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diff --git a/39321.txt b/39321.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe3e32c --- /dev/null +++ b/39321.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2780 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Old Flies in New Dresses, by Charles Edward Walker + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old Flies in New Dresses + How to Dress Dry Flies with the Wings in the Natural + Position and Some New Wet Flies + +Author: Charles Edward Walker + +Release Date: April 1, 2012 [EBook #39321] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES *** + + + + +Produced by Pat McCoy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +TRANSCRIBER NOTES: + + A letter preceded by a caret (^) indicate a superscript in + the original text. + + Additional transcriber notes can be found at the end of this + project. + + + + +OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES + + + + +[Illustration: + +PLATE I + +NATURAL FLIES + + + 1. ALDER-FLY. _Sialis lutaria_, Linn. (Slightly enlarged.) + 2. CAPERER. _Halesus radiatus_, McLach. + 3. RED SEDGE. _Anabolia nervosa_, Steph. (Slightly enlarged.) + 4. WELSHMAN'S BUTTON. _Sericostoma collare_, Pict. + 5. CINNAMON-FLY. _Mystacides longicornis_, Linn. + 6. GRANNOM. _Brachycentrus subnubilus_, Curt. + 7. WILLOW-FLY. _Leuctra geniculata_, Steph. + 8. BLUE-BOTTLE. _Calliphora erythrocephala_, Mg. + 9. GREEN-BOTTLE. _Lucilia caesar_, Linn. + 10. HOUSE-FLY. _Musca corvina_, Fab. + 11. OAK-FLY. _Leptis scolopacea_, Linn. + 12. COW-DUNG-FLY. _Scatophaga stercoraria_, Linn. + 13. HAWTHORN-FLY. _Bibio marci_, Linn. + 14. _Corixa geoffroyi._ + 15. FRESH-WATER SHRIMP. _Gammarus pulex._ + +Swan Electric Engraving C^o.] + + + + + OLD FLIES + IN NEW DRESSES + + HOW TO DRESS DRY FLIES + WITH THE WINGS IN THE NATURAL POSITION + AND SOME NEW WET FLIES + + BY + + CHARLES EDWARD WALKER + + _ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR AND EDWARD WILSON_ + + [Illustration] + + LONDON: LAWRENCE AND BULLEN, LTD. + 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN + MDCCCXCVIII + + + + + RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, + LONDON AND BUNGAY. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In the first part of this little work I do not wish my reader to suppose +that I claim to be the first who has dealt with any particular imitation +in the manner he will find that I have dealt with it. In the case of +particular flies, others have frequently observed that the imitations +generally used were inaccurate. The imitation of the Alder-fly has +perhaps been most treated in this way, but it is not alone. One +instance, however, of inaccuracies in imitations of natural flies having +been observed, will I hope not be trespassing too much upon my reader's +patience. + +Blaine, in his _Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports_ published in 1840, says +when speaking of the Cow-dung fly:--"By some extraordinary mistake +Bowlker describes this fly as having upright wings; and as many of the +London fly-makers dress their flies by his directions, we need not +wonder that they are often bought with their wings unnaturally glaring +outwards." + +What I have tried to do, is to work out and bring down to a definite +rule the position in which the wings of the imitations of the various +kinds of flies should be placed. + +My reader therefore must not hope in this first part to meet with many +imitations of creatures that have not been imitated before; but if he +finds that the manner in which the flies are dealt with as a whole is +any step forward, be it ever so small, I shall be satisfied in having +attained the object at which I aim. + +My reader may be surprised at the order in which I have arranged the +various flies; but it was necessary, or at any rate very much more +convenient, to arrange them in the way I have, as entomological accuracy +of arrangement in a work on fishing must not be the first consideration +of the author. That the wings of the Alder and the Caddis flies are in +practically the same position in relation to their bodies, was my reason +for placing the descriptions of these flies next each other, and this +instance is sufficient to suggest to those of my readers who are +entomologists, reasons for the other cases in which I have not placed +the descriptions of the various flies in their correct sequence. + +A disclaimer must also be my preface to the second part of my work, for +I know that I am far from being the first in thinking that the wet fly +of the fisherman is not taken by the fish for the natural fly it is +supposed to represent. + +Here my hope is that my reader will find a definite theory which is +sufficiently plausible to interest him, at least for the moment. + +I have to acknowledge the kind assistance of Dr. G. A. Buckmaster, +Lecturer on Physiology at St. George's Hospital, of Mr. Ernest E. +Austen, of the British Museum (Natural History), and of several other +gentlemen. + +I must also thank the Editor of _Land and Water_ for allowing me to +republish an article in the first part of my book, and the Editor of +_The Field_ for a similar permission with regard to certain articles +which appear in the second part. + +Mrs. J. R. Richardson, of Kingston-on-Thames, has also given me some +hints as to improvements in the dressing of some of the flies described. + +CHARLES WALKER. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PART I + + _DRY FLIES_ + + CHAPTER I PAGE + INTRODUCTORY 3 + CHAPTER II + COLOUR PERCEPTION IN FISH 14 + CHAPTER III + HOW TO DRESS FLIES WITH THE WINGS IN THE NATURAL POSITION 29 + CHAPTER IV + THE ALDER-FLY 41 + CHAPTER V + CADDIS-FLIES 45 + CHAPTER VI + PERLIDAE 54 + CHAPTER VII + DIPTERA 58 + CHAPTER VIII + WINGED ANTS 72 + CHAPTER IX + CATERPILLARS 76 + + PART II + + _WET FLIES_ + + CHAPTER I + A THEORY 87 + CHAPTER II + CORIXAE 96 + CHAPTER III + FRESH-WATER SHRIMP 107 + LARVAE OF WATER-INSECTS 113 + + SOME HINTS ON DRY FLY-FISHING 115 + + + + +OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES + + + + +PART I + +_DRY FLIES_ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Introductory + + +Though it would not be true to say that hitherto writers on fly-dressing +have shown any lack of power of observation, still it is unfortunately +true that their energy seems, strangely enough, to have stopped short at +observing the natural fly, and has not been sufficient to carry them on +to making even passable imitations, except of Ephemeridae. With the +exception of this family of flies, no one could possibly recognise the +artificial through knowing the natural fly which it is supposed to +represent. Yet the fisherman who knows the natural fly well by sight +will go on using these imitations year after year unquestioningly; and +though he himself would certainly not have known, unless he had been +told, what natural fly the imitation he is using is meant to represent, +he expects the trout to do so at once. + +There has been much discussion recently as to whether trout have the +power of discriminating between different colours, but no one has ever +cast a doubt on their power of discriminating between different shapes; +yet in most of these imitations it is not the colour that is wrong, but +the shape. The wings of a fly undoubtedly play a most important part in +forming the outline, and consequently the general appearance of the fly. +Therefore, if they are not put in the natural position, the whole +contour of the imitation must be entirely different from that of the +natural fly. + +It seems, however, judging by the standard works on the subject, that +there is practically but one recognised position for the wings of the +artificial fly, as the difference between the position of divided wings +and wings dressed flat together is, after all, but slight. No one seems +yet to have realised the fact that the wings of a May-fly do not lie in +the same relative position to the body as do those of the Blue-bottle, +whilst in the case of the Alder there is a further marked distinction +from both. + +The wings, in the different families of flies upon which trout and +grayling feed, lie when at rest in three distinct positions in relation +to their bodies. + +In the Ephemeridae they lie in planes approaching the vertical, slightly +diverging from each other towards their extremities. Fig. 1 gives a +sketch of one of the Ephemeridae, and Fig. 2 a transverse section through +the line [alpha] [beta] of Fig. 1. These drawings show the relation of +the wings to the body. All flies have so far been treated by writers on +fly-dressing as though their wings were in this position. + +In the Caddis-flies (_Trichoptera_) and the Alder-fly (_Sialis lutaria_) +the wings lie on each side of the body, meeting at their upper edges in +front, gradually diverging towards their lower edges and posterior +extremities. + +Fig. 3 gives a sketch of an Alder, and Fig. 4 a transverse section +through the fly, showing the position of the wings. + +In the Diptera (Blue-bottle, Cow-dung, &c.), and Perlidae (Stone-fly, +Yellow Sally, &c.), the wings lie in a horizontal plane. In some Diptera +the wings diverge from each other towards their extremities, as in the +Blue-bottle, shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In some other Diptera and in the +Perlidae, the wings lie over each other, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It +will be seen that the wings in both these cases lie in a horizontal +plane. + +In Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8 [beta] represents the section of the body, +[alpha] and [gamma] the section of the wings. + +I wish it to be thoroughly understood that these positions are the +positions of the wings of the natural fly _when at rest_. + +Many flies when they fall on the water buzz round in circles +periodically, apparently with the object of disengaging themselves from +the surface. Between these efforts, however, their wings generally +assume the normal position of rest. The only way to imitate the fly when +it is buzzing is by dressing it without wings, and with extra hackle; +and this is, after all, but a poor imitation. In most cases it is better +to imitate the wings at rest; and if this is done accurately, it will +present to the trout an accurate imitation of the natural fly as it +appears to him when not trying to raise itself from the water. + +[Illustration: + + FIG. 1. FIG. 2. + + FIG. 3. FIG. 4. + + FIG. 5. FIG. 6. + + FIG. 7. FIG. 8. + +Sketches and diagrams showing the relative positions of the wings to the +body in the various natural flies. Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8 show sections +through [alpha][beta] in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7. In Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8 +[alpha] = anterior wings; [beta] = body; [gamma] = posterior wings.] + +I have on many occasions watched the behaviour of an Alder when it has +fallen on the water. At first it moves its wings rapidly, but soon +stops, to begin again, however, when it has rested. This is repeated +time after time, but after each succeeding struggle, the interval of +rest becomes longer. In many cases, however, the fly hardly struggles at +all. + +In observing many other flies which had fallen on the water, I have seen +the same sequence of events occur, though some flies struggle to raise +themselves from the surface much more than others, as in the case of the +Blue-bottle. + +The first trial that I made of a fly dressed with the wings in the +natural position was with an Alder. To make this trial complete, I +purchased some Alders, dressed according to the most approved patterns, +from three well-known firms of tackle makers. When I got to the +water-side the trout were rising freely, and the banks were literally +swarming with Alders. I saw a trout take one which had fallen on the +water, so it was evident that the Alder was the fly to use. I began with +the flies I had purchased, and cast over a trout which was rising under +a tree. He would not look at it, and the same happened with the flies of +the other two makers when I cast over two other trout. I then tried one +of my own, and got a fish at once. He did not take it in a half-hearted +manner, but was hooked right in the back of the tongue. I then tried the +other flies again without success. When, however, I went back to my own +fly I hooked the first fish I cast over. + +Imitations of other flies made with the wings in the natural position +have served me as well as did my imitation of the Alder, though I was +not inclined to try the ordinary patterns so freely on every occasion as +I was at the first trial. I have, however, several times caught a rising +fish on one of my imitations when he had refused the ordinary imitation +not two minutes before. + +My reader will of course think that these experiments, being carried +out by myself, are hardly a conclusive proof of my theory, as, however +impartial I might wish and believe myself to be, I must be naturally +biased in my own favour. I quite realise that this is a natural doubt, +but fortunately others besides myself have tried my flies. + +Mr. Herbert Ash put them to an even more severe test than I did myself, +and has kindly permitted me to give his experience. I give an extract +from a letter written by him and published in _Land and Water_ on +October 23rd, 1897, as I think it is a very pertinent testimonial to the +practical success of my theory. + +"I put up a cast of three Alders, two being the shop-tied patterns which +I usually used, and the third, which I put on as a first dropper, being +Mr. Walker's. I landed eight trout in about an hour and a half, and each +of those fish took Mr. Walker's fly." + +"Now, although I used three flies, I was fishing up stream and dry, my +object being to test the new mode of tying the Alder, and I found that +while the fish rose boldly at the first dropper, not one took any +notice of the other