DRY-FLY AT BLAGDON 163 



" The thing that has most impressed me with regard 

 to dry-fly fishing at Blagdon (and I presume this 

 would to some extent apply to other large lakes also) 

 is that the angler is confronted with a need for learn- 

 ing a quite new fisherman's entomology. A certain 

 number of duns there probably are on the lake, but I 

 do not remember to have seen more than one or two. 

 The mayfly has so far been practically non-existent, 

 but I have been told that it is gradually increasing in 

 numbers, and it may be that in future years it will be 

 a serious factor in the fishing there. I think it would 

 be a welcome addition to the menu of the trout, and 

 it would certainly give scope for some very interesting 

 and attractive sport." 



" Of other flies usually valued by river fishermen 

 I cannot say that I have seen much sign at Blagdon, 

 but this is not to say that they may not be present in 

 considerable numbers on favourable days or at the 

 proper seasons. Doubtless there are plenty of sedges 

 of the commoner kinds, there must be periodical falls 

 of brown ants ; and black gnats, smuts and so on must 

 be forthcoming on a sheet of water formed by dam- 

 ming up a river like the Yeo as well as other streams. 

 Probably too, the daddy-longlegs which plays an im- 

 portant part on some Irish loughs is a thing to be 

 reckoned with at Blagdon also. I have noticed a 

 good many on the water at different times, and once 

 or twice I have seen specimens taken by fish. It may 

 well be that the trout look on the daddy-longlegs as an 

 important item on their bill of fare." 



