TROUT FLY-FISHING. 321 



gull's feather is very appropriate ; fourth, a decided lead color 

 say from a blue heron. I tie those intended for droppers 

 on hooks from No. 6 to 10 ; for stretchers, I use Nos. 2, 4, 

 and 6, and in fishing with them, vary the color of wings and 

 size of hooks according to the weather (bright or cloudy), the 

 water (full or fine), and the time of day. The white wings 

 are best when the water is full and the sky overcast, or late in 

 the afternoon. 



The Brown Hen I tie without varying the colors : body 

 of copper-colored peacock's hurl, tipped with gold tinsel ; 

 legs of dark brown hackle ; wings from a dark brown hen's 

 feather, mottled or speckled with yellow at the outer ends 

 of the fibres. This feather, which I have mentioned so often, 

 is taken mostly from hens known as the " golden pheasant 

 breed," and is not generally appreciated by professional fly- 

 makers. On a No. 8 hook for a stretcher, this fly kills 

 splendidly on fine still water, and on a bright day. I 

 generally use with it, a brown or black Hackle on a No. 10 

 hook, as dropper. 



A G-inger Hackle, with a light yellow body, is my favorite 

 evening fly. 



Any of these flies are tied to order, and by the angler'? 

 own pattern, if he wishes it, by Mr. George, at Philip Wilson's 

 gun and tackle store in Chestnut above Fourth street, or by 

 Mr. Jackson, in Gold below Dock street, or John Worden, at 

 Krider's, corner of Second and Walnut streets, Philadelphia. 



THE WHIP. The leader, with its flies attached, is generally 

 termed the Whip, the neatness and proper arrangement of 

 which is of much importance. The fly at the end is called 

 the Stretcher, Drag-Fly, or Tail-Fly. Those above are the 

 Drop Flies. Sometimes they are termed " Bobbers" or 

 " Droppers." 



The stretcher, as a general rule, should be larger than the 

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