flies." + +Colonel Walker also had much greater success with flies dressed with the +wings in the natural position than with any others. In fact, for several +consecutive days, on different occasions he caught no fish except with +my flies, though he did not use them more than flies dressed in the +ordinary way. + +Several other fishermen have told me that their experiments with my +imitations have produced similar results. + +Mr. H. H. Brown, of the Piscatorial Society, after I had read a paper to +that Society on my theory of the right way to dress trout flies, +described a very interesting experience which he had one day when out +fishing, and which bears directly on this theory. While out fishing some +time ago, he rested on a bridge over the river in which he was fishing. +There were a great number of Alders about, and on observing some fish in +the water some little distance below the bridge, he caught some Alders, +pinched their heads slightly in order to either kill them outright or +at any rate stop them struggling, and threw them on the water. He was in +such a position that he could observe each fly individually until it +either floated past or was taken by the fish. What he observed was, that +when in killing the fly he had disturbed the natural position of the +wings, not one of the fish would look at it; while, if the wings +remained in the normal position of rest, the fly was always taken. This +occurred time after time, and not once was the fly with the wings in an +unnatural position taken, but, on the other hand, not a single fly with +its wings in the natural position of rest was allowed to pass. He also +observed that once or twice the fish came up to look at a fly whose +wings had been disarranged, but on getting close to it they always drew +back. + +This is, I think, an extremely strong argument in favour of my theory. + +I do not propose in this work to deal with Ephemeridae, as the wings in +the imitations now sold are in the natural position. The families I do +propose dealing with are the Sialidae, Trichoptera, Diptera, and +Perlidae, as no one has yet, to my knowledge, described the position in +which the wings of the imitations of these flies should be put. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +COLOUR PERCEPTION IN FISH + +(_Rewritten from "Land and Water," November 6, 1897_) + + +Many interesting problems constantly come before the fisherman, but +certainly one of the most interesting which has recently attracted his +attention is Sir Herbert Maxwell's theory on the power of fish to +discriminate between various colours. + +His theory is, that though fish can undoubtedly discriminate between +different shades of light and dark, they cannot distinguish one colour +from another. The only conclusion that can be drawn from this theory is +the conclusion at which Sir Herbert Maxwell has apparently arrived. This +is, that if the same relations of light and shade be maintained in the +artificial which exist in the natural fly, the colour of the imitation +is quite immaterial. + +The facts upon which he based this theory were (1) that during the +May-fly season he used several artificial May-flies, some of which were +coloured scarlet, some bright blue, and some coloured to imitate the +natural fly, all of them being similarly graduated with regard to the +shade of their various component parts; (2) that he caught trout with +all these flies, no particular one of them being decidedly more +successful than the others. + +This experience of his no doubt would at first strike one as being very +strongly in favour of his theory; but on going deeply into the matter, +its bearing on the fish's powers of vision is not so great as it +appears. + +To begin with, we must consider whether, judging from experience in the +past, trout have been known to rise at things on the water which were +not only unlike in colour to any flies on the water, but also unlike +them in shape and gradations of shade. This we know they will sometimes +do. I have on several occasions seen a trout which refused a fairly +accurate imitation of the flies which were on the water rise at and take +below the surface a swan's feather. There are also many other much more +extraordinary but similar cases on record. Thus, the fact that these +trout took an abnormally coloured fly is not a conclusive proof that +they mistook it for the natural fly, particularly as this experiment was +made during the May-fly season, when the trout sometimes appear to be +quite mad, but are at any rate always much less shy than at any other +time of the year. + +The experiment, too, was made upon a private water, and I think that +there is great doubt that the same result would have occurred had it +been made upon a well-fished water where the trout were more shy and +better educated. + +We must then consider whether, in what we know of the natural history of +fish, there are any facts which point towards the probability of their +being able to discriminate between different colours. Here we find that +there are cases in which in certain species the males are more +brilliantly coloured than the females, either at the spawning season or +always. This is probably a process in evolution which tends to make them +more attractive to the female. We also know that fish sometimes assume a +colour similar to their surroundings. This colour is, no doubt, evolved +for their protection from enemies, and surely a very large proportion of +these enemies are other and larger fish. Many of the larvae of water +insects and other creatures upon which fish feed are also coloured +according to their surroundings, in order to facilitate their +concealment. These facts would naturally lead us to come to a conclusion +opposed to that of Sir Herbert Maxwell, as the probabilities all point +towards the power of fish to discern various colours. + +Another very important point is the structure of the fish's eye in +comparison with that of man, who we know has the power of discriminating +between colours. This power is, in the human eye, probably situated in +the layer of rods and cones of the retina. Had the fish's retina not +contained this layer, as is stated by Sir Herbert Maxwell, there would +certainly have been most excellent grounds for supposing that his theory +was true; but this layer _is_ contained in the fish's eye, though it is +not the same as in man. If the fish's eye did not contain it, fish would +have been totally blind. + +How far this difference in the retina of the fish bears on its sense of +colour is, at present, a moot point, though I believe researches are +being made in this direction. At present, our knowledge is too limited +with regard to it for any definite statement to be made. The probability +is, that fish have the power of distinguishing colour from colour. A +probability, however, is not a certainty, though one is more inclined +towards it than towards an improbability. + +Even should Sir Herbert Maxwell's theory prove true, in spite of +probabilities to the contrary, I do not see that we should have +progressed very much further with regard to facilities in imitating the +natural fly. We know that the relative values of light and shade in +various colours contiguous to each other, is not actually the same as +the impression conveyed to our eyes. We have an example of this always +with us in the photograph, where red and blue, in relation to each +other, certainly do not produce the same effects on the plate as they do +on the eye; and as we have no accurate knowledge as to the effect of +contiguous colours upon a normally monochromatic eye, we could hardly be +certain of producing an accurate monochromatic imitation of a +multi-coloured object, which would deceive that eye. + +The case of a colour-blind human being is certainly not a normal case, +so the shade value of the various colours to this eye could hardly be +taken as a safe standard. + +Even if we assumed that all these difficulties had been surmounted, and +that the exact relative shade values to this monochromatic eye of every +colour were estimated, I think that there can be no doubt that it would +be easier to imitate the colours, with the various shades in these +colours, than to calculate out the relative shade values of the +different colours, in one particular colour, and that the result of the +former and easier, would be much more likely to be accurate than the +latter and more difficult attempt. + +Besides this, possibly, as the eyes of some families of fish are more +highly developed than those of others, the relative shade values of +colour might be different to the different families, so that if we +eliminate colours from our lures, we must have different shading for +different fish. + +Having considered all these things carefully, I have come to the +conclusion that it will be much safer and easier to keep on using +colours in our imitations, even if we do present these imitations to a +monochromatic eye. + + * * * * * + +Since writing the above article, I have been able to collect some +further information with regard to the probable power of the trout's eye +to discriminate between colours. + +These researches, though I have not yet had time to carry them as far as +I had hoped, have led me to believe more firmly than ever that I am +right in recommending the use of colours in our imitation flies. I have +prepared some sections of the retina of the trout, and examined them +carefully in comparison with the retinae of several other fish. A short +account of what is known at present of colour-vision is, I think, +advisable to make my meaning clear to those of my readers who may not be +sufficiently well versed in this particular subject. + +The sensation of an individual colour is produced by rays of light of a +particular wave-length falling upon the retina. A sensation of "white" +is produced by rays containing all the wave-lengths which are able to +affect it. When, on looking at an object, we find that neither a colour +nor white sensation is produced, this sensation is called "black." + +The white sensation may be mixed with the sensation of any colour of the +spectrum, as also may the sensation of black, and when these two are +mixed they produce a sensation of "grey." Some colours of the spectrum +are probably produced by a mixture of various wave-lengths of different +primary colours, and many colours in nature do not exist in the +spectrum. + +The word "tone" expresses variations of wave-lengths within a named +colour, and "brightness" is used to indicate the intensity of the +sensation produced upon the retina. + +The enormous difficulty of working out into a monochrome the +shade-values of a collection of colours, with several tones and shades +of brightness in each of the variously coloured parts of the object we +wish to imitate, can be imagined on considering these facts only; but +there are more facts which lead me to believe that to do this is not +only difficult, but impossible. + +Two theories have been propounded to explain the sensation of colour +produced upon the retina. + +The Young-Helmholtz theory teaches that there are three primary +sensations--red, green, and violet. Other colours are a mixture of these +sensations; white is produced when all three sensations are excited +together, and black is an absence of sensation. + +Hering's theory is that there are six primary sensations arranged in +three pairs--white and black, red and green, and yellow and blue. He +assumes the existence of three visual substances which undergo metabolic +changes when subjected to the action of light. These are the red-green, +the yellow-blue, and the white-black substances. The white-black +substance is influenced by all the rays of the spectrum, while the +red-green and yellow-blue substances are differently influenced by rays +of different wave-lengths. When all the rays together fall upon the +retina, no metabolism takes place in the red-green and yellow-blue +substances, but only the white-black substance is affected. Thus the +white-black substance is the most active. + +Any discussion as to the relative value of these theories would in this +work be out of place and unnecessary. + +The ordinary form of colour-blindness in human beings is the inability +to discriminate between red and green. This shows that the visual power +of these people is dichromatic and not trichromatic, as their power is +limited to two colours, or pairs of colours, and does not extend to +three. + +The individuals who belong to this class of the colour-blind may be +divided into two sub-classes--those who are red-blind and those who are +green-blind. + +Those who are red-blind do not see the red end of the spectrum, and the +blue-green appears grey, though they have distinct colour vision of the +parts of the spectrum on either side of the blue-green. In matching red +with a green, they put a bright red with a dark green. + +On the other hand, those who are green-blind see the red end of the +spectrum, while the green appears to them as grey. In matching a red +with a green they put a dark red with a bright green. + +No absolutely undoubted cases of blue-yellow blindness have been +recorded, and only one of absolute colour-blindness; but one case is not +sufficient to go upon. + +According to the Young-Helmholtz theory, a case in which only shades of +black and white were visible would be impossible, as it would not be +shades of black and white which would be seen, but shades of either red, +green or blue. According to Hering's theory, of course, absolute +colour-blindness would be possible. + +In the normal human eye, only the central parts of the retina are +sensitive to colour, the peripheral parts are practically colour-blind. +Anaemia of the retina, which may be produced by pressure on the eye-ball, +will render the retina, first colour-blind and then insensitive to +light. To me it appears that colours in relation to each other assume a +grey tone, and the sensation of black and