Kirkbride

[Traditionalist]

John Kirkbiride The northern angler : or, Fly-fisher's companion (1837)

( Of major interest, not least because I found the earliest reference to the "Hare Lug and Plover" in this book. Also some other interesting flies and dubbing mixtures. MC)

DESCRIPTION OF FLIES.

" Wak'd by his warmer ray, the reptile young
Come wing'd abroad ; by the light air upborne,
Lighter, and full of soul.
To sunny waters some
By fatal instinct fly ; where on the pool
They, sportive, wheel ; or sailing down the stream,
Are snatched immediate by the quick-ey'd trout,
Or darting salmon."

THOMSON.



I shall now proceed to give a description of the different flies that are used in trout-fishing.

THE GREAT WHIRLING DUN. By some this insect is called the great dark blea fly, and it is the first I shall describe. If the weather be fine, it comes on early in February, and continues till March or April : it is a four-winged fly, and flutters on the surface of the water. The body may be made of a little brown squirrel's and water-rat's fur, mixed together, and a sooty-black hackle under the wings, which are best made of a portion of a feather from the water-hen's wing. This fly is here made with a yellow waxed silk body, and a sooty-black hackle over it, with wings from the water-hen; or, as a hackle-fly, a feather may be taken from the underside of the waterhen's or rail's wing for the hackle ; let the body be of orange waxed silk. It is taken from about ten in the morning, to three in the afternoon, and in fine mild weather is a good killer hook, 6 or 7.

THE BLUE DUN FLY. This is the first fly that appears after the dark whirling dun ; by some it is called the first light blea fly. It is a fine delicate-looking fly with a forked tail, the wings standing erect on the back. The forked tail may consist of two strands from a dun cock's hackle ; the body of the light blue fur from the rabbit, or grey squirrel, mixed with a very little yellow mohair, and a blue cock's or hen's hackle under the wings ; the wings of a feather from the underside of the widgeon's wing, or from a portion of a feather from the jack-snipe's wing, tied with gold-coloured silk. The body of this fly must be made very thin. When dressed as a hackle-fly, a fine feather from the underside of the wing of the jack-snipe, or moor-pout, answers very well for the hackle. The body must be the same as that of the fly described above. If the water be full and black, a turn or two of gold thread may be put under the hackle near the shoulders. The blue dun is an excellent killer hook, 7, or 8.

THE MARCH BROWN FLY. This is one of the most beautiful of all water-flies, and makes its appearance if the weather be fine, about the middle of March, and continues till May. In mild weather, during a gleam of sunshine, about mid-day, these flies appear in thousands, when the fish greedily devour them, while they fastidiously reject all others. The following is the best method of making this fly. Make the tail of two strands of the brown mallard's feather ; and take the dark and light fur of the hare's ear or face, and mix it with a little gold-coloured and light brown olive mohair for the body, which ought to be rather long, and nicely tapered, and ribbed with silk of a rich gold-colour : Make three turns with the small mottled feather from the back of the partridge, or with a feather from the neck of the horned owl, for legs ; take the wings from a quill-feather of the wing of the cock-pheasant, near the shoulder, which is of a beautiful dapper mottled colour, exactly resembling the wings of the natural fly. As the season advances make the body a shade lighter. The Cumberland anglers, in making this fly, use the motttled feather from the partridge tail, or a feather from the inside of the woodcock's wing, with a black listed ginger hackle run down over a yellow or orange waxed silk body hook, No. 7.

THE MARCH BROWN SPIDER This fly also kills well in many small brooks. Let the body be made of hare's ear, mixed with dusky olive mohair : it must be ribbed with goldcoloured silk, and a fine mottled hackle from the back of the partridge, near the shoulders, must be wrapt round the head hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE SMALLER BROWN FLY Make the body of the grey part of the hare's ear, and put on a grey hackle, below the wings, for legs ; let the wings consist of a portion of a feather from the inside of the woodcock's wing. This is a good killer in the month of April hook. No. 8.

THE ROYAL CHARLIE. The Royal Charlie, as it is here called, is a fly, (although not a natural one,) which our anglers are very partial to. It is used about the time the March brown appears, and during the whole of the spring months, (either for river or lake-fishing,) is a very good killer. As a river-fly, it answers best when the water
is rather brownish. The body is made of scarlet floss-silk with a little tag of the same for a tail ; a black hackle must be run up all the way to the shoulders; the wings are of a mottled feather from the partridge tail ; the fly must be tipt with gold at the head and tail. For a river-fly, hook No. 7 or 8 ; for a lake-fly, hook No. 5 or 6.

