Jackson

[Traditionalist]

This brilliant work, which was completed after the author´s death, was financed by subscription, and the list of subscribers is like a who´s who of Yorkshire anglers of the time. Most unusual as well that Jackson should concentrate on grayling with such obvious fervour. They were not a popular fish at that time. The plates are quite remarkable. I am in the process of enhancing these old plates and will post them as I get them finished. The book is now very rare, as not many were published anyway, and most will now be safely stored away in libraries and private collections. This is a seminal work for Yorkshire fly-anglers, ( and indeed others!) but seldom receives the recognition it actually deserves. MC

Scroll down for the fly plates.

[Traditionalist]

FLIES FOR MARCH.

NO. 1. DARK BLOA.

Wings. Dark feather, from the inside of Waterhen's wing.
Body. Dark red brown silk.
Legs. Black Cock's hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

NO. 2. OLIVE BLOA.

Wings. Feather of Starling's quill, dyed in onion peel.
Body. Light olive silk.
Legs. Olive-stained hackle.
Tail. Two small hairs from a Rabbit's whisker.

Vary this Fly by using a feather undyed, or a Snipe's quill feather.

NO. 3. RED CLOCK.
Wings and Legs. Red hackle, or Cock Pheasant's neck feather, hackled on.
Body. Brown herl f Peacock ; bright red silk.

NO. 4. LITTLE BROWN.
Wings. Feather from the inside of a Woodcock's, or Hen Pheasant's wing.
Body. Red copper-coloured silk.
Legs. Brown hackle.

This fly comes early, and at first is best made from the Woodcock ; but soon getting lighter, the Hen Pheasant should then be used.

NO. 5. ALDER FLY.

Wings.- Dun feather of a Landrail's or Throstle's quill.
Body. Blue and brown fur of a Squirrel, ribbed with lead coloured silk.
Legs. Dark grizzled hackle.

NO. 6. BLUE MIDGE.
Wings. Feather of Waterhen's neck, or Landrail's back.
Body. Lead coloured silk.
Legs. Grizzled hackle.

These two flies are both bred in Autumn ; and as well as No. 4 may be seen on mild winter days. No. 6 best taken on moist days.

NO. 7. RED-TAILED SPINNER.
Wings. Feather from a Landrail's quill.
Body. Red silk, gold twist.
Legs. Red hackle.
Tail. Three strands of the same.

NO. 8. GREAT BROWN.
Wings. Feather from one of the inner or shorter quills of a Hen Pheasant.
Body. Copper-coloured silk, ribbed with olive.
Legs. Olive-stained hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same feather as wings.

The Great Brown is probably of greater notoriety than any fly on the river, and is imitated various ways, according to the taste of the angler, the state of the weather, the climate, and the river ; it is by some considered the greatest killer ; for my part I consider the olive or the yellow legged Bloa, which are always out at the same time quite equal to it. From a number of methods I have tried in making and fishing this famous fly, in addition to the foregoing, I recommend the following.

FOR THE EARLY PART OF THE SEASON.

Wings. Ruddy grey feather from the tail of a Partridge.
Body. Red silk, ribbed with olive.
Legs. Grey feather from a Partridge's back.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

In heavy, cold weather, use for Wings. Outside of Woodcock's wing feather.
Body. Olive silk, ribbed with gold tinsel.
Legs. Red hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

LATE ON IN APRIL.

Wings. Light Pheasant's quill feather, stained in yellow dye.

Body. Fur of Hare's face, ribbed with yellow silk.
Legs. Greenish yellow hackle.
Tail. Two strands of wing feather.

Some of our local Anglers use for wings inside of Woodcock's wing, hackled on a body of orange silk. This, in my opinion, would be taken for the little Brown.

I have had good sport with a ruddy grey feather from a Partridge's back, hackled on a body of copper coloured silk.

NO. 9. COW DUNG FLY.
Wings. Landrail's quill feather,
Body. Gosling's down, or buff Berlin wool, or buff herl of Ostrich, yellow silk.
Legs. Yellow hackle.