white disappears last. + +The great difference which I have been able to observe between the human +retina and the retina of the trout is, that while the human retina +contains a layer of rods and cones, the retina of the trout only +contains cones, or if it does contain rods, contains very few, as I have +not found any as yet. There exists also at the back of the retina of the +trout a "tapetum," which extends over almost the whole of its posterior +surface. This does not exist in the human eye, but is found in the eyes +of some of the vertebrates. It consists of a layer of "guanin" crystals, +and, presenting as it does a metallic appearance, and having great power +of reflecting light, probably plays an important part in the visual +power of the trout, particularly, I should think, in a dim light. + +The fact that the rods are absent from the trout's retina does not bear +the important significance that one would imagine on first realising it. +The fovea centralis of the human retina is the seat of most acute +vision, and in the fovea centralis there are no rods. The cones in the +retina of the trout are very closely arranged, so that they are +practically in contact with each other, and their outer limbs are rather +longer and finer than in the case of man. This layer of cones extends to +the periphery of the retina, and the cones are just as closely arranged +as far as they extend. These facts should lead us to believe that the +vision of the trout is probably extremely acute, in fact, as we find in +the retina of the trout, no material difference from the _fovea +centralis_ of the human retina, we have no reason to suppose that the +visual powers of the _whole_ of the retina of the trout, should differ +in any way from the visual powers possessed by the _fovea centralis_, +the seat of most acute vision both as to colour and light in the human +retina. The retinae of other fishes which I have examined (none of them +were _Salmonidae_) contained only cones; but these cones were some +distance from each other. + +The layer of pigment epithelium which is present in the human eye, is +present also in that of the trout. It occupies the same position between +the layer of rods and cones, or cones only, and the choroid. As in the +human eye, it adheres sometimes to the choroid and sometimes to the +retina, when the retina is removed, though perhaps it most often adheres +to the retina. + +My space is too limited to enter into any of the theories as to the +possibility of the pigment cells playing a part in colour vision. It is +quite sufficient to state that they undoubtedly do play some part in our +sense of sight, and that they are contained in the eye of the trout. + +The retina of a colour-blind person does not show any organic difference +from the normal eye, so we cannot say to what cause colour-blindness is +due; but so far as our knowledge goes, there is no reason to suppose +that the trout is normally colour-blind. + +As Michael Foster so ably put it, "No man can tell what are the +sensations of his fellow-man," still less I think can man say what are +the sensations of a trout. All we can do with regard to this question of +colour vision, is to find out all the facts we can relating to it, and +working on comparisons, arrive, not at conclusions, but at +probabilities. + +The only thing of which I am sure is that we shall find it safe and +comparatively easy to imitate flies in colours, but to make a +monochromatic imitation of one, which would accurately represent it to a +normally monochromatic eye (about which we know nothing), in a medium of +which we know very little, is practically impossible. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW TO DRESS FLIES WITH THE WINGS IN THE NATURAL POSITION + + +The generally accepted method of dressing a trout fly is to put on the +wings first. This is perhaps the best plan when making an imitation of +one of the Ephemeridae, but it is impossible to put the body on after the +wings, if the wings are placed in the natural position in the case of +any fly not belonging to this family. The hackle must also be put on +before the wings, so it will be seen that putting on the wings is the +last operation in dressing one of these imitations. + +I have never myself used a vice in fly-dressing, and think that it is a +great advantage to be able to dress a fly without using one. Any one who +can dress flies well without a vice will be able to dress them even +better with a vice, and will be able to dress flies at all sorts of odd +times and places where a vice could not be used; while he who has never +dressed flies without using one, will find that the imitations he +produces are anything but neat, when he first tries to make them without +his vice. + + + _Alder and Caddis Flies._ + +These flies, as I have already explained, have their wings in the +position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. + +Give a few turns of the tying silk round the shank of the hook, +beginning near the eye and leaving enough room to put on the hackle and +wings. Carry it down the shank in the Alder, going just beyond the bend, +and in the Caddis-flies generally stopping well short of it, so that the +body may be perfectly straight. + +The material for the body and the tinsel, if used, should now be tied +in. I find it best to tie the tinsel in first, not straight out from the +hook, but diagonally, as, if put on in this way it lies much smoother +in the first turn than if tied in quite straight. + +If the body is to be made of wool or hair, the tying silk should be +waxed again at the part nearest the hook for about two or three inches, +and the material spun on it. + +When I began fly-dressing I found this spinning on of the "dubbing" a +great stumbling-block. In all the books I have read the directions on +this point are simply, "Spin the 'dubbing' on the tying silk," and I had +not the least idea how this should be done. As others who wish to make +their own flies may also find this a difficulty, I will try to explain +the method which I have found the easiest. + +If Berlin wool is used, a piece should be broken off and the strands +separated from each other. The strands should then be laid together and +pulled into short pieces until the whole is in one mass. This should +then be teazed up with the nails of the thumbs and first fingers until +it is of an even consistency. A small portion of this should then be +taken to make the body of each fly. This should be teazed up again, and +made to taper gradually to a point at one end, and applied to the tying +silk with the taper end towards the hook, as shown in Fig. 9. All +"dubbing" should be teazed up and applied in this way. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 11. FIG. 10.] + +The wool must now be taken between the thumb and first finger of the +right hand, and twisted round the tying silk by rubbing the thumb and +finger together. The "dubbing" is now spun on, and should cover from +about a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of the tying silk, +according to the size of the hook. It should be wound round the shank to +the head, leaving a small portion of the shank bare at the head for the +hackle and wings. The tinsel or wire is then wound round in a spiral to +the head, tied, and the surplus cut off. The hackle should now be +applied. The longest fibres of the hackle must be of the same length as +the hook. Clear off the flue with the nails of the thumb and first +finger, and then holding the tip of the hackle in the left draw down +its fibres by pressing the hackle between the thumb and first finger of +the right hand and drawing them downwards. The hackle will now appear as +shown in Fig. 10. Take the tip of the hackle thus prepared between the +nails of the thumb and first finger of the left hand, and the butt of +the hackle in the hackle pliers, so that the back or dull surface of the +hackle faces towards you. Now, holding the hackle pliers in the palm of +the right hand with the third and fourth fingers, put the first and +second fingers behind the hackle, and by stroking them down with the +thumb make the fibres of the hackle which point upwards point down in +the same direction as the lower row. The hackle will now appear as shown +in Fig. 11. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.] + +Tie the point of the hackle in at the head as in Fig. 12, cut off +projecting point, and wind it on with the pliers in close turns towards +the head. Three or four turns will be found ample as a rule. Tie in the +end with the tying silk and cut off the part which remains over. Now +draw down the fibres of the hackle which project upwards, cutting off +those which will not stay down. The fly should now appear as shown in +Fig. 13. + +[Illustration: FIG. 13. FIG. 14.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.] + +The wings should be taken from corresponding quill feathers from +opposite wings of the bird. These are split up the middle with scissors, +and a piece from the side with the longest fibres taken. The piece of +quill attached must now be cut at regular intervals, and each piece +between these cuts will serve as a wing (see Fig. 15). Take two of these +pieces, one from each feather, and place them together, with their +concave surfaces toward each other. Place them, one on each side of the +hook, with their lower margins a trifle lower than the body of the fly, +tie them in at the head, cut off the projecting part with the quill, and +finish off the head. The head should now be varnished, taking care to +clear the eye of the hook, and the fly will appear as shown in the +illustrations of imitation Alder and Caddis-flies. + +There is another way of preparing wings which is much better, as it +makes the ends of the wings round, though it is more difficult. This was +first shown me by Mrs. Richardson of Kingston-on-Thames. + +The feather is taken and the lower part of the fibres stripped off, till +a part is come to suitable for making a wing. A portion of fibres +sufficient for making a wing is then separated from the fibres above and +bent carefully downwards. If the fibres are stroked very gently between +the thumb and first finger, they will arrange themselves, so that their +ends present a rounded edge instead of a point. This portion of fibres +is then grasped firmly between the thumb and first finger near the +quill, and detached therefrom by pulling it smartly downwards. The other +wing is prepared in a similar manner from a feather of the opposite wing +of the bird. + + +_Diptera and Perlidae._ + +In imitations of Diptera and Perlidae the body and hackle are put on in +the same way, except that the hackle should be allowed to project +sideways as well as downwards; for as the wings are horizontal in these +flies, the fibres which project sideways will not interfere with the +position of the wings, as they would do in the Alder and Caddis flies. +The body and hackle, when put on, should therefore appear as shown in +Fig. 14. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.] + +The wings of these flies are perhaps the most difficult of any to put +on. To put on wings which diverge from each other as in the Blue-bottle, +two portions of the quill feathers from opposite sides, prepared as +described for the Alder and Caddis flies, should be laid upon each +other, as shown in Fig. 16. The hook should then be taken in the left +hand, and held by the bend between the first and second fingers, with +the head pointing towards the right. The wings are then laid flat on the +body with the right hand, and held there firmly with the left thumb. The +wings are now tied in, the quill and part of the fibres attached cut off +close, and the head finished off. The illustration of the imitation +Blue-bottle, etc., shows its appearance when finished. + +Those Diptera whose wings lie, when at rest, one over the other (as in +the case of the Cow-dung), my reader will see that I have represented in +my imitations, with their wings spread to a certain extent. This is +because I have seen that, in the natural fly, when it falls on the +water, the wings are most often in this position. + +In Perlidae, whose wings lie one over the other, the wings should be put +in the position they occupy in the natural fly, instead of across each +other, and the fly will appear when finished like the illustration of +the imitation Yellow-Sally. + +The dressings which I have found most successful will be described with +each fly. It will be noticed that I have put tinsel on many of the flies +which have been dressed hitherto without. My reason for using it so +freely is because this is the only way to produce a peculiar effect +which is seen in certain flies when viewed from under the surface of the +water; and as this is how they must appear to the trout, it is best to +imitate this effect as nearly as possible. + +The bodies of many flies are covered with short hairs. When these flies +fall on the water, an air bubble adheres to these hairs, and, seen from +below the surface, produce a brilliant metallic effect, with the colour +of the body showing through in places. Ribbing the body of the imitation +with tinsel reproduces this effect accurately. + +The appearance of the natural fly on the water, when seen from below, +may be observed by placing a small mirror at the bottom of a large bowl +full of water. I have used one of those small round mirrors which were +sent about some time ago as an advertisement for something, I forget +what. If the fly be placed on the surface of the water over this mirror, +its reflection will show what the fly looks like to the trout. + +Another, and perhaps a better, way to observe the appearance of the fly +from below the surface is to put it on the water in a large glass +aquarium. It can then be observed by looking up at it through one of the +sides of the aquarium. + +It is better to use tinsel in dressing these flies than wire, as wire +does not reproduce the metallic effect of the air bubble on the body of +the natural fly. + +[Illustration: + +PLATE II + +ARTIFICIAL FLIES + +Drawn from flies tied by Mrs. J. R. Richardson, of Kingston-on-Thames +(dressed from the Author's models). + + 1, 2. BLUE-BOTTLE. + 3, 4. GREEN-BOTTLE. + 5, 6. HOUSE-FLY (slightly enlarged). + 7, 8. CURSE (BLACK). + 9, 10. CURSE (DUN). + 11. CURSE (BADGER). + 12. BLACK GNAT. + 13, 14. YELLOW SALLY. + 15, 16, 17. WILLOW-FLY. + 18. ALDER-FLY. + 19. OAK-FLY. + 20, 21. COW-DUNG-FLY. + 22. HAWTHORN-FLY. + +Swan Electric Engraving C^o]. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Alder-fly (_Sialis lutaria_, Linn.). + + +The Alder is a fly which hitherto has taken a position in the dry-fly +fisherman's estimation very much inferior to that which is its due. +Almost every writer on the subject says that it is but rarely found on +the water. It is naturally not found there so often as the flies which +are hatched out in the water, but I have notwithstanding frequently seen +them on the water in fair numbers. The proportion of Alders which get on +the water is probably very small if compared with those which do not; +but as the fly is in some places extremely numerous, even this small +proportion becomes in those places a large number. + +A practical proof that they do frequently fall on the water is the +avidity with which the trout feed upon them, and I have almost always +found them in the stomachs of trout when they have been numerous at the +water-side. I have also often dropped a natural Alder on the water and +seen it taken by a trout. + +Many will probably think that I have mistaken one of the Caddis-flies +for the Alder, but I can assure them that this is not the case. I have +always, with regard to the Alder especially, made a very careful +examination of the flies at the water-side, and, as every one knows, +even a cursory examination of the fly with a magnifying-glass puts an +end to all doubt as to its being an Alder or Caddis-fly, even if the +knowledge of entomology possessed by him who examines is but small. The +peculiar hump-shape of the wings when at rest also makes an Alder easily +recognisable. + +I believe that the great reason that the imitation Alder is not so +successful as it should be, is because the wings are generally put in an +absolutely impossible position. This is not the fault of the +fly-dressers, as all writers on the subject have put the wings in this +position, a position into which they could not get in the natural fly +without the intervention of external violence. + +I have, in observing this fly when it has fallen on the water, seen its +wings in the position of rest as often as not. In fact the only other +condition in which I have seen it, is when it has been buzzing +violently, apparently with the object of raising itself from the +surface. Of course the easiest, and in fact the only possible position +in which the wings can be accurately imitated, is the position of rest. + +Another mistake in the imitations usually sold, is in the materials used +in the dressing. The body is made very fat, with peacock herle; while in +the natural fly it is decidedly thin, and of a dark brown colour. The +wings are made of brown speckled hen's quill feathers or bustard, which +are of a very much richer brown than the wing of the natural fly, and +lastly the hackle is much too profuse and goes all over the fly. The +following dressing of the Alder I have found to be most successful, +both in my hands and in those of other fishermen. + +_Body._ Very dark brown floss silk, carried well on to the bend of the +hook, and there made a trifle thicker. I have at times found it very +successful when ribbed with narrow gold tinsel (00 size). + +If the body be covered with thin india-rubber, it will be found to give +the fly a most effective appearance. + +_Hackle._ Three or four turns of a black cock's hackle, put on as +described in Chapter III. + +_Wings._ From quill feathers of woodcock's wings taken from opposite +sides. The woodcock's feathers have a somewhat shiny appearance; and as +they are also the nearest in colour to the general colour of the Alder's +wings, I think they are the very best feathers to use. I have described +the position in which to put the wings in Chapter III. + +_Hook._ No. 2--4, new size. + +(Plates I. and II. show the natural Alder and the imitation as it should +appear when finished.) + + + + +CHAPTER V + +CADDIS-FLIES (Trichoptera). + + +Every fisherman knows the Caddis-worm, which is the larval form of the +Caddis-fly. As the number of different species of Trichoptera is very +large, there are many different sorts of Caddis-worms. Some of these +make cases which they fix to rocks; most of them however have cases +which they drag about with them, and retire into it when any danger +approaches. These cases vary much in shape and the materials of which +they are made. Some species are however, as a rule to be found in almost +every water. They are extremely interesting to watch, though, if they +are accidentally introduced into a hatching trough containing trout ova, +they will destroy the eggs. Caddis worms are taken freely by trout, and +I have frequently found them, contained in their cases, in the stomachs +of trout. + +The Caddis or Sedge flies, as I have pointed out, are a very numerous +family, and most of them are taken very readily by the trout. These +flies, when on the water, generally have their wings in the position of +rest. Notwithstanding this fact, the wings of the imitation Sedges are +always put in an upright position, while the position of the wings at +rest in the natural flies is practically the same as in the case of the +Alder, though the lower edges of the wings do not, as a rule, come quite +so low in relation to their bodies. + + + THE GRANNOM (_Brachycentrus subnubilus_, Curt.). + +This fly is extremely numerous on many of the streams in the South, and +is so well known to the fisherman that a description is almost needless. +It appears about the middle of April, and lasts five or six weeks, +though Ronalds says that he has found them in the stomachs of trout as +late as August. + +The bunch of eggs which the female carries at the tail is best +represented by winding on some bluish-green floss silk or wool at the +end of the body, which should be carried well down on the bend of the +hook, as shown in the illustration of the imitation fly. + +_Body._ Light coloured fur from hare's face, with green floss silk or +wool at the tail. If ribbed with narrow gold tinsel is sometimes more +successful. + +_Hackle._ Light ginger, or, better still, a hackle dark in the centre +and light ginger at the ends. + +_Wings._ The lightest-coloured feathers from a partridge's wings. + +_Hook._ No. 1--3, new size. + +(Plates I. and III. give illustrations of the natural and artificial +Grannom.) + + + THE SAND FLY (_Limnephilus flavus_, Steph.). + +Mr. Halford points out in his _Dry-Fly Entomology_, that Ronalds was +mistaken in calling this fly the Sand-fly, as the true sand-fly is one +of the Diptera. I take it, however, that in either case this is but a +popular name; and as almost all former writers on the subject seem to +have described the Sand-fly as being a common Caddis-fly, I think that +in adhering to the old name I shall avoid confusing the fisherman. + +This fly is one of the most useful of all the Caddis-flies, as it is +hatched out in April, and lasts almost all the season. There are several +other Caddis-flies which come out later in the year, that resemble it +very closely both in colour, shape, and size. The wings are of a yellow +ochre colour, barred with brown, the body is covered with short hairs of +a light fawn colour, and the fly is about the same size as, or a little +larger than, the Grannom. + +The dressing given below, if slightly modified, will serve for several +of the other Caddis-flies which come out later in the season. + +_Body._ Light-coloured fur from hare's face, ribbed with orange silk. If +ribbed with narrow gold tinsel is sometimes more successful. + +_Hackle._ Light ginger. + +_Wings._ The part of quill feather of a hen pheasant's wing that is +yellow, barred with brown, or a similarly barred part of the quill +feather of a woodcock. + +_Hook_. No. 1--3, new size. + +(Illustrations of the natural and artificial fly are given in Plates I. +and III.) + + + THE RED SEDGE (_Anabolia nervosa_, Steph.). + +There is a Caddis-fly which appears on the water about the beginning of +June, and which I have seen in great numbers as late as the middle of +October, that does not seem to have obtained a popular name among +fishermen. + +Its wings are very much like those of the Alder in shape and veining, +and the fly is nearly the same size, though perhaps it is, on an +average, very slightly smaller. Here, however, the resemblance ends. Its +anterior wings are of a light reddish-brown colour, and are more +transparent than are those of the Alder. The body is also shorter in +proportion to its wings, and is closely covered with light yellow hairs, +which, on the darker background of the body, gives it a greyish-yellow +appearance. + +This fly is taken freely by both trout and grayling, and I have seen +dace feeding on it greedily. + +_Body._ Lightest yellow fur from the water-rat, spun on black silk. + +_Hackle._ Light red. + +_Wings._ The peculiar shape and colour of the wings are best represented +by the tip of a feather covering the roots of the quill feathers in the +wing of the landrail. These feathers are of a reddish brown colour, and +are found near the upper edge on the outer surface of the wing. The most +superficial and reddish feathers are the best. These feathers should be +taken from opposite wings, and prepared by stripping off some of the +fibres so that they may appear as shown in the illustration of the +artificial fly on Plate III. Plate I. gives an illustration of the +natural fly. + +_Hook._ No. 9--4, new size. + + + THE WELSHMAN'S BUTTON (_Sericostoma collare_, Pict.). + +This fly is very numerous in some places, and is taken readily by trout. +The body of the imitation is generally made of peacock herle, but this +makes it much too thick. The fly generally appears early in June. + +It is said that this fly is often mistaken for the Alder, but it should +be easy to discriminate between them. In the Alder the anterior wings +are smooth, broad and strong, in the Welshman's Button they are covered +with hairs and narrow. This fly is usually smaller than the Alder. + +_Body._ Reddish brown wool, ribbed with narrow gold tinsel. + +_Hackle._ Yellow centre with black ends. + +_Wings._ From reddish quill feather of landrail. + +_Hook._ 2--4, new size. + + + THE CINNAMON FLY (_Mystacides longicornis_, Linn.). + +There are a large number of small Caddis-flies which are very much alike +in appearance. The anterior wings are long and narrow, and are brown +barred with dull yellow. They hover in great numbers by bushes and trees +overhanging the water, and are taken readily enough by trout. I have +chosen the _Mystacides longicornis_ as being one of the commonest and +most typical. An illustration of the natural fly is given on Plate I. +and of the artificial on Plate III. + +_Body._ Light fur from hare's face. + +_Hackle._ Ginger. + +_Wings._ Narrow piece from well barred quill feather of hen pheasant. + +_Hook._ No. 0--2, new size. + + + THE CAPERER (_Halesus radiatus_, McLach.). + +This fly, which is well known to fishermen and appears as a rule in +August, is one of the largest Sedge-flies. Its wings are mottled brown +and covered with hairs. Several other Sedges somewhat resemble it. +(Illustrations of the natural and artificial flies are given on Plates +I. and III. respectively.) + +_Body._ Brown fur from hare's face. + +_Hackle._ A badger hackle, the light parts of which are of a pale dull +yellow colour. + +_Wings._ From the dullest mottled quill feather of a hen pheasant. + +_Hook._ No. 3--5, new size. + +There are many other Caddis-flies, but the following dressings, perhaps +slightly modified to imitate certain flies more closely, will be found +to cover most of them. + + 1. _Body._ White wool, ribbed with narrow silver tinsel. + _Hackle._ Pale ginger. + _Wings._ Brown quill feather of landrail. + _Hook._ No. 0--3. + + 2. _Body._ Hare's face, ribbed with narrow gold tinsel. + _Hackle._ Brown ginger. + _Wings and Hook_ as No. 1. + + 3. _Body._ Pale yellow wool, ribbed with narrow gold tinsel. + _Hackle._ Coch-y-bondu. + _Wings._ Speckled quill feathers of pheasant's wing. + _Hook_ as No. 1. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PERLIDAE + + +Imitation Perlidae, or Stone-flies, are more used in the North in wet-fly +fishing than by the dry-fly fisherman of the South. + +The best known species is the Stone-fly proper, but this fly does not +seem to abound in the South, though I have found isolated specimens at +Heathfield in Sussex on two occasions. + +This fly is therefore omitted, and the Willow-fly and the Yellow-Sally +only are described. + +Perlidae, unlike _Diptera_, have four wings. As, however, the anterior +wings cover the posterior when at rest, it is as a rule only necessary +to make the imitation with one pair of wings. + +This posterior pair of wings in the Perlidae often materially changes +the colour of the anterior pair when they are at rest. Thus in the +Willow-fly, though the anterior pair of wings are of a brownish colour, +they appear of a dark slaty hue when the fly is seen crawling about. An +illustration of natural fly is given on Plate I. + + + WILLOW-FLY (_Leuctra geniculata_, Steph.). + +This fly comes on late in the season. In September and October it is +taken freely by the trout and grayling. It is similar in shape to the +Stone-fly of the North. + +This fly has almost always been made buzz. Ronalds mentions in his _Fly +Fisher's Entomology_ that it may be made with wings, but does not say +anything about their position. I do not think that the hackle fly is a +really good imitation of the natural insect, and it is quite possible to +put the wings of the imitation in the same position as those of the +natural fly. + +It will be seen that there are on Plate II. three illustrations of the +imitation Willow-fly. One of these has its wings in the position of +rest, the manner of dressing which I have described in a previous +chapter. + +The other, which has its wings partially spread, I owe to a suggestion +from Mr. G. E. M. Skues. + +The posterior pair of wings are put on first, and the anterior +afterwards. As the mode of procedure is practically the same as in the +Blue-bottle, with the addition of another pair of wings, I need not +enter into further detail. + +The Willow-fly, when it falls on the water, has its wings sometimes in +one and sometimes in the other of these positions. + +_Body._ Light brown fur from water-rat, ribbed with narrow gold tinsel. + +_Hackle._ Ginger. + +_Wings._ Darkest starling's quill feathers. The wings should be made +narrow. + +_Hook._ Nos. 00--1, new size. + +(Illustrated, Plate II.) + + + THE YELLOW SALLY (_Chloroperla grammatica_, Poda). + +This fly appears in May and June, and though it is said to be +occasionally taken by trout, does not seem to be relished to any great +extent by them. The wings should be placed one over the other as in the +illustrations of the imitation fly given on Plate II. + +_Body._ Light brown water-rat's fur, ribbed with yellow silk. + +_Tail._ Two brown fibres from pheasant's wing. + +_Hackle._ Partridge hackle, dyed olive. + +_Wings._ Quill feather of white hen, dyed olive. + +_Hook._ Nos. 1--2, new size. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DIPTERA + + +The order Diptera, or two-winged flies, includes more species which at +times serve as food for trout and grayling, than any other order which +includes species of so-called flies. + +Though naturally many other species than those whose imitations I +describe here will be found on the water, I have tried to include those +which are most commonly found, without burdening my reader with too +many. + +The several patterns of imitations of small Diptera (curses) will, I +believe, be found to represent most of the commoner species found on the +water, at least sufficiently accurately to deceive the trout sometimes, +though when the fish are feeding upon these tiny flies, it is very +probable that they will refuse all imitations, for many species which +serve them as food are too small to imitate. + + + BLUE-BOTTLE AND GREEN-BOTTLE + +The Blue-bottle and Green-bottle, though perhaps some of the commonest +of flies, are but little used by the fly-fisherman. The success met with +in using the natural fly is very small. The reason for this want of +success is the position in which the wings of the imitation are put by +the fly-dresser. In this case, like that of the Alder, the fault does +not lie with the fly-dresser, as the writers on fly-dressing direct that +the wings should be put on in the same position as those of every other +fly--that is, in an upright position. Any one, as I have said before, on +the most casual observation must realise that the wings of a Blue-bottle +and the wings of a May-fly do not lie in quite the same position in +relation to the body. + +There are many Diptera which come under the names of Blue- and +Green-bottles, but as they are very similar in appearance it is only +necessary to vary the size, as the trout are probably not sufficiently +scientifically educated to discriminate between the different species. +The commonest species of Diptera which are included under the popular +names of Blue- and Green-bottles, are the _Calliphora erythrocephala_, +Mg., and _Lucilia caesar_, Linn., of which illustrations are given on the +Plate of Natural Flies. + +August and September are the best months for these flies, though they +come out much earlier. They seem, however, to fall upon the water much +more frequently later in the season. They are also very good flies for +grayling in October. As I have already said, of the many different +species which I have ventured to include under the name Blue-bottle, the +commonest at the water side is _Calliphora erythrocephala_. This fly is +also found in towns. The Green-bottle, however, which I have chosen to +represent all the others as being the commonest at the water side is a +country fly, _Lucilia Caesar_. Some species of _Lucilia_, the bodies of +which are generally green, are found in towns. + + +_Blue-bottle_-- + + _Body._ Fine dark blue chenille or dark blue Berlin wool, ribbed with + silver tinsel. (I have found the fly very successful when ribbed with + light blue silk as well as the tinsel.) + _Hackle._ Black. + _Wings._ Transparent wing feather of starling. + _Hook._ Nos. 2--4, new size. (No. 3 best all round.) + +_Green-bottle_-- + + _Body._ Bright green peacock herle, ribbed with silver tinsel. + _Hackle_, _Wings_ and _Hook._ Same as Blue-bottle. (Illustrated + Plate II.) + + + HOUSE-FLY + +There are many small Diptera which frequent the water side, which to the +ordinary eye are apparently House-flies. They resemble them so closely, +in fact, that many could not be discriminated from them except by an +entomologist. + +I have, therefore, ventured to put them all under the heading of +"House-fly." The only difference which will ever have to be made in the +dressing given below is in the body, and very rarely in the hackle; but +these modifications must be left to the fisherman, who must judge for +himself according to the flies he finds by the water. + +I do not remember ever having met a fisherman who had used an artificial +House-fly for trout. Trout however do feed on them; and in this case I +can bring other evidence than my own. + +Ronalds describes an experiment he made in order to test the trout's +power of taste; and in this experiment he used House-flies, to which he +applied various condiments, including red pepper. Though his object was +not to prove that trout fed readily on House-flies, I think he proved +that they did so. + +Probably the commonest of these small Diptera which is to be found by +the water is _Musca corvina_, Fab., which is the country cousin of our +well-known House-fly, though, indeed, many of the flies which frequent +our houses are not the true House-fly (_Musca domestica_). The male +_Musca corvina_, whose portrait is given on Plate I., has a body which +appears to consist of alternate stripes of yellow and brown. The female, +however, has a uniformly dark body. Of the other flies, very similar in +appearance to House-flies, the bodies vary in colour; but if made of a +yellowish or dull brown, sometimes ribbed, it will generally prove like +enough to nature, to deceive the trout. + +_Body._ Yellow ochre-coloured Berlin wool, spun on black silk. Ribbed +with silver tinsel and dark brown according to circumstances. (The exact +shade is easy to see on the under surface of the natural fly. The under +surface of the fly is the surface seen by the trout.) + +_Hackle._ Coch-y-bondhu. + +_Wings._ Transparent quill feather of starling. + +_Hook._ Nos. 00--1, new size. + +(Illustrations of imitation, Plate II.) + + + COW-DUNG FLY (_Scatophaga stercoraria_, Linn.). + +This fly appears as a rule in February, but I have seen it on warm days +in January, in fairly large numbers. It lasts all the year till the +frosts set in. Those cow-dungs which appear early in the year are not so +large as those which appear later. The body is covered with short hairs +which gives it a velvety appearance. The thorax is large and also has a +number of hairs upon it. In order to imitate this large thorax, it is +necessary to have more room on the hook above the hackle and wings than +in other flies to leave room for a turn of the chenille, of which the +body is made, just below the head of the fly. This will be seen in the +illustrations of the artificial fly on Plate II. + +The body of the male is a bright yellow colour, that of the female is +greenish. The male is rather larger than the female. These flies, which +on windy days particularly, frequently fall on the water, are often +taken very freely by the trout. + +Though when at rest the wings are flat upon each other, as shown in the +illustration of the natural fly in Plate I., they often, when the fly +falls on the water, are spread out slightly; so in the imitation it is +best to put them in the position shown in the illustration of the +artificial fly. + +_Body._ Yellow or greenish yellow chenille ribbed with gold tinsel. + +_Hackle._ Ginger. + +_Wings._ Light landrail, or brownish starling. + +_Hook._ 0--2, new size. + + + BLACK GNAT (_Bibio johannis_, Linn.). + +The black Gnat is found on almost all waters. It is extremely numerous +in some places, and is taken very readily by the trout. + +These flies are not really Gnats; but as they are commonly called Gnats +by the fishermen, I have kept to the old name. + +_Bibio johannis_ comes out in June. The body is black in both the male +and female, the wings in the male are almost colourless, while the wings +of the female are dark. The head of the male is also larger than the +head of the female. Both the male and female have a dark oval-shaped +patch about the middle of the anterior margin of the front wing. + +Both these flies are taken greedily by the trout when they fall upon the +water. + +I have found the following dressing the best:-- + +_Body._ Peacock quill dyed black, or black silk. + +_Hackle._ Cock starling's hackle, stripped on one side. + +_Wings._ (_Male_) From most transparent part of quill feather of +starling. (_Female_) From brown tipped starling's tail feather. + +_Hook._ No. 000--0, new size. + +An illustration of the imitation fly is given on Plate II. + + + HAWTHORN FLY (_Bibio marci_, Linn.). + +_Bibio marci_ is commonly called the Hawthorn-fly, and was described +under this name by Ronalds. It is, speaking broadly, first cousin to the +Black Gnat, though it is very much larger. It appears at the end of +April or the beginning of May. The body is black, and the wings show +the oval patch in the _B. johannis_; but as the fly is larger, in the +_B. marci_ it is more noticeable. As only the male seems to rove about +to any extent, it is just as well to imitate the male only. + +_Body._ Black Berlin wool, ribbed with silver tinsel. + +_Hackle._ Black. + +_Wings._ (_Male_) Transparent part of quill feather of starling. + +_Hook._ No. 1--3, new size. + +An illustration of the natural fly is given on Plate I., and one of the +imitations on Plate II. + + + _Curses_ + +There are several other small Diptera which at times appear on the water +in swarms. These are known to the fishermen as Curses or Smuts. They are +often so small that there is no hook made small enough upon which to tie +imitations of them. However, as every fisherman knows, when the trout or +grayling are feeding on these flies, it is generally impossible to get +them to take the imitation of any other fly, it is worth while trying +to imitate them on the smallest hook made. This is an 000, with a short +shank. As it is extremely difficult to put wings on these flies, hackle +patterns may be tried, but the winged patterns are the best. + +Once, when out fishing, I had a very aggravating experience with some +tiny Curses. I had been fishing all the morning and had caught nothing. +At about two o'clock I saw several good fish rising, but they would not +look at my fly. I observed a fair number of light Olive Duns on the +water, but both the imitation of this fly and several fancy patterns I +tried proved equally useless. + +At last I seated myself on a fence close to a clump of willows, lighted +a pipe, and began watching a fish which was rising a few yards higher +up, not far from the bank on my side of the river. The water was +perfectly clear, and when the fish rose I could see him distinctly. He +was a grayling of between half and three-quarters of a pound, and rose +four or five times in the minute. There were a lot of Smuts on the +water, which from where I was, looked very dark if not black. These the +fish rose at regularly, but he let several Olive Duns pass by unnoticed. + +The only Curses I had in my fly-box were black; and as those he was +feeding upon appeared to be black, I put one on my cast and floated it +over him several times. But though he once took a natural Smut floating +within an inch of my fly, my fly he would not take. + +I then went further down the bank and caught some of the Smuts that were +on the water. They were of a mottled dun colour, and the black effect +was only produced by their shadow or reflection (which I could not +determine) when they were on the water. + +Of the flies in my box that which came nearest in general effect to +these Curses was a green insect (dun hackle and peacock herle body) tied +on an 000 hook. This I put on my cast and floated over him. He rose to +it, and as he rose I could see him distinctly. When within a few inches +of my fly, however, he stopped short, turned aside, and took a natural +Smut that was floating past. I tried him then with an olive quill, a +Wickham, and a red tag; but he would have none of them. I had to give +him up in despair, though I believe if I had had a dun-coloured Smut he +would have taken it. + +The dressings of Curses given here will, I think, be sufficient to +include the commoner Curses so numerous on most waters, especially +during the hottest part of summer and autumn. + +The number of different small Diptera which are found on the water is so +great that any attempt to classify them in a work which is meant only +for fishermen would be out of place. I have therefore limited myself to +giving these imitations-- + + +_Curse No. 1_ (Black):-- + + _Body._ Black silk or black quill, with a turn of the narrowest + silver tinsel at the tail. + _Hackle._ Black. + _Wings._ Most transparent part of starling's quill feather. + _Hook._ 000 short shank. + +(Illustrated, Plate II.) + +_Curse No. 2_ (Dun):-- + + _Body._ Thinnest part of natural brown