THE GROUSE HACKLE This is a good fly for spring-fishing when the water is rather, black or clearing after a flood. It is made as a hackle, with a small bright mottled feather from the back of a cock grouse, with a dusky yellow or olive body, of a little dyed yellow hare's ear, or with an orange-silk body, tipt with gold. When dressed with wings, a light orange waxed silk body, and a black listed ginger hackle, the tail, being tipt with gold, is found to answer very well hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE PHEASANT FLY. This fly kills trout and brandlings very well, in the spring, when the water is of a somewhat brown colour. Form the wings of a gold-coloured feather from the cock pheasant's breast the body of orange or gold-coloured raw silk, with a black or a red hackle run down over it, and tip it at the head and tail with gold hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE TEAL DRAKE FLY This fly is a very good one in the spring, when the water is clearing, for sea-trout, grey-trout, or salmon-fry. Let the body be of orange or gold-coloured raw silk, with either a black or a red hackle run down it ; or, the body may be made of orange waxed silk, and a black hackle run over it. Pick out a small mottled teal-drake feather for the wings. This fly may be tipt at the head and tail with gold hook, No. 6, 7, or 8.

THE BUNTING LARK FLY This fly, with a peacock body, on a dark day, kills very well on the Eden, the Esk, the Liddle, and the Irthing, in April and May. The body ought to be made rather full, of a copper-coloured peacock harle, tipt with gold, and a brown hackle under the wings ; the wings are taken from a feather from the wing of a bunting-lark. For killing par, or salmon-fry, make the body of green peacock harle, and a black hackle under the wings, and tip it with gold hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE SPECKLED DUN. This fly, in April and May, is an excellent killer. The body may be of pale yellow raw silk, with a fine black hackle run over it all the way; the wings must be of a feather from the inside of the woodcock's wing ; or, it may be made as a hackle-fly, with a portion of pale yellow mohair, mixed with a little fur from the hare's ear, and a short feather from underneath the woodcock's wing, near the butt hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE HARE'S EAR. This is an excellent spring fly; indeed, it will kill during the whole season. Make the body either of the dark part of the hare's ear ; or of the dark part of the hare's ear, mixed with a very little yellow mohair, and the wings of a portion of the quill-feather of the bunting-lark. The colours I have now mentioned are calculated for the commencement of the season. When the season is more advanced, let the body be of the yellowish-coloured fur from the hare's neck, and the wings from the lightest feather of a starling's wing. To make the hare's ear an evening fly for summer, take a portion of the yellowish quill-feather from the wing of the thrush for wings ; the body must be of the fur from the hare's neck, mixed with a little yellow mohair. This last may be made as a spider, or hackle-fly, with a feather taken from the inside of a thrush's wing ; and the two darker flies may be made as spiders, with a fine feather from the inside of the wing of the jack-snipe. To all the shades of colour which I have described, add a tip of gold when the water is brownish. Hook, for these flies, No. 8 or 9.

THE DOTTEREL. This is a most destructive fly in this part of the country, killing remarkably well during the whole season. The colour of the body must be varied, making it lighter as the season advances. The fine texture of the feather, and the richness of the golden tint on the edge, give it a lightness and delicacy that render it a good killer. As a hackle-fly, it excels all others ; but the angler ought to be his own fly-tier ; for when the fish are on the feed, they destroy the feather very quickly. Almost every feather of this bird is useful. The best body for this fly, at the commencement of the season, consists of the dark fur from the hare's ear, dyed yellow, with a tip of gold under the butt of the wings ; or, as the season advances, of the fur from below the hare's ear, near the neck, mixed with a little yellow mohair, and tipt with gold ; or, the body of this fly, if the water be of a somewhat brown colour, may be made with a little hare's ear, dyed yellow, which must be put on at the shoulders, near the wing or hackle : there ought to be a turn or two of gold thread in the centre of the body, and the smallest portion of water-rat's fur towards the tail ; the hackles must be of lighter or darker-coloured dotterel feathers, to suit the colours of the bodies hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE SPIDER, OR GRAVEL-FLY This fly appears about the middle of April, if the weather be warm, and continues about ten or twelve days. It is bred in the gravel, and may be seen in bunches, engendering. Being a very delicate fly, it cannot endure cold. Make the body, which must be very thin and light, of dark lead-coloured silk, and put on a hackle from the cock-starling's breast, under the wings ; the wings must be of the mottled feather from the outside of the woodcock's wing, of not too dark a brown ; or, it may be made as a spider, or hackle-fly, with a body of the fur from the water-rat's back, and a hackle from the outside of the woodcock's wing, near the butt, of not too dark a colour hook, No. 8.

THE STARLING-HACKLE FLY. This fly answers very well in April and May, when the water is clear. In the summer evenings, too, it is by no means a bad killer. Form the body of yellow waxed silk, with a fine cock-starling's hackle run half-way down it ; the wings must consist of a portion of a feather from a bunting-lark, or starling's wing hook, No. 9.

THE SAND-PIPER HACKLE. Some of our old sportsmen are very partial to this fly. They use it in the spring when the water is clearing off. Let the body be of orange-silk, ribbed with a fine peacock harle, and tipt with gold ; take a small freckled feather from the outside of the wing of the sand-piper for the hackle hook, No. 8.

