IRISH AND TWEED FLIES. 247 



but, at the same time, I admit that certain colours, or 

 combinations of colours, may be more attractive to 

 salmon than others. 



To prove that almost any combination of colours, 

 arranged into the shape of a fly, will be taken with little 

 distinction time was, when nothing but those of the 

 soberest hues were successfully used on Tweed, and it 

 was alleged by the local anglers there, that the gaudy 

 flies used upon the Irish rivers would never be looked 

 at by a Tweed salmon, until some one mustered courage 

 enough to try them, when they were found to be rather 

 more efficient than those generally used at the time ; 

 since which, nothing but the gaudiest flies are now in 

 vogue on that river. On the same day we will see half 

 a dozen fishers return with nearly equal success, although 

 one may have used a fly of sober black, a second one 

 of blue and yellow, a third a combination of green and 

 gold, and so on through all the colours of the rainbow. 



The size of hooks used varies. Those most used are 

 Adlington's from No. 15 to 50, and Phillips' No. 4 to 6. 

 As before noticed, the variety is so great in the dressing 

 of salmon-flies, that before proceeding to the water the 

 angler would do well to consult with those who have 

 had experience in the river or loch to be fished. A 

 salmon-fly is a much ruder lure than the trout-fly, 

 and success does not depend so much upon its nice 

 dressing. 



In the spring of the year, when the waters are full, 

 the parr-tail, or minnow, are successfully angled with 

 for salmon. The tackle for either bait is simply the 