Best on windy days.

NO. 10. BROWN CLOCK.
Wings. Glossy feather of a Starling's neck, wrapped on a body of Peacock's herl and brown silk. Well taken in bright frosty weather.

NO. 11. YELLOW-LEGGED BLOA.
Wings. Feather from the inside of Dotteril, or Teal Duck, or the lightest part of Starling's quill.
Body. Straw-coloured silk, waxed with cobbler's wax.
Legs. Greenish yellow hackle.
Tail. Two strands of same.

NO. 12. WATER SPANIEL.

Made by wrapping a Pewet's topping, or Tom Tit's (Wren's) tail feather, on a body of orange and lead-coloured silk, snipping part of the fibre off again.


FLIES FOR APRIL.

NO. 13, GREY GNAT.
Wings.- Grey feather from a Partridge's back.
Body. Orange coloured silk.
Legs. Grizzled hackle.


NO. 14. PIGEON BLUE BLOA.
Wings. Feather of a Blue Pigeon's, or Waterhen's neck.
Body. Brimstone flame coloured silk.
Legs. Yellowish dun hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

This fly has a golden coloured head, best made with a strand from the tail of a Cock Pheasant. When you use the Waterhen's feathers, take the tips of two, and do not divide the wings.

NO. 15. YELLOW MIDGE.
Wings. Lightest part of a Throstle's quill feather.
Body. Pale yellow silk ribbed with orange.
Legs. Yellow hackle, or head the fly with down from the root end of a feather.

NO. 16. GREAT SPINNER.
Wings. Dark part of a Starling's quill feather.
Body. Brown silk, ribbed with gold tinsel.
Legs. Red hackle.
Tail. Three strands of the same.

N.B. The Jay's quill is more transparent.

NO. 17. BLACK MIDGE.
Wings. Starling's quill feather.
Body. Black silk, or black Ostrich herl.
Legs. Black hackle.

Make three or four, vary the size and colour a little, and fish them all together ; as when this fly is on, fish rarely rise at any other.

NO. 18. SPIDER LEGS.
Wings. Rusty coloured feather from a Fieldfare's back.
Body. Lead coloured silk.
Legs. Dark grizzled hackle.

NO. 19. SAND FLY.
Wings. Euddy mottled feather, inside of Hen Pheasant's wing,
Body. Reddish fur of a Hare's neck, ribbed with
light brown silk.
Legs. Ginger coloured hackle.

NO, 20. GREEN TAIL.
Wings. Inside of a Hen Pheasant's wing.
Body. Lead coloured silk, with a knot of green Peacock's herl for tail.
Legs. Ginger hackle.

These two flies should be dressed very full in the wing, and are taken in warm weather as early as six o'clock in the morning.

NO. 21. DOWN LOOKER
Wings. Feather from the inside of a Woodcock's wing.
Body. Orange and lead-coloured silk neatly ribbed.
Legs. Hackle of Woodcock, or Grouse hen's neck.

An excellent killer.

NO. 22. STONE MIDGE.
Wings. Feather from a Pewit's breast.
Body. Herl from a Heron's quill, wrapped on sky-blue silk.
Legs. Blue dun hackle.

FLIES FOR MAY.

NO. 23. LITTLE WHITE SPINNER.
Wings. Light Blue feather from the inside of a Pigeon's wing.
Body. Orange silk for the extremities, white for the middle.
Legs. Pale blue dun hackle.
Tail. Three long strands of the same.
It is well made by wrapping a pale dun hackle on the above body.

NO. 24. GREY MIDGE.
Wings. Feather from a Woodcock's breast, wrapped on a body of pale yellow silk.


NO. 25. YELLOW SALLY.
Wings. Pale yellow dyed feather.
Body. Yellow silk, ribbed with fawn colour.
Legs. Yellow hackle.