THE COW-DUNG FLY Although this is not a water-fly, it generally proves a good killer. It is seldom used, however, in this part of the country, except on Ullswater, where it kills uncommonly well in April and May. The body must be thinly dubbed with dirty yellow and olive mohair, well mixed, and a ginger hackle must be put on for legs ; the wings must be of the landrail's wing feather. The spider or hackle-fly is made with a body the same as that already described, and a hackle from the underside of the landrail's wing. It ought to be tipt at the tail with gold wire hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE GOLDEN PLOVER FLY. This is one of our north country flies, and kills at times tolerably well on some of our rivers, in April and May. When made as a winged fly, the body must be of orange or yellow raw silk, with a black hackle run over it up to the shoulders; the wings must be of a feather from the back or shoulders of the golden plover. The tail may be tipt with gold. When made as a spider-fly, the body ought to consist of the fur from the hare's ear, dyed yellow, rather dark ; the hackle must be a small yellow-mottled feather from the back of the plover hook, No. 8 or 9. ( Earliest reference to Hare Lug and plover! MC).

THE GRANNAM FLY, OR GREENTAIL This fly makes its appearance, if the weather be warm, about the latter end of April. It is bred at the bottom of the river and ascends to the surface. The husks or shells left by the insects are sometimes so abundant that they actually resemble large quantities of chaff thrown upon the river. At first the trout take the greentail greedily, and become so glutted that they will neither take this nor any other fly, except in the evenings, when the swarm retire to the fields and trees to engender, from whence they return to the river to deposit their eggs, a bunch of which the females carry at their tails. To this small green bundle our anglers ascribe the circumstance of the fish being sickened by feeding at the surface of the water. The method of making this fly is as follows: The body must be of the dark fur from the hare's ear, with a sooty-black hackle under the wings, and two or three turns of green peacock-harle for the tail ; let the wings be of a feather from the partridge-wing. There are four quill-feathers near the butt of the partridge's wing, the outside of which exactly resembles the wing of the fly hook, No. 8.

THE WATER-HEN HACKLE. This is an excellent trout-fly, particularly when the river is clear. It will kill well during the whole season. The body must be black, and ribbed with silver thread ; a hackle from the inside of the wing of the water-hen must be put on round the head hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE SAND-FLY In themonths of May and June, this fly will kill well in almost any river in the north of England. Dubb the body with the dark fur from the hare's ear, mixed with a little light-orange mohair ; put on a ginger hackle for legs ; and let the wings consist of a portion of a feather from the landrail's wing. To make this fly in the hackled way, take a fine feather from the outside of the landrail's wing, near the butt, and make with it three or four turns round the head ; let the body be dressed rather thin, and be precisely of the colour of that described above hook, No. 8.

THE YELLOW DUN This delicate little fly makes its appearance on the northern rivers sometime in May. It continues till the latter end of June, and casts its skin, becoming much lighter and smaller. It has a forked tail, and the wings stand erect on its back, and are of a delicate transparent blue colour. It appears not only to cast its skin, but its wings, tail, and legs also. I was once much amused with the transformation of this insect. A fisherman happening to come into my shop from the water-side, one of these small flies was sticking to his clothes, and alighted on my dressing-table. I took it up to examine it, putting it on a sheet of white paper ; on my looking at it minutely it turned over upon its back, giving two or three convulsive struggles, when I thought it was dead. It remained on its back for a second or two, and left its old coat sticking to the paper, along with the wings, tail, and legs, and became the most beautiful insect I ever saw. The new fly was much smaller than the original one. The body of this fly, when it first appears, ought to be of very pale yellow mohair, or goat's hair, laid on flat, and thin, and a delicate pale dun cock's or hen's hackle for legs ; the forked-tail may consist of two strands from a blue cock's hackle ; let the wings be of the lightest part of the wing feather of the starling. After the transformation has taken place, make the body a shade lighter, and let the wings be from the dotterel's fine short quill-feather. To make it a spider or hackle, to represent the drowned fly, take a delicate feather from underneath the jack-snipe's wing for the hackle, and let the body be the same as that of the fly before described hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE WILLOW FLY. This fly comes on about the same time as the yellow dun. It is a very delicate-looking fly, and the trout are very fond of it, particularly in the evenings. The body is of a delicate transparent yellow colour, with a greenish or olive shade ; it must be ribbed with gold-coloured silk, and a grey hackle, dyed yellow, must be put under the wings for legs. The best feather that I have seen for the wings is one from the tail of the green linnet, which is of a greenish yellow tint, and exactly resembles the wings of the fly. When it is made as a spider, a feather from the breast of the yellow plover must be used hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE SMALL DARK DUN SPIDER. This is a hackle-fly, made of a feather from the outside of the wing of the large snipe, with a body of water-rat's fur. In May and June, when made very fine, it is an excellent killer in clear water hook, No. 9.

