SPINNING AND BATI-FISIHING, 423 
*CREEPER’ AND STONE-FLY FISHING AND 
WASP-GRUBS. 
Creeper or stone-fly fishing is a very focal sport, and, indeed, 
so far as I am aware, is practised nowhere but on the Border 
and Lowland streams of Scotland. ; 
Having said all I know on the subject of this fishing—and 
it is not much—in the ‘Modern Practical Angler’?! I quote 
the following from its pages : 
The creeper is the larva of the stone-fly (Sco¢tice, May-fly), in 
which condition it passes most of the winter and spring months, 
living under stones in shallow water, from whence it may generally 
be readily obtained in quantities sufficient for angling purposes. 
It will live for days in ary perforated can or bait-box, even if kept 
wn the pocket, and for a longer time in a little water. 
The rod, line, and hooks recommended for trout worm-fishing, 
and described under that heading, omitting the shot or sinkers, and 
setting the hooks a little closer together, will probably be found, 
on the whole, the best tackle for creepcr-fishing. The mode of 
baiting and using the creeper is as follows: Put the upper hook 
through the shoulder, and the lower hook through the tail of the 
creeper, so that it may hang straight on the line: when baited, 
use it precisely in the same manner as the worm, always selecting 
rapid rather than still parts of the stream, and, of course, fishing 
up. The bright weather and low clear water, which are best for 
worm-fishing, will also be found most favourable for the creeper. 
The stone-fly usually remains in its larval or ‘creeper’ condition 
until the middle of May, and from early in April until this time 
heavy baskets may often be made of it. When in season, the 
creeper is commonly from an inch to an inch and a quarter long. 
About the middle of May the creeper changes from the larval 
into the fly state, casting its tortoiseshell like covering, and un- 
sheathing its wings, of which, however, it makes but little use. Mr. 
Stewart, whose excellent chapter on the subject should be studied 
by all Border anglers, considers that the fly is even more deadly 
than the creeper. He advocates the use of two flies as the bait... 
1 Fifth edition: George Routledge & Sons, 
