90 FLY-FISHING AT SEA. 



adopt fly-fishing at sea. It is a kind of imitation of the dragon- 

 fly. The body is as thin as possible, being nothing but flat- 

 tened silver wire, a small brush of scarlet feather for the tail, a 

 little green, blue, and red dubbing out of an old turkey carpet 

 for the shoulders, and bright blue wings, to which add half a 

 dozen fibres of goose feather in front. With this, fishing at the 

 mouth of a river-harbour, or in the pools just inside, you will 

 probably take a Sea Trout or two, or even a Salmon, particularly 

 if you fish at the beginning of the ebb tide. Make it on a 

 9, 10, or ii hook (fig. 63, p. 211). In the Taw and Torridge 

 estuary at Instow, N. Devon, the fly in use is made with white 

 and grey feathers and a silver body, and with this great sport 

 is frequently obtained. 



A rough but useful fly may be made out of white goat's- 

 hair, with a body of red wool. The beard on account of its 

 length is preferred, but that from the body if long enough will 

 also answer. 



Two flies will be quite as many as you can conveniently cast, 

 and more will only embarrass you ; but if not accustomed to fly- 

 fishing in fresh water, as well as to boating at sea, employ a man 

 to pull, for you will find it rather awkward work to manage the 

 rod and keep your footing in the boat at the same time, and had 

 better be satisfied with towing or trailing your line after the 

 boat, until you have practised throwing a fly on shore. The 

 loops at the heads of the flies should be either of fine silk line, 

 fine snooding, or double twisted gut. 



Use of the Gear or Tackle. If alone let out about twenty 

 yards of line and pull leisurely along, resting the rod against a 

 thowl-pin in the after rowlock. If with an assistant, hold the rod 

 in your hand. If you feel a fish or see a rise, strike gently and 

 draw the fish toward you by bending the rod backward until you 

 can take hold of the line, when you may lift the fish on board 

 if of moderate size. If, however, the fish should be large, on 

 no account touch the line, but play him as you would a Salmon 

 or any other large fish, and when exhausted, reel up the line 

 until you have no more out than the length of the rod, then 

 inclining it backwards, strike your gaff into him under the 

 throat if possible, and lift him on board. A landing net with 