THE RED-WING FLY. In April, May, and June, this fly kills well on the Nith and other rivers in the south of Scotland. The body must consist of the fur from a black cat, with a black listed-red hackle for legs ; take a portion of the red feather of the partridge-tail for wings hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE BLACK MIDGE, OR GNAT This fly appears in May, and continues during the summer. It is a good killer, particularly in the evenings. It cannot be made too fine and small. Make the wings of a feather from a jack-daw's wing, and form the body of a little - fur from a black cat; or, to make it as a hackle-fly, take a feather from the breast of a jack-daw, of a bluish shade, for your hackle, and put on a few turns of black ostrich 'harle under the shoulders hook, No. 10.

THE STONE FLY. This fly appears about the latter end of April, and continues until the beginning of June. It is bred from an insect, found under large stones in the river, called the water cricket, or creeper, which, on a hot day, is a most destructive bait for trout. (I shall describe it when I treat of bait-fishing.) It is seldom used as an artificial fly ; for it is best to dab with it after it takes wing. It is called here the May-fly, and has a large flat body, with four wings. The body is of a dusky brown on the back, under the belly of a fine gold colour, with a yellow rib, and short forked tail. It is very difficult to imitate the wings ; they are best made from the shaded feather of the hen-pheasant's tail ; a black listed ginger hackle may be put on for legs. As a lake-fly, it answers very well hook, No. 5 or 6.

THE BRECHAN CLOCK The artificial brechan clock is seldom used, as the angler is generally more successful with the natural one. It may be found from about the begin-ning of June, till some time in July. It ought to be fished by bobbing behind a bush in the small brooks ; or, in the large rivers, by throwing it up the thin streams near the banks where the fish lie behind large stones. Put two of the insects on your hook, reversing their heads, putting one on the shank of the hook, with its head towards the line, and the other on the bend, with its head towards the point. In making the artificial brechan clock, I use peacock with black ostrich harle for the body, and a black hackle for legs, and the red feather of the partridge tail for wings ; or, it may be made of a fine brown feather from the cock-pheasant's breast, with a little tip of starling's wing-feather at the tail, to represent the under-wings. The red or upper feather must, of course, be tied down at the head and tail, to give it the appearance of a beetle. The body must be made full, as above-described, with a black hackle for legs hook, No. 6, or 7.

THE GREEN DRAKE This is an exceedingly delicate and beautiful fly, but is seldom fished with, except on the lakes, where it is an excellent killer. In some parts of the kingdom, particularly the southern counties, it is very common, and is called the May-fly ; but we seldom see it in the north before June. Dressed artificially, it has been known to kill sea-trout. As a rough-bodied fly, it certainly answers remarkably well. In a cold season, the body never attains that rich cream colour, or, as anglers say, becomes ripe. In such weather, it is more of an olive shade. It ought then to be made of light olive, mixed with a little straw-coloured mohair, tipt with a little golden brown at the tail, and ribbed with light brown silk ; the tail may consist of three hairs from the pole-cat's tail ; put on a grizzled-colour cock's hackle for legs. When in full perfection, the body is of a rich cream-colour, ribbed and tipt in the manner described before, with a fine mottled hackle from a hen, resembling the bittern hackle, but much finer ; the wings must be formed of a light-mottled feather from the wild mallard, dyed a faint yellow with fustic, alum, and a very little turmeric ; care must be taken not to make the shade too dark ; put a lap or two of brown peacock-harle round the head hook, No. 5, long in the shank.

THE GREY DRAKE This fly appears about the same time as the green drake, and, on the lakes, is a good killer, particularly in the evenings. The tail may consist of three hairs from a pole-cat's tail ; the body of white mohair, or goat's hair laid on flat, nicely tapered, and ribbed with a fine black-silk thread ; a grey hackle must be put on under the wings ; the wings are made of a portion of a feather from the side of the loch teal ; two turns of a copper-coloured peacock harle must be put round the head hook, No. 5, long in the shank.

THE LITTLE IRON-BLUE FLY. This fly comes on about the latter end of May, and continues through June to July. It will kill during the whole season, especially on dark cloudy days. I make the body of water rat's fur, mixed with a little purple mohair, and rib it with fine pale-yellow silk; two strands of a dark blue cock's hackle will represent the forked tail, and a slate or dark blue cock's hackle the legs; the wings may be formed of a portion of the quill-feather from the wing of a jack-snipe. In making it as a spider, or hackle, I use a feather from the inside of the wing of a jack-snipe, with a body such as before described hook, No. 9.

THE OAK, OR DOWN-HILL FLY. This fly is to be seen about the beginning of June, but is seldom used except in the natural state. I make the body of the dark fur of the hare's ear, mixed with a little grey cat's fur, and put on a black-grizzled hackle under the wings ; I form the wings of a feather from the partridge wing. It must be tied with purple waxed silk hook, No. 7.

