408 THE COMPLETE AN GLEE. [PART II. 



months of the year, when you do not certainly know what 

 fly is taken, or cannot see any fish to rise, you are then to 

 put on a small hackle, if the water be clear, or a bigger, 

 if something dark, until you have taken one ; and then, 

 thrusting your finger through his gills, to pull out his gorge, 

 which being opened with your knife, you will then discover 

 what fly is taken, and may fit yourself accordingly. 1 



3?or the making of a hackle, or palmer-fly, my father 

 "Walton has already given you sufficient direction. 2 



Prime Dun. Artificial fly. Natural fly. 



MAECH. 3 



For this month you are to use all the same hackles, and 

 flies with the other ; but you are to make them less. 



1 This is a very questionable guide, as fish will frequently rise at an 

 artificial fly of quite a different colour to those playing on the water, and 

 on which they have been previously feeding. Col. Venables and other 

 writers on the subject, give directions to beat the bushes by the side of a 

 stream, for the purpose of seeing what kind of flies are abroad, that you 

 may adopt them, particularly those which are most abundant ; but this 

 information is of no practical utility. N. 



2 But, with Mr. Cotton's good leave, he has not, nor any author that 

 I know of, unless we are to take that for a palmer, which Walton has 

 given directions for making (page 148), which I can never do till I see what 

 I have never yet seen, viz., caterpillars with wings. Reject, therefore, 

 wings as unnatural and absurd ; and make the plain hackle or palmer, 

 which are terms of the same import. H. 



8 March, is generally considered as the commencement of the fly-fishing 

 season for salmon, trout, and grayling ; but unless the spring be very for- 

 ward, little sport may be expected till about the middle of the month ; 

 and then, till the end of August, salmon and trout may be fished for with 

 the fly with every prospect of success. But as regards grayling, although 

 they begin to rise with the trout, their best season is not till late in the 

 summer, and does not end till November. In the hot months, fly-fishing 

 is principally confined to the mornings and evenings, except in cloudy and 

 windy days, when it may be practised throughout. BLAINE. 