ostrich. + _Hackle._ Dun (hen's) + _Wings_ and _hook_ as No. 1. + +(Illustrated, Plate II.) + +_Curse No. 3_ (Badger):-- + + _Body_, _wings_ and _hook_ as No. 2. + _Hackle._ Cock's badger hackle. + +(Illustrated, Plate II.) + + +_Curse No. 4_ (Red):-- + + _Body._ Peacock quill dyed to a crimson lake colour. + _Hackle._ Black. + _Wings_ and _hook_ as No. 1. + +Nos. 2 and 3 should be made also without the fluff being stripped off +the quill, which in this case should be used just as peacock herle is +used. + + + THE OAK-FLY (_Leptis scolopacea_, Linn.) + +This fly, notwithstanding its popular name, is found on many other +trees, and I have seen it in places where there were no oak-trees near. +It kills very well, and is in season from April to July. The body is +long and tapered, and the segments of the abdomen are, in the male, of a +brilliant orange colour, with black markings upon them, as shown in the +illustration of the natural fly on Plate I. The wings are brown. + + _Body._ Reddish orange Berlin wool, ribbed with black silk, and + narrow gold tinsel. + _Hackle._ Coch-y-bondhu. + _Wings._ From sixth or seventh quill feathers of landrail wings. + _Hook._ New size, No. 2--3. + +(Imitation illustrated on Plate II., Figs. 3 and 4.) + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WINGED ANTS + + +The Winged Ants, which are the newly hatched insects, appear about the +middle of July. The time at which they appear, however, varies very +much. They appear in swarms, and when one of these swarms gets near or +on the water, the fish feed greedily upon them. They have four wings, +the anterior pair being somewhat longer than the body. These wings, when +at rest, do not fold neatly over each other, and as the insect is clumsy +in its flight, even a slight breeze is sufficient to drive many of them +out to the water. + +The Ant I have seen most frequently on the water is a large Red Ant, but +smaller Red Ants and winged Black Ants are also frequently seen. The +position of the wings in relation to the body easiest to imitate is +shown in the illustration of the imitation of the Willow-fly, which has +four wings. + +The Red Ant is frequently used early in June, though the natural insect +is not seen so early. The imitation, however, frequently meets with +success, though it is improbable that the trout takes the imitation for +the natural insect, especially as the wings are always put on in a +vertical position. + +The bodies of all the Ants should be made fat towards the bend of the +hook, and carried well on to the bend. + +As the body of the Ant is very shiny, parts of it, when the light falls +upon it, have a very brilliant appearance; therefore I have recommended +the use of tinsel. + +_Red Ant_-- + + _Body._ Red-brown (burnt sienna) silk, thin on the shank and fat + towards and on the bend of the hook, ribbed with gold tinsel. + _Hackle._ Red. + _Wings._ Transparent part of a starling's quill feather. + _Hook._ 0--2. + +_Black Ant_-- + + _Body._ Black silk, ribbed with silver tinsel. + _Hackle._ Black. + _Wings._ As Red Ant. + _Hook._ 0--1. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CATERPILLARS + + +"Of the caterpillars, spiders, and other creatures which are supposed to +fall from the trees into the water, and into the trout's mouth, and of +the consequent advantage of trees projecting over a stream; of the +sapient advice, both verbal and written, to cultivate vegetation +overhanging the river, because it increases the supply of natural food; +of the statement that fish under trees are invariably in the best +condition, anglers have heard from time immemorial. My advice is, +cultivate your trees, because they are of advantage as giving shelter to +the fish. Not a single example of these tree windfalls has been found in +the hundreds of autopsies which I have made, and all the caterpillars +and spiders that fall from the trees in a mile of water would not +suffice to feed a single pound trout for a single day. They may +therefore be discarded from consideration."--HALFORD'S _Dry-fly +Entomology_, page 138. + +I read this passage with extreme surprise, as it absolutely contradicts +my personal experience. After thinking the matter over carefully, and +trying to make out how it was that Mr. Halford, in the hundreds of +autopsies he has made, has never come across a caterpillar, I realised +how dangerous it is to make a dogmatic and sweeping statement with the +evidence of personal experience only to fall back upon. + +As recently as June, 1897, when fishing with Dr. Charles R. Watson and +Mr. A. D. Home, I made with them a series of six autopsies of trout +caught consecutively in one morning. The smallest number of caterpillars +found in one of these six autopsies was five, and the greatest, twelve. +These trout were all caught under oak trees overhanging the water, which +were at that time swarming with small caterpillars, most of these +caterpillars being of a brilliant emerald green colour. + +In the afternoon of the day on which I am writing this, Colonel Walker +showed me a peculiar sort of knife which he carries when out fishing, +for the purpose of making autopsies on trout. I naturally took advantage +of this occasion to increase my evidence, and asked him if he had ever +found caterpillars in the trout he caught. He told me that in certain +places, in the early part of the summer, he almost always found +caterpillars in the stomachs of the trout he caught under trees +overhanging the water. + +This experience of his exactly coincides with my own, though the six +consecutive autopsies described above without my other similar +experiences is a fairly strong piece of evidence. I am therefore +inclined to believe that there is some good to be gained in following +the sapient advice, verbal and written, to cultivate vegetation +overhanging the river, beyond its advantage as giving shelter to the +fish. + +I will narrate the circumstances which first led me to use the +caterpillar as a dry fly, as they may, I think, interest my reader. + +I was lying on the bank by a large pool on a stream, and saw a little +green caterpillar hanging from the branch of an oak tree, apparently +trying in vain to pull himself up the thread by which he had so +foolishly lowered himself, till he was uncomfortably near the surface of +the water. I watched him, lazily thinking in a dreamy manner how very +unkind it was of the trout to keep on rising, and yet not look at my +fly. They were evidently feeding on something, but what it was I could +not make out. The little green caterpillar was getting gradually nearer +to the water, and I was beginning to think that the poor little chap +would meet with a watery grave, when just as he touched the water a +trout came up and grabbed him. + +Little green caterpillars were evidently what the trout were feeding +upon, and that was the reason that I could not catch one with a fly. I +watched the branches of the oak tree overhanging the water for some +time, and saw several caterpillars fall in and meet with the same fate. +The next thing I did was to catch a caterpillar, scrape the fly dressing +off my hook, and put him on it instead. I caught several trout in this +way, but found that it was almost impossible to cast any distance +without shaking off the caterpillar. After much trouble caused by this +difficulty, which was very trying to the temper, as the caterpillars +always seemed to come off the hook at the most critical moment, and +having got a fairly good basket, I found it was time to return. That +night I managed to make some fairly good imitations of the little green +caterpillar to use on the morrow, instead of the natural ones. These +imitations met with success, and since that time I have been able to +improve on the dressings then used. + +I have found many different kinds of caterpillars in the stomachs of +trout, but small green ones of various sorts were decidedly the most +numerous. The species I have most frequently found is, I believe, the +larval form of the _Tortrix viridana_. I have never found a large +caterpillar in a trout, though I have caught trout with imitations of +them used as dry flies. I give the exact dressing of the green +caterpillar; but the other dressings must be left to the discretion of +the fisherman for alterations, as there are so many sorts of small +caterpillars, some of them being extremely rare in one place and common +in another. + +Should the fisherman wish to see the sort of caterpillar commonest where +he is fishing, he must seek them himself. Those only are useful which +are on the trees overhanging the water. If there are oak trees the +caterpillars will probably be green, and many kinds of caterpillars will +be found which have rolled themselves up in the leaves of the tree upon +which they live. I have no doubt that this imitation caterpillar will be +looked upon as a poaching implement, but it is or should be used as a +dry fly, and to use it successfully requires as much skill and power of +observation as does the use of any imitation of a fly used in a similar +manner. + +_How to make an Artificial Caterpillar._--A small piece of cork 1/32 of +an inch thick, or less, and nearly twice the length of the hook, must +be cut into the shape shown in Fig. 17. Next take a piece of quill +rather longer than, and about the thickness of a large pin, from a tail +or wing feather of a starling. This quill makes the foundation of the +body. Split the thick end of the quill far enough to embrace two-thirds +of the shank of the hook, and then tie it on the hook as shown in Fig. +18. Now fold the piece of cork, with the broad end towards the eye of +the hook, over the shank of the hook and the quill, tying it in as shown +in Fig. 19. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18. FIG. 17. FIG. 19.] + +This foundation serves for any caterpillar. Tie it at the tail whatever +is to be used for ribbing the body, and the body material if it is not +to be spun on the tying silk. Then wind on the body material, tie it in, +wind on the ribbing, finish off at the head, and cut off the projecting +piece of quill. + +The caterpillar when finished should appear as shown in the +illustrations on Plate III. + +_Green Caterpillar._--1. Emerald green wool spun on tying-silk, ribbed +with light yellow silk. + +2. Emerald green wool spun on tying-silk, ribbed with scarlet silk. + +3. Yellowish green wool spun on tying-silk, ribbed with narrow gold +tinsel. + +4. Olive green wool spun on tying-silk, ribbed with narrow gold tinsel. + +(I have found Nos. 1 and 2 very successful when ribbed also with narrow +gold tinsel, and Nos. 3 and 4 when ribbed with light yellow silk.) + +_Other Caterpillars_ made with a reddish-brown body, and ribbed with +yellow or red, are also sometimes very successful, as are those also +ribbed with red or Coch-y-bondhu hackles. + +[Illustration: + +PLATE III + +ARTIFICIAL FLIES + +Drawn from flies tied by Mrs. J. R. RICHARDSON, of Kingston-on-Thames +(dressed from the Author's models). + + 1. SAND-FLY. + 2. GRANNOM. + 3. CINNAMON-FLY. + 4. WELSHMAN'S BUTTON. + 5. CAPERER. + 6. RED SEDGE. + 7, 8. GREEN CATERPILLAR. + 9, 10. CORIXA. + 11, 12. FRESH-WATER SHRIMP. + +Swan Electric Engraving C^o.] + + + + +PART II + +_WET FLIES_ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A THEORY[1] + +[1] Rewritten from an article in _The Field_ under the heading of "An +Unorthodox View of Wet Fly Fishing." + + +That a trout or any other fish could possibly mistake a wet fly used in +the regular wet fly way for the natural fly of which it is supposed to +be an imitation, was always to my mind a very doubtful question; but now +it is so no longer. I am sure the fish takes it for something else. + +If we consider what would happen to a natural fly which had by some +mishap become submerged, we can come to no other conclusion than that it +would be carried along by the current, without any power of its own of +altering the direction in which it was being moved by the water. Does +this ever happen to the sunk fly? I think not. In fishing across and +down stream it certainly does not; and even in up stream fishing, in +order to keep his line straight, the fisherman must keep a certain +amount of tension on it, and very probably draws it through the water +with much the same sort of movement he would give it if not fishing up +stream. + +This movement through the water which is given to the artificial must be +absolutely unlike any movement of the natural fly when under the +surface; for in the natural fly, if it were not already drowned, the +only possible movement would be that of its legs and wings, which, not +being intended as a means of progression through the water, and being +absolutely unsuitable for that object, would be most unlikely to enable +it to do so. + +But here a very natural question arises as to what, if not the natural +fly, the fish takes the imitation to be? In a communication to the +_Field_ in June, 1897, I described, under the heading of "A New Trout +Fly," the imitations of two Corixae. This seems to be a key to the whole +question. The number of insects living in fresh waters, and possessing +the power of moving through it, is enormous. + +There are between 220 and 230 different species of Water Beetles in our +waters. There are also very many different sorts of Heteroptera, +including the numerous family Notonectidae. When we add to these the +larvae of flies and water beetles, the Crustaceans, Hydrae and Water +Spiders, we must begin to realise that there are other things than a +drowned natural fly for which the fish might mistake its imitation, with +the materials of which it is made soaked in and drawn through the water. + +The movement of many of these creatures through the water is fairly +represented by the movement of the artificial fly in wet fly-fishing; +and, when the shade and colour and size of the fly is the same as one of +these aquatic creatures, I am sure that the fish takes it, not for a +fly, but for one of them. Again, when the enormous number of these +aquatic creatures is considered, it is most probable that one or other +of the flies tried on any water by the fisherman will come very near in +shade, colour, and movement through the water, at any rate, to one of +them. + +If this conclusion at which I have arrived is correct, as I believe it +to be, would it not be wiser to try to imitate, not the natural fly, but +some of these numerous aquatic creatures? They are numerous enough, and +a large number of them are easy to imitate; but as yet but little has +been done, except with regard to the spiders, in this direction. I am +also sure that the success of the so-called spider patterns used in wet +fly-fishing has been due to quite a different cause to that which those +who first used them and those who use them now believe, as these +imitations are made from the insect as it appears when out of the water. +The spider goes from its nest to the surface of the water and back again +by a thread stretched between, and so would hardly move through the +water, as its imitation is made to do by the fisherman. Those of the +so-called spider-flies which are supposed to represent some of the +Ephemeridae, are, for the reasons I have given before in speaking of +flies in general, most unlikely to be mistaken for the natural insect by +the trout. + +A trout will undoubtedly sometimes take anything moving through the +water which simulates life, if it be of a suitable size. This is shown +by the manner in which they take the fancy flies; although here again, +as one particular pattern of a fancy fly kills better than any other on +one particular water, I think that very often this fancy fly is taken by +the fish for some creature which is particularly numerous there. At any +rate, if the fish only takes the artificial fly because it is apparently +something alive and moving, I am sure that he would seize it with much +more avidity if it represented one of his aquatic neighbours on which he +has been feeding, and if its appearance reminded him of many previous +pleasant meals. (Jan. 15, 1898.)