THE WREN'S TAIL. This is an excellent summer fly. The body, if the water be somewhat black, ought to be of light orange mohair, tipt at the tail with a little gold wire or tinsel ; or, for clear water, a dusky olive body, tipt as above, suits extremely well ; a feather from the wren's tail must be put round the head as a hackle hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE HAWTHORN FLY. This fly frequents the hawthorn bushes, and is only to be seen on warm, gloomy days. It has a glossy black body, and fine blue wings. The body may be made of black horse hair, laid on flat in the ribbed way, or of the fur from a black cat, with a fine jet-black hackle under the wings ; a widgeon's or jay's wing-feather answers very well for the wings hook, No. 7.

THE ROSE BEETLE. On the borders of Cumberland and Northumberland, this fly is an excellent killer, in most of the rivers, in the months of June and July. Make the body very full with a copper-coloured peacock harle, and put on a black hackle below the wings for legs ; the wings must be taken from the green side feather of the peacock's tail, and must be short, full, and laid flat on the back hook, No. 8 or 9.

THE LIGHT AND DARK-RED SPINNERS. These flies are but little known here. They appear about the latter end of June. The forked tail of the dark spinner may consist of two strands of a red cock's hackle ; the body may be of brick-dust coloured mohair, thinly dubbed and ribbed with fine gold thread ; put on a red cock's hackle for legs, and a brown-mottled mallard's feather for wings. This fly kills well in some parts of Scotland hook, No. 6, 7, or 8.

THE LIGHT RED SPINNER This fly must have a body of light orange mohair, ribbed with fine gold thread, with a ginger hackle for legs, and wings from the starling's quill feather. It must also have a forked tail hook, No. 7, or 8.

THE GREEN BANK FLY This fly is sometimes used in the summer evenings. The body must be of grass-green raw silk with a ginger hackle put on below the wings for legs ; let the wings be of the lightest part of the starling's quill-feather hook, No. 9.

THE SMALL BLUE GNAT. This is also used as a summer evening fly. Make the body of water-rat's fur, mixed with a very little yellow mohair ; put on the tail-feather of the small blue titmouse round the head for the hackle hook, No. 10.

THE PALE, OR SKY-BLUE GNAT. This is another summer evening fly: it must have a forked tail ; the body must be of pale blue rabbit's fur, mixed with a little straw-coloured mohair : pick out a fine sky-blue feather from the outside of the sea-swallow's wing, for the gnat's wings hook, No. 10.

THE WHITE GNAT. This is altogether an evening fly and appears in July and August. It is very small, and has a forked tail. The body is of French white, with a grizzled hackle under the wings for legs ; the wings must be of a very pale colour, nearly white. To make it in the spider way, select a very fine feather from the inside of the wing of the dotterel, or golden plover hook, No. 10.

THE BROWN FERN FLY This fly is sometimes used in June and July. The body is of light orange raw silk ; a little of the fur from the hare's neck is put on under the butt of the wings, with a ginger hackle over it for legs ; the wings are of a feather from the outside of the woodcock's wing hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE SMALL BROWN-DUN FLY. This fly kills well in July and August. The body is made of red squirrel's fur, mixed with a little yellow mohair, thinly dubbed, and a pale ginger hackle must be put on under the wings ; let the wings be of a starling's quill-feather of a pale colour ; or, it may be made with a yellow raw silk body, a ginger hackle run down all the way, with wings the same as those of that described above, and a turn of gold tinsel round the head. This last answers well when the rivers are clearing hook, No. 8 or 9.

PURPLE-BODIED PLOVER. This fly sometimes kills in some of our rivers on a summer evening, when the water is clear. Let the body be of purple silk or mohair, and the hackle of a fine feather from the golden plover's back hook, No. 9.

THE SMALL COCK-TAIL FLIES There are several sorts of these flies; the wings are taken from the bunting-lark, or starling's wing; the bodies may be made of the dark fur from the hare's ear, ribbed with yellow silk, or of the fur from the hare's neck, of a yellow shade, mixed with gold-coloured mohair, and ribbed with gold-coloured silk, or of the fur from the hare's neck, mixed with very pale olive-green mohair, and ribbed with yellow silk. The bodies of these flies must be thin and well tapered, and fur-nished with a forked tail of two strands of a dun cock's hackle hook, No. 9 or 10. The cock-tails kill very well in the evenings of June and July.

THE RED ANT FLY. In the months of July and August, this fly makes its appearance ; there are, indeed, two sorts, the larger and the smaller. The larger one comes on in July, in very hot weather; the smaller one in August. The small one is the better killer. The bodies of these flies ought to be of light orange waxed silk, and three turns of copper-coloured peacock harle at the tail ; put on a ginger hackle for legs ; the wings must be of the light part of the starling's wing feather hook, No. 8 or 10.