NO. 26. MAY BROWN.
Wings. Ruddy grey feather from the back of a Partridge.
Body. Olive coloured silk, ribbed with light brown.
Legs. Olive-stained hackle.
Tail. Three strands of the same.

A SPINNER of this class is made on the same body ; Wings, Starling's quill feather ; Legs, purple hackle. This Spinner should be made rather less than the May Brown.

NO. 27. PALE BLUE BLOA.
Wings. Feather of a Sea-Swallow.( A blue feather from the outside of a Sea-Swallow's wing. )
Body. Pale yellow silk, ribbed with light sky blue.
Legs. Pale yellow hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

A good evening fly.

NO. 28. YELLOW FLY.
Wings. Yellow dyed feather.
Body. Yellow silk.
Legs. Yellow hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.
Green herl of Peacock for head.

NO. 29. LITTLE STONE BLOA.
Wings. Feather from the inside of a Swift's wing.
Body. Brown silk.
Legs Brown hackle.

NO. 30. BARM FLY.
Wings. Feather from the outside of a Brown Owl's wing.
Body. Orange and ginger coloured silk.
Legs. Ginger hackle.

Another fly, same size, called Oil fly, is on at the same time.

Wings Same as last.
Body and shoulders. Black Ostrich herl, and dark red silk for tail.
Legs. Black hackle.

NO. 31. GREAT ALDER FLY.
Wings. Landrail's, or Snipe's quill feather.
Body. Dark mulberry coloured silk towards the head, and bright red at the tail.
Legs. Brown hackle.

NO. 32. MAY-FLY.*
Wings. Feather from the inside of a grey Goose's wing.
Body. Two strands of yellow, and one of drab Ostrich herl, neatly ribbed ; tie with brown silk.
Legs. Brown hackle.
Horns and Tail. Rabbit's whiskers.

NO. 33. GREEN DRAKE
Wings. A mottled feather of a Mallard dyed olive.
Body. The middle of pale yellow silk ; the head and tail brown.
Legs. Olive or brown hackle.
Tail. Three strands from a Cock Pheasant's tail feather.

NO. 34. GREY DRAKE
Wings. Mottled feather of Mallard, dyed feint purple.
Body. The middle of white silk ; the head and tail brown.
Legs. Purple hackle.
Tail. Three hairs from a Rabbit's whisker, or chesnut hairs.

* The May-fly is generally fished natural, being large enough to swim a good sized hook, or two smaller ones tied double. The one represented is the female ; the male, or Jack, as he is called, being much smaller, his wings shorter than his body, and his colour much darker. Fishes seem to prefer the female ; and from her great length of wing, enabling her to swim better, she is a much more tempting bait. They are to be found beneath the stones close to the river's edge, from about the 20th of May, or later according to the season ; and continue in season about ten days. An imitation of so large a fly can scarcely be expected to kill except in a wind, or late in the evening ; nevertheless I can safely recommend the above imitation to the notice of the scientific angler.

FLIES FOR JUNE.

NO. 35. SOLDIER.
Wings. Outside Red Hackle ; inside Jay's quill.
Body. Light red, ribbed with brown silk.

After parting the inside wings, take a rather larger red hackle than is commonly used for legs, and wrap it twice outside the wings ; so forming the hard wings and legs of the fly.

About ten days later, comes a dark coloured fly of the same class, called Sailor, made with olive hackle.


NO. 36. HAWTHORN FLY.

Same as No. 17, but larger.

NO. 37. LIGHT SILVER HORNS.
Wings. Throstle's, or Landrail's quill feather, with four strands of grey Mallard to make the white spots.
Body. Light brown and lead-coloured silk.
Legs. Sooty dun hackle.

NO. 38. BLACK SILVER HORNS.
Wings. Outside of Waterhen's wing, with two strands of Mallard to make the white.
Body. Black Ostrich herl ; olive silk.
Legs. Black hackle.
Horns of both Grey Mallard.