[2] + +[2] Since this article appeared in _The Field_, some correspondence on +the subject has taken place in _The Fishing Gazette_ and _St. James's +Gazette_. Many of the arguments brought forward by some of the +correspondents have led me to believe that I cannot have made myself +sufficiently clear in the above article, so I have added some further +explanations. + +My readers must not suppose that I intend to apply these remarks to any +particular circumstances; I am only speaking of wet-flies in general. +While it is probable that the natural fly does often sink under the +surface, and may then be taken by the trout, the wet-fly of the +fisherman does not as a rule behave as does the natural fly when under +water. That the trout takes the wet-fly fished up stream, which is +allowed to come down with the current without any drag and close to the +surface, for the natural fly it represents, is also very probable; but +these facts do not in any way tend to disprove my theory. This manner of +wet-fly fishing is very much like dry-fly fishing, and is certainly not +the way in which wet-fly fishing is practised in lakes, and is hardly +the most general way in which it is practised on many rivers. + +In dealing with this subject fully and to carry my theory to its +necessary conclusion, it is of course necessary to find a probable +explanation of what every form of wet-fly, fancy or supposed imitation +of a natural fly, is taken for by the fish. This naturally leads us to +believe that such a theory, if it approaches the truth, should include +an explanation of why the salmon takes the fly. + +We know but little of the world as it appears to the eye of the fish, +but from the little that is known something may be deduced which carries +this theory a little further. In the sea many and very various effects +may be produced upon objects moving through the water when passing +between the eye and the surface, by light, by the reflecting powers of +the bottom of the water, and by the relative clearness of the water, all +of which factors of the effect produced vary to an almost incalculable +extent. + +Given a bright sun, a light sandy bottom and clear water, a small +crustacean swimming between the eye of the observer and the surface +often will not appear to be like the creature when it is seen out of the +water. The outline will be indistinct, and the whole will frequently +appear to be brilliantly coloured. Not only is the body thus brilliantly +coloured, but equally gaudy rays will be seen round it, probably +produced by the moving legs and by refraction. + +In this case the circumstances are all in favour of the production of an +effect of brilliant colouration; but going to the other extreme, with a +dull light, a dark bottom and cloudy water, we have the dullest-coloured +fly accounted for, as the first conditions accounted for that which was +most gaudy. This also explains the fact that the flies which go in +various gradations of colour between these extremes are most suitable +for various conditions of the weather, water, and locality. + +In the case of the Salmon-fly, probably the salmon remembers, when he +has reached fresh water, many an appetising morsel in the shape of a +crustacean or small fish, and takes the fly for one of these. + +In the case of the trout we know that crustaceans are very acceptable to +them, and though probably fresh water will not produce the brilliant +effect which is produced by salt water as I have described above, still, +as fancy Trout-flies do not run to such gaudy colours as do +Salmon-flies, still the effect should be sufficient to account for a +fair amount of brilliant colour under similar conditions. No doubt some +of the fancy Trout-flies are also taken for small fish. + +In many waters, however, the effect could hardly be made brilliant, as +shallow water, shade produced by weeds, &c., and muddy or dark bottoms +would all militate against its being so, and in these waters probably +only lures that imitate the actual colours of the object they represent +would be of any use. + +In fresh water and in the case of trout, as I have pointed out, there +are many aquatic creatures which serve as food which have the power of +swimming through the water. + +My theory, stated briefly and more explicitly, I hope, than was the case +in my article in _The Field_, is that under circumstances in which the +wet-fly behaves more as does some creature having the power of swimming +through the water, it is better to imitate this creature than any +natural fly on the water, which cannot in any case behave in such a +manner; and what I wish to advocate is, that imitations of these aquatic +creatures should be made and used. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +CORIXAE[3] + +[3] Rewritten from an article in _The Field_ under the heading of "A New +Trout Fly." + + +While fishing in a water where the trout are very numerous in the spring +of 1897, I found that I could hardly catch a single trout in the day +with the fly. The weather was cold and windy, and showed no signs of +mending. At last, one day, I opened a trout, one of the few that I had +caught during my visit, and found the stomach full of some insects +belonging to the family of Corixae. These insects are very commonly +called Water Beetles, or Water Boatmen. They, however, are not beetles +but bugs (Heteroptera), and are not the same as the true water-boatmen, +the _Notonecta glauca_, though they somewhat resemble it in appearance. + +On finding these insects in the trout I took some of them home, and made +imitations of them. With these the next day I caught a number of trout, +though the weather was just as unfavourable. Since then I have improved +somewhat upon the imitations I then used, and in waters which are +inhabited by Corixae. These imitations have met, both in my hands and in +the hands of others, with greater success than any other form of wet +fly. + +It is an extraordinary thing, considering the number of men who have +written on trout fishing, that it has apparently never occurred to one +of them to describe an imitation of one of this large family of insects. +Mr. Halford, in his _Dry-fly Entomology_, indeed states that he has +frequently found them in the stomachs of trout, but he does not even +suggest that an imitation of them might be made. + +There are many species of Corixae which inhabit our waters, but the +commoner sorts are so similar in appearance that many of the species are +very difficult to distinguish even by an expert, and but little work has +been done with regard to them. Therefore I have come to the conclusion +that a similar dressing on different sized hooks will be quite +sufficient to deceive the unscientific eye of the trout. This conclusion +is corroborated by the fact that I have several times had an imitation +Corixa seized by a trout when it was sinking, and before I began to draw +it through the water, which is, I take it, a fairly severe test as to +the accuracy of the imitation. Colonel Walker and Mr. Herbert Ash have +also had the same thing happen to them when fishing with my imitation +Corixae. + +Corixae vary much in size, the largest and one of the commonest species +being the _Corixa geoffroyi_, which is about half an inch long. In all +Corixae, the head is wide and is attached but slightly to the body. It is +convex in front and concave behind, so as to fit the end of the thorax, +and is as wide as the wings when folded and at rest. These insects +possess four wings, which they frequently use, though they are somewhat +clumsy in starting from the surface of the water. I have sometimes, +however, seen them fly considerable distances. The anterior wings +resemble the wing-cases of a beetle; they are hard and shiny, brown in +colour, with dark mottled markings upon them. The posterior pair are +transparent. The abdomen is light yellow and fringed with hairs, and +there are transverse lines on the dorsal surface of the thorax. As, +however, these markings on the thorax and wings are hardly visible to +the naked eye, they give the Corixa a generally brownish and shiny +appearance. Of the legs, six in number, the hind pair are most used in +swimming. They are somewhat flattened at their extremities to a paddle +shape, and are fringed with hairs. I have seen the hind legs of the +Corixae when the insects have been suspended motionless in mid-water, +standing out at right angles on each side of the body; and as in the +imitation I am about to describe, the legs take this position when the +fly is at rest or sinking in the water; this explains the fact of the +trout taking them in the way I have mentioned above. + +The _Corixa sahlbergi_, which is almost as common as the _Corixa +geoffroyi_, is about half its size, but is otherwise very similar in +appearance, as are nearly all the other smaller species. + +The Corixa frequently comes to the surface to breathe, and a number of +small air bubbles attach themselves to its body. These, when the insect +is swimming under water, give its body a brilliant silvery appearance, +with the yellow showing through in places. This effect is accurately +reproduced by ribbing the body with silver tinsel. + +The size of the hooks used must depend upon the size of the species of +Corixae inhabiting the water to be fished, and varies from No. 1 to 3, +new size. + +The Corixae in any particular water may easily be found in order to +observe the size. They congregate in great numbers among the weeds, &c., +on the bottom of the water. They are very numerous in most millponds, +pools, back-waters, sluggish waters and ponds. + +The body is made with light yellow Berlin wool, teazed up with fur from +the hare's face, and ribbed with silver tinsel. A good space of shank +should be left above the body. + +The only legs which make any show in the water are the hind legs, and +they are the only ones it is absolutely necessary to imitate; should, +however, the fisherman wish to imitate the others, one turn of a ginger +hackle may be used. + +When I described the Corixa in the _Field_ I directed that the hind legs +should be made with a strand of peacock herle. I have however found a +better imitation of these legs since then, in the end of a quill feather +from a starling's wing. This keeps up its spring even when soaked for a +long period in the water, while the peacock herle legs after a time +adhered to the body of the fly, and did not stand out on each side when +the fly was at rest. The tip of the feather should be completely cleared +of fibres on one side, and nearly so on the other, leaving however a few +short stumps at the end, as shown in illustrations of imitation in Plate +III., to represent the paddle-shape of the legs. These legs are then +tied in at right angles to the body. I have found the best way of +accomplishing this is to tie the legs in straight to the side, with the +buts pointing towards the tail of the fly. Then bend them down, and put +enough turns of the tying silk round the shank of the hook to keep them +in the position shown in the illustration of the imitation. + +The wings are made from the quill feathers of the woodcock, laid flat on +the body one over the other, as described in the directions for tying +Perlidae, which have their wings lying one over the other. The head must +be made large, and the whole fly when finished appear as shown in the +illustration. + +When used, this fly should be allowed to sink. The depth to which it +must sink varying according to circumstances, and then drawn through the +water in little jerks. Each of these movements through the water causes +the legs, which stand out on each side of the body, to bend back; but at +the end of the jerk, when the fly is momentarily stationary, these legs +resume their original position. Thus the movement of the legs of the +natural insect when swimming is accurately imitated. (June 12, 1897.) + + * * * * * + +This