THE BLACK ANT FLIES. In the months of July and August, these flies also make their appearance, and are good killers. Form the bodies of purple waxed silk ; put three turns of black ostrich harle at the tail, and a cock-starling's hackle under the wings ; the wings may be of a feather from the jack-snipe's wing hook, No. 8 or 10.

THE COACHMAN FLY Although not much used in this part of the country, this fly answers very well in the evenings. The body is made of a copper-coloured peacock harle ; it must be tipt at the tail with gold ; put on a red hackle under the wings ; and make the wings of a white feather from the under-side of a wild-duck's wing hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE ORL FLY. This fly is well known to be a good killer in several rivers in the south of England, but, as far as I know, it has never been tried as a river-fly in this part of the kingdom. I understand, however, that it answers very well on Ullswater lake. Make the body (rather full) of copper-coloured peacock harle ; rib it with fine red silk, and lap a fine blue-dun hackle round the head hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE KINGDOM FLY. This fly is used by some anglers in the summer months. Make the body of pale straw-coloured unmanufactured silk, and run over it a pale blue cock's hackle ; let the wings be of a feather from the inside of the wood-cock's wing hook, No. 8 or 9.

PROFESSOR'S FLY The body is of yellow floss silk, rather long and thin ; a red or black hackle must be put on below the wings ; the wings are formed of the mottled-brown feather from the wild mallard. This fly kills well on the Tweed, and other Scottish streams, and is highly esteemed by Professor Wilson, of Edinburgh hook, No. 6, 7, 8.


NIGHT-FLIES.

" Angling on a summer night,
When the moon-ray met the fairy,
Tripping down a bank of light,
To the sweet Loch of Saint Mary ;
Music floated, sad and holy,
Every wild flower lent its tone,
And the sullen trout swam slowly,
Like the shadow of a stone."

STODDART.


Although there are several kinds of moths or bustards, yet there are not more than three or four that are generally used. As this species of fishing can only be practised at night, after ten o'clock, it is seldom tried but by those who fish for gain.

Night-flies ought to be dressed on rather strong gut ; the casting-line and tackle must also be strong. In fishing with the bustard, or large moth, you ought to place a cod-bait on the bend of the hook, as this will cause the trout to take it more readily.

THE WHITE MOTH. It is made with a white duck's feather, or a white owl's feather for wings, with a body of white cotton, made very full, ribbed with yellow silk, with a white cock's hackle under the butt of the wings for legs, and two or three turns of black ostrich harle round the head hook, No. 4 or 5.

THE BROWN MOTH. This moth is made with a feather from the wing of the dark-brown owl, with a body of the fur from the hare's neck, mixed with a little cinnamon- coloured worsted, or mohair, and a hackle from a hen, of a mottled brown colour, run half-way down. The body of this moth must also be made very full hook, No. 2 or 3.

THE YELLOW-BODIED BUSTARD This moth must have a body made very full, of dusky yellow or gold-coloured worsted, or mohair, and a light ginger hackle run over it all the way ; the wings must be taken from a feather of the wood-owl's wing hook, No. 2 or 3.



PALMERS.

Palmers kill remarkably well, particularly in the latter end of the season, on most rivers and lakes. Thev must be of various sizes, and shades, according to the nature of the soil and colour of the water. For clear water, the light dun and purple-bodied black palmers are the best. In autumn or summer, when the river is full, the red palmer, the peacock-bodied palmer, and the soldier palmer are preferred.

THE BLEA, OR BLUE-DUN PALMER This palmer, for a full, black water, is made with two fine cock's hackles of a blue-dun colour, either run down all the way over a mixed body of blue squirrel's fur and pale yellow mohair, with or without a rib of silver thread to suit the colour of the water. For clear water, make the body of pale yellow waxed silk, with a double hackle at the head. This palmer kills excellently in the spring hook, No. 7, 8, or 9.

THE SOOTY-DUN PALMER This palmer is made in the same way as the last, with a body of water-rat's fur, and a double hackle at the head, of a sooty-dun colour. It may be either tipt at the tail with gold or silver, or not hook, No. 7 or 8.

THE GOLDEN PALMER. This palmer is made of rich gold-coloured raw silk, ribbed with gold thread, by the side of which must be run a fine thread of black silk, with two fine red cock's hackles over all. The size of the hook must vary according to the size of the river.

THE YELLOW PALMER This palmer must have a yellow or lemon-coloured silk body. In other respects, the same as the golden palmer.

THE ORANGE PALMER. This palmer is made with an orange floss-silk body, ribbed with gold thread and fine black silk, with two fine red hackles, short of the fibre and black at the butt, run down it.