NO. 39. LITTLE DARK BLOA.
Wings. Inside of Waterhen's wing.
Body. Lead-coloured silk,
Legs. Yellowish dun hackle.
Tail. Two small hairs from a Babbit's whisker.

We have PALE BLUE BLOA same size, at the same time.
Wings.- Light part of a Starling's quill feather.
Body. Pale yellow and fawn-coloured silk.
Legs and Tail. Pale yellow dun hackle.

NO. 40. JUNE DUN.
Wings. A feather from a Dotterills back, or the outside of a Cock Sparrow's wing, hackled on a body of blue Rabbit's fur, and drab silk;
Legs with honey dun hackle.

NO. 41. TWITCH BELL.
Wings. Inside lightest part of a Starling's quill feather ; outside and legs, brown hackle.
Body. Brown Peacock's herl, made in the same
style as the Soldier, No. 35, but much less.


PLIES FOR JULY.

NO. 42. JUMPERS.
These are the small flies that settle upon you while hay-making : they occasionally take the water, and are then greedily taken by fishes.

One is imitated by wrapping a Tom Tit's tail feather on a body of yellow silk. The other, by a Golden Plover's hackle on a body of yellow silk.

NO. 43. LITTLE OLIVE BLOA.
Wings. Feather of Starling's quill ; dyed in onion dye.
Body. Lead coloured silk, ribbed with yellow,
Legs. Dun hackle, stained same as wings.
Tail. Two small Rabbit's whiskers.

This fly turns to a red Spinner, made with red wings, tail, and legs. Body, brown silk ribbed with yellow ; taken in the evening.

NO. 44. BLACK ANT.
Wings. Feather of a Bluecap's tail.
Body. Black Ostrich herl, dressed small in the middle.
Legs. Brown hackle.

NO. 45. RED ANT.
Wings. Sparrow or Lark's quill.
Body. Herl of Cock Pheasant's tail.
Legs. Red hackle.

NO. 46. LITTLE BLUE BLOA.
Wings. Bulfinch's tail feather.
Body. Dark blue silk.
Legs. Dark blue, or black hackle.
Tail. Two strands of blue hackle.

FLIES FOR AUGUST.

NO. 47. AUGUST BKOWN.

Wings. Feather from a young Partridge's back, bright Hen Pheasant's quill, or grey Goose's breast.
Body. Light brown silk, or Hare's face, ribbed with pale yellow silk.
Legs. Grizzled hackle.
Tail. Three strands of the same.

This fly turns to a fine red Spinner, less but brighter than No. 7, well taken in the evening. The August Brown is equally as good in its season as the March Brown, which it very much resembles, though lighter coloured and smaller.

NO. 48. CINNAMON FLY.
Wings. Feather of a yellow Hen Landrail or Owl, that is near the colour of cinnamon.
Body. Orange and straw coloured silk.
Legs. Ginger hackle.

This fly continues nearly to the end of the season, and is always best taken in a shower.

NO. 49. LIGHT BLOA.
Wings. Inside of Snipe's wing feather.
Body. Light drab silk.
Legs and Tail. Grizzled hackle.

The Spinner is too transparent to imitate.

NO. 50. DARK BLOA.
Wings. Feather from the inside of a Swift's or Waterhen's wing.
Body. Reddish brown silk.
Legs and Tail. Brown hackle.

NO. 51. ORANGE STINGER.
Wings. Feather from a Starling's quill.
Body. The head of brown, the tail of orange silk, dressed small in the middle.
Legs. Furnace hackle.

This, though apparently a scarce insect, is greedily taken by both Trout and Grayling, from the middle of August to the end of September.

NO. 52. GREY GRANNOM.
Wings. Dark gray feather from a night Hawk, or Brown Owl.
Body. Red Squirrel's fur, ribbed with fawn coloured silk.
Legs. Ginger hackle.

This fly is of the same class as No. 48 and 20 ; having dark green eggs attached to it about the 12th of August ; it continues long in season, but grows darker coloured as the cold weather advances.

