FLIES AND FLY-DRESSING 201 



allow of our ever becoming experts in this 

 craft, and we shall, perhaps, be wise in 

 leaving some of the more difficult and 

 intricate specimens to the professional ; 

 yet even these can often be improved by 

 adjustment and elimination suggested 

 from careful study of the living insect. 



There are many flies which the amateur 

 can tie fairly easily, and these will, with a 

 little practice, prove themselves more 

 effective, if not as neat and pretty as the 

 professional patterns. The Alder is a 

 case in point. The standard pattern is 

 tied with upright wings, making a more 

 or less noticeable angle with the body, 

 whereas the living Alder folds its wings, 

 like a bird, on taking the water, and floats 

 on the surface with wings parallel to and 

 sheathing its form. Memory here recalls 

 a summer evening at Guemene, where 

 below the bridge we discovered a big 

 trout sucking in Alders greedily. My 

 friend started putting the orthodox 

 pattern over him, throwing a beautiful 

 line, but all to no purpose. Each time 

 that " cocked " fly passed over the fish, he 

 rolled up, had a look at it, and then sank 