imitation _Corixa_ has met with a very general condemnation as not +being a lure which should be allowed on waters where the use of the fly +only is permitted. As this child of my fancy has cost me many hours of +careful thought and labour, I am inclined, with all due deference to +these opinions, expressed by men of much greater experience than mine, +to say a few words in its defence. + +_Corixae_ are insects which live in the water and are eaten by trout. +They possess wings which they use frequently, sometimes flying a +considerable distance, and I have seen trout take them just as they were +trying to leave the surface of the water. The efficacy of the imitation, +therefore, depends upon the skill of the fisherman, who must make it +simulate in its movements the movements of the natural insect. Mr. G. A. +B. Dewar, in his _Book of the Dry Fly_, in speaking of "tailing" trout, +which are probably feeding on "food of the shrimp and snail order," +advises that they should be fished for "with a long line down stream, +and the fly worked with a series of little jerks, somewhat as in +salmon-fishing. The fly should be cast just above where the head of the +trout is adjudged to be, and worked into the angler's bank, and it must +never be kept still, otherwise the fish will at once perceive the +deception and at once decline it." Mr. Dewar then mentions a dry-fly +angler of great skill who is very successful in fishing in this manner +with a big Alder. It is more than probable that in these cases the Alder +is taken for a _Corixa_, or something very like it, as the colour, size, +and movements are somewhat similar. + +The Marquis of Granby, in the preface to Mr. Dewar's book, also speaks +highly of a sunk alder for "tailing" trout. + +"To kill 'tailers' in broad daylight and in low water is quite an art in +itself," is another quotation from _The Book of the Dry Fly_ upon this +mode of fishing, and though the author points out that this is not true +dry-fly fishing, still if the fisherman's conscience allows him to use a +sunk Alder down stream and worked in this manner, I think it should also +allow him to use an imitation _Corixa_ under similar circumstances. + +I should not have dragged the writings of others into such a question +as this, had not the criticisms upon my flies been an indirect attack +upon myself, as what has been said about them practically means that +they ought not to be used by any one who calls himself a sportsman. If +this is true of the flies, what could not be said of their inventor? For +this reason I take the best means I can find to defend myself, and what +better defence could there be than the published practices of two men +whose sportsmanlike qualities have never been doubted? + +What is legitimate trout-fly has, I believe, never been clearly defined; +but I hope I shall not be presuming too much in saying, that if the lure +in question is the imitation of an insect which can and does fly, made +of the ordinary materials used in fly-making upon one hook, this lure +has a perfect right to be called a _legitimate trout-fly_. + +It will be found that my _Corixa_ fulfils these conditions. + +There is one thing that I wish particularly to impress upon my reader, +and this is that, in using the imitations of _Corixae_ and Fresh-water +Shrimps, he should find out whether these creatures inhabit the water he +is fishing. If he does not do this and fishes with the imitations of +either of them where they do not exist, he will probably meet with +failure and disappointment. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FRESH-WATER SHRIMP (_Gammarus pulex_)[4] + +[4] Rewritten from an article in _The Field_, April 16, 1898, under the +heading of "The Fresh-water Shrimp as a Wet Fly." + + +Of all the forms of food partaken of by the trout the Crustacea are the +best. When I say the best, I mean that trout fed upon Crustacea seem to +thrive better than trout fed on anything else. In this case, at any +rate, the most wholesome form of food seems also to be the most welcome; +for though I have tried feeding trout with almost every form of food, I +have never come across another form which they have taken with anything +approaching the voracity with which they take Crustacea. + +Fortunately, I can bring forward a case to show how trout thrive when +fed upon Crustacea. In April, 1897, Colonel Walker presented some trout +to the Brighton Aquarium. I myself caught some of these trout, which +were put in a rearing pond to await their being transferred by rail to +the Aquarium. As I also assisted in the operation of taking them from +the rearing pond and putting them into the tanks in which they were to +travel, I can vouch for their size at that time. They were all in rather +bad condition, and, even had the largest been in good condition, it +could not have weighed more than three-quarters of a pound. These trout +have been fed entirely on Crustacea since they were introduced into the +tank they now occupy; and at the time I am writing (January, 1898), the +largest of these trout must be quite two pounds or more in weight, and +there are others which are nearly as large. + +The voracity with which these trout seize the Sandhoppers and Shrimps +upon which they are fed is a perfect revelation. I have seen them leap +out of the water to catch the Shrimps thrown to them before they reached +the surface. + +I have also found that young trout in rearing ponds take Fresh-water +Shrimps with the same greediness; and on considering these facts, I am +surprised that there have not been more attempts to imitate the +Fresh-water Shrimp. + +The _Gammarus pulex_ may be found in almost all streams, especially +where there is much vegetation. An illustration of it is given on +Plate I. I have however found them abundant in streams where there were +no weeds. They hide under stones at the bottom of the water and among +the weeds, especially among watercress and starwort. Though they will +live in still water, I have found them most numerous in streams; and +notwithstanding that they are generally supposed only to inhabit +somewhat sluggish streams, I have found them in fairly rapid ones, with +a stony bed. The Shrimp is very prolific, and if protected increase very +rapidly; thus it is a most excellent plan for those who breed and rear +trout to cultivate them, as they are one of the most valuable forms of +food. + +These animals are very similar in shape to their well-known relation, +the common Sandhopper. In colour they vary very much according to the +water they inhabit. I have seen them a pale yellow colour in some +streams, while in others they are almost black. The commonest colour is +however a reddish-yellow. + +I find that the general idea is that these Shrimps travel through the +water in quick leaps by bending up their bodies and straightening them +out again. I have however never seen them do this, though I have kept +them in an aquarium and watched them very carefully. + +What I have seen is, that they use their legs to swim with, moving them +as though they were walking very rapidly. They cannot, however, walk +when they are taken out of the water, but lie perfectly helpless upon +their sides. In a stream where the Fresh-water Shrimp swims, it seems +unable to progress up stream, or at any rate, if it does it moves very +slowly; when they wish to go up stream they crawl along the bottom. They +can, however, as a rule, maintain the same position against the current. + +I have found the following to be the best way to dress an imitation of +the Fresh-water Shrimp:--Choose a light ginger tackle, cut the tip off, +and tie the tip on a hook (No. 1 or 2, new size), so that the fibres +will project for between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch at the tail. Tie in a +thin strip of india-rubber and a piece of narrow silver tinsel. + +The strip of india-rubber must be taken from a piece of the natural +rubber, and cut so thin that when stretched it is transparent. When +stretched it should be quite a sixteenth of an inch broad. A little +piece of india-rubber tapered at each end and half as long as the shank +of the hook, must now be fastened to the shank near the head of the fly, +placing the piece of rubber on the shank and tying it in with the tying +silk. Now bring back the tying silk to the tail of the fly, and spin the +wool, of which the body is to be made, on to the tying silk and wind it +on the shank. The wool may vary in colour, according to the colour of +the Shrimps in the stream to be fished, from light yellow or +reddish-yellow to a very dark brown. When the wool body is finished off, +wind on the strip of india-rubber, so that the edge of one lap meets the +edge of the other, thus covering the body entirely; tie in and cut off +the remainder, and then rib the body with the tinsel. + +In putting on the hackle, which is light ginger, it is necessary that +some of the fibres should be made to project forwards, so the tying silk +should be finished off behind these. When the fly is complete it should +appear as shown in illustrations of imitation on Plate III. + +In fishing this fly must be allowed to sink to mid-water, and then +allowed to travel across and down stream in short stages; but should not +be drawn towards the fisherman in any marked way, or it will not +represent the movements of the natural Shrimp. + +Whether any particular stream is inhabited by these Crustacea may be +easily discovered. If the stream has a stony bottom they will be found +under almost every large stone which is turned over. If, however, there +be _debris_ or mud at the bottom, they may easily be captured with a +stout gauze net, mounted on a strong ring and handle. If this net be +passed along the bottom, and some of the weeds and _debris_ brought up, +the Shrimps will be found among the contents of the net. I should +strongly advise any one possessing a trout stream which is not inhabited +by the Fresh-water Shrimp to introduce them, for they are, as I have +pointed out, one of the very best forms of trout food. I have been very +successful with the imitation shrimp on waters which contain the +fresh-water shrimp. + + * * * * * + +This imitation has also met with general condemnation of an even more +decided character than that of the Corixa. In neither case, however, +have any reasons been given for the condemnation. + +As undoubtedly some of the hackle flies used wet must be very like a +shrimp, and if the imitation shrimp is condemned, so also should these +hackle flies. + +LARVAE OF WATER-INSECTS, which have the power of swimming in the water, +are best imitated by making a very taper body, with a large head. They +are many of them small, and these should not be tied on a hook larger +than No. 1, new size. There are, however, many larvae which are larger, +but not many of these swim about much in the water. Some are +brownish-yellow, and some nearly black. Some should have a tail made of +two or three strands of hackle the same colour as the body. Some have +appendages on the sides of the body, and in the imitations of these the +hackle must be tied in at the tail, carried up over the body, and a +couple of turns given at the shoulder. They may be made in various +shades, from brownish-yellow to black. I have not yet had time to work +out any proper scheme of imitations, but only write this as a +suggestion. + + + + +SOME HINTS ON DRY FLY-FISHING + + _On Casting_ + + +The fly must not be thrown directly on to the water, but should be +allowed to drop there by gravitation. Thus the line should extend itself +in a perfectly straight line in the air, at least a foot above the +surface of the water, and then the fly will drop naturally upon it. + + + _On Keeping the Line Floating_ + +Unless the line be floating it is almost impossible to avoid a "drag," +which is, as a rule, absolutely fatal. The best way to make the line +float is to rub the last twenty-five yards with vaseline, then go over +the line with a lump of beeswax, and finish up by rubbing very gently +with a rag with vaseline upon it. A rag should be carried when out +fishing, with a small piece of beeswax in it. A small tin of vaseline +must also be taken and then, when the line shows any signs of sinking, +it must be rubbed with the rag which has been previously dipped in the +vaseline. The small piece of beeswax should touch the line as it is +being rubbed with the rag, and the wax will become soft on the surface +as it mixes with the vaseline. + + + _On Making the Fly Float_ + +Many fishermen use odourless paraffin; but it takes some time for the +paraffin to float off, and when a quick change of flies is necessary, +this is a great disadvantage. If the finger be dipped very slightly in +the tin of vaseline, so that there is just a suspicion of it on the +skin, and the hackle of the fly be rubbed with it, the fly will float as +well as it does with the odourless paraffin, and the vaseline will not +float off. Personally I prefer not to use anything. This entails a small +amount of extra labour in drying the fly; but the tints of the fly are +not altered, as they often are if any form of grease is used to make the +fly float. + + +RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY. + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER NOTES: + + Punctuation has been normalized without note. + + Footnotes have been moved closer to their reference point in + the text. + + Page 10: "biassed" changed to "biased" (I must be naturally biased). + + Page 100: "teased" changed to "teazed" for consistency (teazed up + with fur). + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Old Flies in New Dresses, by Charles Edward Walker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES *** + +***** This file should be named 39321.txt or 39321.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/3/2/39321/ + +Produced by Pat McCoy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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