NO. 53. NANKEEN SPINNER.
Wings. Light Starling's quill feather.
Body. Nankeen, or Fawn coloured silk.
Legs. Honey dun hackle.
Tail. Three long strands of the same.

A beautiful red Spinner of the same size is in season at the same time. They are two excellent flies, on fine evenings, about the middle of August.

NO. 54. SHINING BLACK SILVER HORNS.
Wings. Dark shining feather of Cock Pheasant's neck, or*outside of Rook's wing.
Body. Lead-coloured silk, ribbed with yellow.
Legs. Dark grizzled hackle.
Horns. Two strands of the same.

This fly continues till the middle of October, is best taken on moist cloudy days. It is rather less than No. 38.

FLIES FOR SEPTEMBER.

NO. 55. LIGHT OLIVE BLOA.
Wings. Inside of Dotteril's wing; or smaller quill of Sea Gull.
Body Pale french white silk.
Legs and Tail. Pale blue hackle.

About the same time there is another light bloa ; wing of the same feather as No. 55 ; body, yellow silk ; legs, r yellow hackle ; tail, two strands of same.

NO. 56. DARK OLIVE BLOA.
Wings. Inside of Waterhen's wing.
Body Lead-coloured silk.
Legs. Dark olive or black hackle.
Tail. Three small rabbit's whiskers.

NO. 57. SMALL WILLOW FLY.
This fly is best made by wrapping a feather from the inside of a Snipe's wing, or a small grizzled hackle, on a body of light brown silk, or Mole's fur and yellow silk.

Best on warm days.

NO. 58. LARGE WILLOW FLY.
Wings. Inside of Woodcock's wing feather.
Body. Moles fur spun on yellow silk.
Legs. Brown hackle.

This fly is well made by hackling a grizzled hackle of a copperish hue on the above body.

FLIES FOR OCTOBER.

NO. 59. BLUE BOTTLE.
Wings. Jay's quill feather.
Body. Green herl of Peacock, or purple silk.
Legs. Pewit's topping, ribbed neatly down the body; the fibres then snipped off, except under the wings.

The Peacock's herl gives it a green, the silk a blue tint ; this, as well as the House Fly, are out during most of the season, but are seldom taken, till weakened by cold weather they fall in great quantities on the river.

NO. 60. HOUSE FLY.
Wings. Lark's quill feather.
Body. Light brown silk, ribbed with drab Ostrich herl.
Legs. Grizzled hackle.

NO. 61. SMALL OLIVE BLOA.
Wings. Starling's quill feather stained in onion dye.
Body. Yellow silk ; cobbler's wax.
Legs. Olive-stained hackle.
Tail. Two strands of the same.

This fly is probably the same as No. 2, but is much smaller. It seems to live all Winter, and appears early in Spring, as Nos. 1 and 2.

NO. 62. DARK GREY MIDGE.
Wings. Dark grey feather of Partridge.
Body. Brown, or olive silk.
Legs. Grey Partridge, or grizzled hackle.

This fly, with Nos. 61, 5, and 6, are the last flies out. In the year 1851, on the 16th and 17th of December, with these four flies, I killed eleven large Graylings, besides smaller ones and Smelts : the river at the time being very low and clear, the weather mild, inclined to frost.


PALMER HACKLES
Are probably taken for Caterpillars or Hairy Worms, and are good general baits for Trout and Grayling, being taken by the largest fish in all seasons.

NO. 63. RED PALMER.
Body. Greenish herl of Peacock, ribbed with gold tinsel ; wrap with red silk. Red hackle over all.

Good, in low, clear water.

NO. 64. BLACK PALMER.

Body. Dark Peacock's, or Ostrich's herl, ribbed with gold tinsel, green silk. Black, brown, or dark red Cock's hackle over all.

This is an excellent bait when the water is clearing off after a flood ; especially in warm weather.

It may be made on a large hook, but two smaller ones as in the pattern are preferable.

