by a delicate hand ; but then it is only before 

 eight in the morning and after six in the evening, from June to August, 

 that the fish may be expected to rise. When the water, in such weather, 

 is ruffled by a fresh breeze, larger hackles and flies of the same colour may 

 be used. When the water is clearing after rain, a red hackle, and a fly 

 with a body of orange -coloured mohair, dappled wings of a mallard or pea- 

 fowl's feather, with a reddish-brown hackle under them, are likely to 

 tempt trout, at any time of day, from March to October. The old doctrine 

 of a different assortment of flies for each month in the year is now 

 deservedly exploded, for it is well known to practical anglers, who never 

 read a book on the subject, and whose judgment is not biassed by ground- 

 less theories, that the same flies with which they catch most fish in April 

 will generally do them good service throughout the season. The names 

 given to artificial flies are for the most part arbitrary, and afford no guide 

 (with one or two exceptions) for distinguishing the fly meant." 



On the other side it is contended, that the non-imitation writers them- 

 selves admit, as experience compels them to do, that there must be an 

 adaptation of colours in the fly, and also that certain flies will not be 

 taken at some seasons which are freely taken at others. Nay, that though 

 when the fish are wantonly playful and hungry, they may rush at almost 

 anything like an insect, when the water is clear, the day bright, and the 

 fish coy, the angler who best imitates the natural fly of the time, and casts 

 it with skill, "stands," to use the words of Mr. Blaine, "proudly con- 

 spicuous among his fellows." ED. 



1 On this list of flies, Sir John Hawkins says : "The inutility of laying 

 down precise rules for the colour of the flies to be used on particular days, 

 or hours of the day, must be obvious. Walton himself has humourously 

 observed : ' That whereas it is said by many, that in fly-fishing for a trout, 

 the angler must observe his twelve several flies for the twelve months of 

 the year ; I say, he that follows that rule shall be as sure to catch fish, 



