CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. 25 



I may fairly say that Gnats have often succeeded 

 in taking shy highly educated fish when other lures 

 failed ; and they have turned up trumps when for a 

 time at least, the success or failure of an expedition 

 was in the balance. 



They must be dressed on the small side and not 

 too bushy, and we prefer a fairly heavy thorax for 

 two reasons : first, because it is true to nature, and 

 secondly, because the artificial so made, floats better 

 as the herl both holds oil and increases the buoyancy 

 of the fly by surface tension, exposing as it does 

 innumerable fine fibres of feather. Some fly fishers 

 may be surprised that the first chapter should be 

 devoted to the Gnats ; but the reason for this is, 

 that they are ubiquitous, in the high mountain becks 

 or tarns, on the water meadows, by the reservoir, or 

 lake, or wherever trout, or other fish are to be caught, 

 whereas many of the other flies are locally abundant 

 only. From the early Spring to the late Autumn Gnats 

 may be found, and a careful selection of artificial Gnats 

 of representative colours will almost certainly provide 

 a fly which will give sport, be the conditions ever so 

 fine, on the one hand, or boisterous and rough 

 on the other. 



The bodies of artificial Gnats should be smooth 

 and banded, with a lighter or darker tinge in contrast 

 to the general colour. 



The wings of most Gnats are quite insignificant, 

 and in dressing an imitation it is usual to make it as 

 a hackle fly only, but if desired, wings may be added, 