A good Palmer for Spring is made body, green herl of Peacock, gold tinsel, green silk, with a greenish stained or grizzled Cock's hackle over all. It may be made about the size of No. 63.

A good general fly is a mottled hackle, from a Hen Grouse's neck, wrapped on a body of brown Peacock's herl and yellow silk. N.B. Our local Anglers use a Golden Plover's hackle, and Tom Tit's tail for the same purpose.

[Traditionalist]

OF THE MATERIALS FOR FLY-MAKING.

THE materials for Fly-making besides hooks, and gut or hair, are silk, feathers, fur, and herl.

The feathers should be of fine fibre, and glossy or transparent.

Fine Bloas may be found in the Waterhen, Swift, Blackbird, Jay, Snipe, Landrail, Starling, Fieldfare, Thrush, Bluecap, Skylark, Teal Duck, Sea Swallow, and Dotteril. Browns in the varied plumage of the Pheasant, Partridge, Pewet,( The Lapwing) . Grouse, Golden Plover, Sand Piper, Mallard, Owl, Sparrow, and Tom Tit.

* Bloa, or blea, a North-country word, signifying the colour of the clouds. Blea seems generally significant of cold,

Some useful feathers may be found among the Poultry of a farm yard ; particularly the hackles, or neck feathers ; but the feathers of Poultry and Pigeons, though good in colour, are generally too strong in their fibre for small fly-making. The Grey Goose furnishes a good large bloa, both from the neck and under the wing.

Dubbing or fur, I do not much recommend, and rarely use, as the Ephemera, or Water-flies have mostly hard, scaly bodies, which are best represented by silk, which should be procured of all colours, and care taken to select it of the finest description, and to use it well waxed.

Some flies, however, are undoubtedly better made with fur bodies ; the principal furs necessary are Hares face, ear, and neck ; Squirrel, Martin, Mole, and Water Rat, and in Rabbit´s whiskers, Mohair of different colours, and the long hairs of a Sable or fitchett's tail.

Ostrich herl is an excellent material for the bodies of several flies, and may be procured or dyed of almost any colour. The tail of the Peacock also furnishes a
beautiful herl, suitable for the body of many flies and palmers.

Hackles of all sizes, from half an inch to two inches long, and of all colours, (black, red, red and black, or furnace duns of various kinds,) should be procured for making legs to winged flies. Sooty or grizzled hackles may be found natural, but some colours, as yellow, green, blue, brown, purple, must be dyed; of which more anon.

The hackles for legs should be very small, but it is advisable to procure a few very large of each colour, as the strands or fibre make excellent tails.

Gold and silver twist, or tinsel, is indispensable for making the brilliant bodies of some flies and palmers.

The most tenacious wax is that made by the cobbler ; but when new, and too thickly laid on, it has the effect of rendering nearly all silk of one colour.

To make colourless wax, take three parts of white resin, and one of mutton suet, or tallow previously clarified by melting ; dissolve them in a pipkin over a slow fire, let them simmer ten minutes, stirring in a few drops of essence of lemon or bergamot : pour the whole into a basin of clear cold water, work the wax through the fingers, rolling up and drawing out till it acquires sufficient toughness and consistency : it cannot be worked too much, or kept too long. When you have waxed your silk, wrap a piece of smooth paper round it and rub it well, by which means it will acquire a good gloss, and will not so easily imbibe water.

I prefer hair to gut for Fly-fishing, generally ; hair being a hollow tube, swims better, falls straighter and lighter on the water, and from its stiffness the drop flies are not so liable to wrap round the foot length, or casting line.

Your Rod for Fly-fishing should not be less than eleven, or more than thirteen feet, in length ; light, and supple : though good rods are made in the country, I think the best are the London made double ferruled.

I prefer a Rod approaching the maximum length, both on account of the advantage it gives in casting, and besides in playing a fish, every yard of line you can wield adds to the labour of your victim.

