198 THE MOOR -BURN. 



neighbourhood, (two of them running into the same sea- 

 loch,) each of which had its favourite fly. I often put on 

 the chosen three, and fished them all in turn ; but invari- 

 ably, when the water was in its best state, the fish in 

 each were most constant to their own fly. I merely 

 mention the fact without attempting to account for it, 

 and will name the flies to show that the difference was 

 considerable : one was a yellow and green, or red and 

 green body, red hackle, and either teal or light-speckled 

 mallard-wing ; another, a blue body, red hackle, and 

 turkey-wing ; and the third (for the burn which ran 

 into a different loch) a green body, thread of gold tinsel, 

 red hackle, and dark mottled mallard wing. The second- 

 mentioned of these flies, with the addition of an orange 

 tuft, is the best that can be used for salmon on the Tweed, 

 if the water is in its ordinary state ; and by lessening the 

 hook as the river decreases, you may continue to kill fish 

 with it when the water is so small that they will not look 

 at any other.* 



As to the most killing flies for particular burns, it is 

 impossible that any rule can be given ; this is a point 

 which one's own observation, or the information of adepts 

 in the neighbourhood, alone can decide. But supposing 



* The best turkey feathers for the wings of salmon and sea-trout flies 

 are those with the smallest spots, very difficult to procure ; and nothing 

 can stand a comparison with the forked tail of the kite, when a red-brown 

 wing is required for salmon. 



Flies for salmon ought to be fastened to the gut in a different manner 

 from any others viz., with a small loop of double or triple gut, through 

 which the length of gut is passed and tied with a double knot. You may 



