118 ARTIFICIAL FLIES, 
and tinges of the flimsy fabrics of the natural flies. 
The air changes the hues of some of the new-hatched 
aquatics. The favorite spring fly of a successful craftsman 
was a small one dressed with orange silk and cock-pheasant’s 
small purple hackle only. He knew nothing of the natural 
fly, which probably was the needle brown, then hatching in 
great numbers, but usually dressed with water-rail, swift, 
etc. It is very likely the purple hackle, when in or on the 
water, throws off the steely blue tinge of the wings of the 
newly-hatched needle brown. It is not every fly, from the 
most skilful hands, that pleases the bright eyes of the fish. 
If a craftsman makes three or four all of the same sort 
and materials, some will be preferred to others. Passing 
from Mickley to Black Robin with a brother or two of the 
angle, we bespoke a craftsman silently plying his art. He 
had only just begun. Said he had rose some good grayling, 
but they ‘wadn’t tak hod.” I saw him make three or four 
casts with his flies, which he watched as if they were alive, 
but with the same results. The fish rose, but turned tail 
without touching them. He turned aside to avail himself 
of the chance a change might give, saying he would dress 
them another or two of the same sort, “they'll mebbe like 
‘em better.” Many a time that day I saw him with bent 
and quivering rod hurrying down the rough margin of the 
streams of Hackfall. Towards evening we repaired to 
Richard Heath’s. Soon after Walbran came in, his ample 
basket was full of fine trout, grayling, and smelt, but princi- 
pally large grayling, which were all soon caught a second 
time with the silver hook. The best like imitations can 
scarcely be pronounced good until tested. by the fish. 
Hackled flies are generally better taken than those that 
are winged ; but dress both, and give the fish which they 
prefer. 
I have seen a craftsman sit on a stone, make short work 
and sound work of the checkwing. He took the partridge 
