CHAPTER XI 



SALMON F L I E S continued 



List of Flies for Irish Rivers 

 THE ERNE, BALLYSHANNON 



THESE patterns were poor Pat McKay's, than whom 

 no better artificer ever turned fly out of hand. 

 No. i. The Parson has been already described 

 amongst the general flies ; but, since I described it, 

 I have received some patterns with a letter of explanation from 

 my friend Dr. Sheil, the courteous and liberal proprietor of the 

 Erne, to whom I owe many kindnesses and some good fishing 

 on one of the finest rivers it has ever been my lot to cast a 

 fly. For the Erne is the beau-ideal of a salmon river, contain- 

 ing every kind of water that is found in salmon rivers, and all 

 in perfection. Here we have falls, rapids, broken pools, rocky 

 torrents, and swift glassy currents, and even heavy reaches 

 for boat fishing. The fish run large and nearly always show the 

 finest sport. The sport is best in the months of May and July, 

 if the river is low enough, for it is much more apt to be too 

 high than too low, running as it does from such a very large 

 lake as Lough Erne, which, indeed, is rather two large lakes 

 than one. The river is very rarely too low for sport, and even 

 in the hottest and brightest weather sport is possible. As 

 Dr. Shell's letter gives the history of the Parson, I trust he 

 will excuse me for making the information upon such an 

 interesting point public. 



MY DEAR SIR, 



I send four Parsons I have borrowed from Mr. Hobson, 

 and I will send you a couple made with summer duck in the 

 wing. The first " Parson," and called from him, was used by 

 the Rev. Arthur Meyrick, of Romsbury ; it was two large 

 toppings, a yellow body, yellow hackle, very thin twist run 



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