CHAPTER V. 



FLIES. 



THERE is no subject on which anglers differ so much 

 as to what assortment of flies is necessary. Some 

 will carry as many as a hundred sorts in their book, 

 while a few, following Mr. Cholmondely Pennell, are 

 content with three nondescripts of quite an 

 unnatural appearance, and pretend they can catch as 

 many fish as the man who goes prepared with a 

 larger quantity. Walton names nine, beside cater- 

 pillars ; and Cotton mentions sixty - nine ; while 

 Ronald, in his splendid work, describes very many 

 more to choose from. David Foster speaks of thirty - 

 one. My experience has taught me that about twenty 

 are necessary and sufficient for all ordinary purposes. 

 In calm weather and smooth water one fly at a time 

 is enough ; but in rain, wind, or broken water, two, 

 three, or even four flies may be used with advantage, 

 as you give the fish a variety to choose from, and 

 can thereby find out which kind they are taking, and 

 adapt your cast to their taste. 



The fly nearest the rod is called the " first drop," 

 the next the "second drop," and so on, and the 

 farthest from the rod the "stretcher." The last drop 

 should be about 2oin. from the stretcher, and the 

 other drops I2in. or i/jin. apart. When it is thought 

 desirable to use more than one fly, bend the loop of 