Hair lines, if fine, are to be preferred for fly-fishing; silk, or silk and hair soon rot, and when thick, imbibe too much water, and by falling clumsily on the river, scare the fish.

Reels or winches are best fitted by the rod- maker. I do not prefer greatly those called multipliers, thinking them more liable to get out of order than the plain ones.

IMPLEMENTS FOR FLY-MAKING.

THE implements useful in Fly-making are a good double-bladed knife, in which are contained a pair of tweezers, (useful for taking up hooks or other small articles and a phleme, such as is used in bleeding horses, (useful for cutting off superfluous hair, silk, or feather.)

A pair of small pointed scissors. A dubbing-needle made by putting the thick end of a large needle into a stick.Two or three pairs of small nippers. A stout knitting-needle will make two pairs, they are of the greatest service for holding small feathers, hackles, &c. Some fly-makers use a small vice, I prefer the fingers.

ON DYEING FEATHERS FOR FLY-MAKING.

FOR dyeing feathers ; always be careful to use clear, soft water : to strike the colour, add to each pint of water a piece of alum about the size of a walnut.

To dye white feathers yellow ; boil them in onion peel or saffron. Bloa feathers, as the quill of a starling, by being boiled as above, will turn a beautiful olive colour.

To dye white feathers blue ; boil them in indigo : by mixing the blue and yellow liquor together, and boiling feathers in the mixture, they will be dyed green.

Logwood dyes a kind of lilac or pink.

To dye white feathers purple ; boil them in logwood, or Brazil wood (without alum) till they are red, then add a little potash.

To dye feathers for the Green Drake ; boil them in fustic till they are yellow, then add a little copperas to subdue the colour to the proper shade.

To turn red hackles brown ; boil them in copperas.

Note. That copperas turns all colours you may be dyeing to a darker or duller shade,

To stain hair or gut a dun colour ; boil a handful of walnut-tree leaves and a little soot, in a quart of water for half an hour ; then steep the gut in the liquor till it acquires the colour.

To stain gut or hair blue ; warm some common writing ink, in which steep it for a few minutes, and immediately wash out in clear water.

By steeping hair or gut in the onion dye, it will turn a useful yellowish green, much like decayed weeds or leaves in Autumn.

Hair that is colourless, round, and transparent, is almost invaluable ; good hair may sometimes be found tinged black, or chesnut ; and when round and strong, should be prized accordingly.

With hair capable of lifting easily a pound weight, an expert angler will kill a fish much heavier, provided the river be roomy and free from incumbrances ; and according to my experience, the finer the tackle, the more rises you are likely to have : moreover the excitement experienced in killing a large fish with fine tackle is " double refined" in comparison to that of hauling him out as with a cart rope.

OF THE METHOD OF MAKING ARTIFICIAL FLIES.

THE simplest form of Fly-making is the plain hackled fly, which is performed as follows.

Get a Snipe's wing, in the inside of which you will find six or eight fine bright feathers, an inch and quarter long, tipt with white ; take one of the feathers, strip off part of the fibre towards the root, turn part of the remaining fibre the contrary way, (rejecting the white,) draw it through your lips, slightly wetting it at the
same time, ;  it will lie thus




and answer for wings and legs to the fly. Wax a quarter yard of fine yellow silk, it will arm your gut, and make the body of the fly.


Take a hook, Adlington's, of Kendal, No. 2, by the bend, between the fore -finger and thumb of your left hand, with the point towards your finger's end ; place the gut along the top of the shank, and with the silk wrap them neatly together, beginning half way down the shank, and wrap to the end ; take two turns back again, which will form the head of the fly.



Lay the feather along the hook, the point towards your left hand, and take three turns over it with the silk




Ckip off the point of the feather and seize the root of the feather with a pair of nippers, wrap it neatly round till the fibre is all taken up, bring the silk round the root of the feather, so wrap to the tail of the fly ; clip off all superfluities, and fasten off by a couple of draw knots.