THE RED PALMER. This palmer is made of orange or brick-dust coloured mohair, ribbed with gold thread, with two fine red cock's hackles run down all the way. If made small, put on two fine hackles round the head only. The body of the small red palmer may be made the same as that of the large one, ribbed with gold wire or not ; or, where the water is clear, of orange waxed silk only.

THE SOLDIER PALMER This palmer is made with a scarlet-coloured worsted, or mohair body, ribbed with gold thread and a grey hackle, died of a blood-orange colour, run down all the way behind a black-listed red hackle. When winged with a feather from the outside of a woodcock's wing, it answers well as a lake-fly.

THE PEACOCK PALMER This palmer is made with a body of copper-coloured peacock harle, ribbed with gold thread, and two fine red hackles, black at the butt. This palmer, made with a black-listed red hackle, very full, without any gold, is called the cocce bundy, and kills well in Wales.

THE BLACK PALMER This palmer is made with a body of black ostrich harle, ribbed with silver-thread, and two fine jet-black hackles, run down all the way ; or, it may be made with a copper-coloured peacock harle, ribbed with gold thread.

THE PURPLE PALMER This palmer is made of purple floss-silk, tipt at the tail with gold, or not, and two fine black hackles run round the head. It must be made very small.

THE GREY PALMER. This palmer is made with a copper-coloured peacock harle, ribbed with gold thread, and two fine black-listed grey hackles run down the body.

To the foregoing list of flies many more might be added, by varying the size of the hook and shades of colour, according to the fancy of the fisherman, Trout flies are seldom made with forked tails in the north.

LAKE-FISHING.

The poetical angler, that he may commune with the glorious works of nature, will often feel inclined to enjoy his favourite pastime on the bosom of some beautiful lake ; for lake-scenery cannot fail to excite the most refined and sublime sensations, since it is in general composed of towering rocks and foaming water-falls ; of rich lawns and meadows ; of romantic dells and groves. Here the eagle soars above the clouds, while the swan sails majestically on the surface of the placid lake ; here amid the solitary forest, where perhaps freely roam the wild deer, the tall pines wave their graceful heads, while the oak, "the monarch of the wood," seems almost conscious of his superior strength and beauty; here the mountains, towering to the skies, appear to mock " the rotundity of the world."

" Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks
Grasing the tender herb, were interposed,
Or palmy hillock ; or the flowery lap
Of some irriguous valley spreads her store.
-Meanwhile murm'ring waters fall
Down the slope hills dispersed, or in a lake,
That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown' d,
Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams."

With regard to the rules to be observed in lake-fishing, I shall be fitly brief. Lakes, owing to the different nature of the bottom, or feeding-ground, afford a great variety of trout, which prefer rather large and gaudy flies, and are generally easily lured. Lake-trout, too, are characterised by their fine red salmon-colour, and are infinitely superior to those which inhabit rivers.

In lake-fishing the sportsman ought to angle near the margin, where the trout prowl in search of worms, flies, Sac. ; it would be quite absurd to cast in very deep water. In many situations, indeed, he may fish from the banks ; but, generally, it is necessary either to wade, or to cast from a boat. Should he be a wader, he ought to be well acquainted with the bottom, otherwise his footing might prove extremely hazardous. With regard to boating, as connected with this species of angling, I need only inform him, that he ought to be accompanied by a friend, who is an agreeable companion, and a good boatman ; for he will not be able to manage both his rod and the oars. His tackle must be strong ; for lake-trout are in general rather sturdy customers ; and his flies must be such as I shall presently describe.

In the Cumberland and Westmorland lakes, the angler will be most successful in the months of May and June. During the summer months he may try the minnow a very killing bait, particularly in the evenings ; he may resume fly-fishing in the month of August.

Of that vile engine, the lath, or jack, as it is sometimes called, I shall say nothing, because it is unworthy the notice of the honest angler ; neither shall I extend this chapter by any remarks on trolling, or pike-fishing, as such sport requires no skill or ingenuity whatever.

THE CINNAMON-BROWN FLY This fly is fished in June, and is a lake-fly of considerable repute. Make the body of cinnamon-brown mohair, or worsted ; tip it with gold at the tail ; put on a red hackle below the wings for legs ; and make the wings of a red feather from the partridge tail hook, No. 5 or 6.

THE BROWN DRAKE This is a fly that kills very well not only on the lakes, but on many of the rivers in Scotland. The body is made of the dark part of the hare's ear, mixed with a little olive-coloured mohair ; it must be tipt at the tail with gold ; a red cock's hackle must be put on at the butt of the wings ; the wings must be of a brown mallard's feather. As a spring or autumn fly, it answers exceedingly well. Hook, for lake, No. 5 or 6 ; for river, No. 7.

The brown mallard feather makes an excel- lent lake-fly for a clear day, either with a black or an olive body, with a black hackle over it, and without any tinsel.