With your dubbing- needle dress the fibre of the feather, and you have a plain hackled bloa, which will take fish in all waters, probabyl in all seasons where and when they are to be taken Among my acquaintances are several who have the reputation of good fly-fishers, whose flies are all made after the above simple method, (varying the colour of the material of course,) and I can make honourable mention of at least one, who never fishes without his favourite " Snipe and yellow Bloa," from the beginning to the end of the season.





To make a winged Fly as per figure.



Having laid by you the materials, consisting of Wings ; a piece of feather, stripped from a Snipe's quill ; Body ; yellow silk ; Legss ; black Cock's hackle ; take hook and gut as before, and with the waxed silk begin as before ; wrap neatly and tightly till within two or three turns of the shank end of the hook ; take the feather for wings, lay the feather's point the proper length between your finger and thumb along the hook, and take two or three turns over it for the head of the fly ; bend the gut between the second and third fingers of your left hand, and with the scissors clip off the root end of the feather.

Wrap the silk back again once under the wings, setting them upright ; with the point of the dubbing-needle divide equally the wings, crossing the silk between them. Lay the hackle for legs (which should be about an inch and quarter long) root end towards the bend of the hook, wrap your silk over it, and so form the body of the fly ; then with a pair of nippers seize the fibre end of the hackle, rib the body of the fly neatly with it till you get where the silk was left hanging down ; wrap the silk once or twice over the hackle, fasten by the usual draw knot, and dress off.

To make a Fly as per figure,



(which is the most perfect representation of the natural,) having laid by you the materials, viz. Wing ; piece of feather from a Snipe's or Starling's quill ; Body ; fur of a Hare's ear, and yellow silk ; Legs ; grizzled hackle ; Tail ; two fibres of the same ; take the hook, gut, and fibre for tail, with the silk wrap them together, and proceed as in the last till you have tied on the hackle for legs ; wrap the hackle once round the head of the fly close to the wings, and once under them. Take a turn over it with the silk. Spin the dubbing on the silk , wrap to the tail of the fly, dress off the superfluous dubbing, rib the body of the fly neatly back again with the silk, and fasten off in the usual way just beneath the wings. With the dubbing needle raise up and adjust the body, wings, and legs ; spread out the tail, and clip the fly into its proper form.

If the fly be large, it will perhaps suit your purpose to wrap with double silk to the setting on of the wings ; then leave one end of the silk hanging down ; work out the remainder of the fly with one end, and with the other rib the body of the fly.

The three patterns given are all intended to represent the same insect.

When you have made an artificial fly, by immersing it in a large glass of clear water, and looking at it in a good light, you will readily perceive whether it is like what you intended.

To make a Palmer fly.


Having laid by you the materials, viz. hook, gut, feather of Cock's neck, about one and half inch long, herl of Ostrich or Peacock, tie the hook and gut together, beginning half way down the shank ; wrap to the end, one turn back again, lay on the herl, then the tinsel, then the feather, (root end) taking a turn with the silk over each ; wrap down to where you began. With the aid of nippers, wrap down with the herl, rib over that with the tinsel, then with the hackle ; to finish off neatly, tie down the hackle, then take a turn or two with the herl and tinsel, and fasten off with a double draw knot.

[Traditionalist]

These are the plates from the first edition; 

http://www.archive.org/stream/practiflyfish00jackrich#page/n3/mode/2up

Very considerably enhanced.  They were not quite as well coloured as the plates from the fourth edition, although the colours were more accurate than the second and third editions, and the plates are of course older, and there are limits to the colour enhancements achievable. One can not reveal or enhance what is not there to start with.  The vast majority of these plates now extant are badly faded, foxed, or otherwise damaged.  I wanted some good plates for my copies of various books so I set about improving what I had or what I could find.  These plates can be printed on any colour printer, but I would suggest good quality photo printing paper. Of course you can of course simply view them on your computer.  Taken together with the text describing the materials used, you can dress accurate patterns.  Feel free to copy them.