THE SCARLET LAKE-FLY. The body of this fly is made of bright scarlet mohair, or worsted ; it must be ribbed with gold thread, and a very deep orange hackle run up by the side of the twist, as far as the butt of the wings ; the wings may consist of a portion of the scarlet feather of the macaw hook, No. 4 or 5.

THE LOCH DOUN FLY The bodyis made of black mohair, or worsted, with a tip of scarlet at the tail ; it must be ribbed with gold thread, and hackled with a black-red feather from the neck of the cock ; the wings must consist of two small blue feathers, properly trimmed up, from the jay, one from each wing hook, No. 3, 4, or 5.

THE FIERY-BROWN This is a good fly for lake-fishing. The body must be of fiery-brown coloured mohair, or worsted, mixed with a very little of the dark fur from the hare's ear ; a red cock's hackle must be put on under the butt of the wings for legs ; the wings must be of a feather from the outside of the woodcock's wing hook, No. 5 or 6.

THE BLACK SPINNER This fly has acquired a high reputation, both as a lake and river-fly. It kills in April, May, and June. The body is generally made of the black fur from a cat, or of blue-black silk, ribbed with fine silver thread, or plait, with a black hackle over all; the wings may be of a feather from the widgeon's or starling's wing hook, for lake, No. 6 ; for river, No. 8 or 9.

THE GOVERNOR FLY This fly answers well on some of our lakes. The body must consist of a peacock harle of a copper colour ; it must be ribbed with fine gold thread, and tipt at the tail with orange silk ; put on a fine red hackle below the wings, which must be made of a dapper-coloured feather from a cock-pheasant's wing hook, No. 6, 7, or 8.

THE CHANTREY FLY. The same as the above-mentioned fly, with only this difference : it must be tipt at the tail with gold-coloured silk, and ribbed with fine silver thread or plait.

THE ALDER FLY. Let the wings be of the fine mottled long feather from the hen pheasant's tail, and the body of a copper-coloured peacock's harle, with a black hackle under the wings hook, No. 6 or 7.

THE CLARET FLY. This is an excellent lake or river-fly. Dub the body with claret-coloured mohair, mixed with a little dark fur from the hare's ear ; tip it at the tail with gold ; put on a black hackle under the wings ; make the wings of a feather from a starling's wing which must be covered with a portion of the mottled feather from the partridge tail hook, No. 6, 7, or 8.

THE SHORN FLY. This fly is made in the spider or hackle way, and is a capital killer on Ullswater, and the different lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland. It is of the beetle kind, the outside wing or shell being of a dark brown, and the inside wing of a light blue colour. It is to be seen in the latter end of May and June. The body is made very full, with a copper-coloured peacock harle ; a fine black-listed red hackle must be run round the head, and pressed well down ; tie with purple silk hook, No. 6 or 7.

THE BEE FLY. The tail must consist of a tag of orange mohair ; the body must be dubbed with black mohair, or worsted, and ribbed with gold thread, with a black hackle over all; the wings may be of a fine blea feather from the jay's wing hook, No. 5.

THE WASP FLY This fly is made with a gold-coloured mohair body, which must be ribbed with gold thread, and a copper-coloured peacock harle, and hackled with a black-listed red hackle; the wings may be taken from the quill-feather of a jay's wing. hook, No. 5.

THE LIGHT MALLARD FLY This fly is made with a body of light yellow mohair, ribbed with gold thread, or plait, and hackled with a fine red hackle from a game cock ; the wings are of the light-mottled feather from the the wild mallard hook, No. 4, 5, 6.

SIR H. DAVY'S LAKE-FLY The tail consists of one of the smallest feathers from the crest of the golden pheasant ; there is a tip of gold-plait at the tail, and two turns of black ostrich harle ; the body is of light yellow raw silk, and ribbed with silver-plait, or thread ; a fine bright ginger hackle is run up by the side of the tinsel to the butt of the wings; the wings are composed of a small butterfly-feather from the neck of the golden- pheasant, and a small yellow feather from the back of the same bird ; these two feathers are laid on by the side of each other, and stand erect on the back ; on each side are tied two strands of green, two of blue, one of red macaw's feathers, two of brown mallards, and two of teal's feathers ; and, lastly, a small bright-blue feather from the back of a king-fisher, is tied on each side, and a turn or two of black ostrich is put round the head hook, No. 5 or 6.

THE LANDRAIL FLY. The body is of bright orange silk, or mohair, and tipt at the tail with gold-plait ; a jet-black hackle is run over it up to the butt of the wings ; the wings are from a quill-feather of the landrail hook, No. 5, 6, 7.

The WATERLOO FLY. The tail must consist of a small feather from the crest of the golden pheasant ; the body of crimson floss-silk, ribbed with silver-plait, with a black hackle over all; the wings must consist of four fine blue feathers from the king-fisher, put on whole, and placed by the side of each other ; round the head must be wrapt two or three turns of black ostrich harle hook, No. 5 or 6.

( End of Trout Flies MC).