Chapter 3

OCTOBER.--Same as March, with the addition of the Dark and Pale Blues.

_March._--1. The Dark Brown--dubbed with the brown hair of a cow, and the grey feather of a Mallard for wings. 2. The Great Whirling Dun--dubbed with squirrels fur, for wings, grey feather of mallard. 3. Early Bright Brown--dubbed with brown hair from behind the ears of a spaniel dog, wings from a mallard. 4. The Blue Dun--dubbed with down from a black greyhound's neck, mixed with violet coloured blue worsted, wings pale part of a starling's wing. 5. The Black Gnat--dubbed with black mohair, the wings of the lightest part of a starling.

_April._--1. The Dark Brown,--brown spaniel's hair mixed with a little violet camlet, warp with yellow silk, wings, grey feather from mallard. 2. The Violet Fly--dubbed with dark violet stuff, and a little dun bear's hair mixed with it, wings from a mallard. 3. The Little Whirling Dun--dubbed with fox cubs fur, ash coloured, ribbed about with yellow silk, wings a pale grey feather from a mallard. 4. Small Bright Brown--dubbed with camel's hair, and marten's yellow fur mixed, wings pale feather of a starling.

_May._--The Dun Cut--dubbed with brown hair, a little blue and yellow mixed with it, wings, woodcock, and two horns at the head from a squirrel's tail. 2. The Stone Fly--dubbed with dun bear's hair, mixed with a little brown and yellow camlet, so placed that the fly may be yellower on the belly and towards the tail than any where else, place two hairs from a black cat's beard, in such a way that they may stand upright, rib the body with yellow silk, and make the wings very large from the dark grey feathers of a mallard. 3. The Camlet Fly--dubbed with dark brown shining camlet, ribbed over with green silk, wings, grey feather of a mallard. 4. Cow Dung Fly--dubbed with light brown and yellow camlet mixed, or dirty lemon coloured mohair with the hackle of a landrail.[5]

[5] A good Fly on cold windy days.

_June._--1. The Ant Fly--dubbed with brown and red camlet mixed, wings, starling's feather, pale. 2. Little Black Gnat--dubbed with black strands from an ostrich, wings, light feather from underneath starling's wing. 3. Brown Palmer--dubbed with light brown seal's hair, warped with ash coloured silk and a red hackle over the whole. 4. The Small Red Spinner--dubbed with yellow hair from behind the ear of a spaniel, ribbed with gold twist, a red hackle over the whole, the wings from a starling.[6]

[6] This fly kills well when the water is low and fine.

_July._--1. Orange Fly--dubbed with brown fur of a badger, warped with red silk, wings from dark grey feather of mallard, with a head made of red silk. 2. The Wasp Fly--dubbed with brown bear or cow's hair, ribbed with yellow silk, and the wings of the inside of starling's wing. 3. The Black Palmer--dubbed with black copper coloured peacock's harl, and a black cock's hackle over that, wings, blackbird. 4. The July Dun--dubbed with the down of a watermouse, mixed with bluish seal's fur, or with the fur of a mole, mixed with a little marten's fur, warped with ash coloured silk, wood-pigeon's wing feather for wings.--A good killer.

_August._--The Late Ant Fly--dubbed with the blackish brown hair of a cow, warp some red silk in for the tag of the tail, the wings from a woodcock. 2. The Fern Fly--dubbed with the fur from a hare's neck, which is of a fern colour, wings dark grey feather of mallard. 3. The White Palmer--dubbed with white peacock's harl, and a black hackle over it. 4. The Pale Blue--dubbed with very light blue fur, mixed with a little yellow marten's fur, and a blue hackle over the whole, the wings from a blue pigeon.--A very killing fly. 5. The Harry Longlegs--dubbed with darkish brown hair, and a brown hackle over it, head rather large.

_September._--The Peacock Harl--dubbed with ruddy peacock's harl, warped with green silk, and a red cock's hackle over that. 2. The Camel Brown--dubbed with old brownish hair, with red silk, wings dark grey feather from mallard. 3. The Late Badger--dubbed with black fur of a badger or spaniel, mixed with the soft yellow down of a sandy coloured pig, wings dark mallard. 4. The September Dun--dubbed with the down of a mouse, warped with ash coloured silk, wings feather of a starling.

_October._--Same as March.

As I never fished for Trout in November, I attempt no list of Flies for that month. From Michaelmas to the middle of February, all anglers should refrain from killing Trout.

_Moths Brown and White for Evening Fishing._--The Brown--from the feathers of a brown Owl, dubbed with light mohair, dark grey Cock's hackle for legs, and red head. White Moth--strands from an Ostrich, wings from a white Pigeon, a white hackle for legs, and a black head.--Hooks No. 2 or 3. Good killers at dusk on a Summer's evening.

LIST OF HACKLE FLIES FROM FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER.

_February._--Small black flies, made from Starling's breast or Black bird, with black or purple silk--hook No. 1. Inside and out of Woodcock's wing and yellow silk. Plover's breast or Dottrel's wing feather and yellow silk--hooks No. 1 or 2; red Cock's hackle and yellow silk.

_March._--Inside of Woodcock's wing and yellow silk, No. 2 hook. Dark Woodcock, and dark orange silk, No. 2 hook. Dottrel and yellow silk, No. 2 hook. Dark Snipe and crimson silk, No. 2 hook. Dark Snipe and purple silk, No. 1 hook.

_April._--Woodcock's as for March. Inside of Woodcock's wing and yellow silk, No. 2 hook. Freckled Snipe and yellow silk. No. 2 hook. Dark Snipe and crimson silk, No. 2 hook. Dottrel and yellow silk,--inside of Snipe's wing, and pale yellow silk,--hooks No. 2.

_May._--All the above April flies are taken, also, Partridge's breast and yellow or crimson silk, very light Dottrel's or plover's breast and fawn coloured silk, Blackbird and purple silk, Blackbird and dark crimson silk, sea Swallow and primrose silk, inside of Woodcock's wing and crimson silk--hooks, 1 or 2 according to water.[7]

[7] When there is much water some of the Spring and Autumn Hackle flies may be dressed on No. 3 Hooks.

_June._--Most of the above, to which add Dottrel and orange silk, Plover and light orange silk, dark Snipe and orange silk, Freckled Snipe and orange silk, freckled Snipe and crimson silk. Hooks No. 1 or two according to size of water. Dottrel's breast and yellow silk,--Hooks No. 1.

_July._--Many of the above, with Sandpiper and yellow or purple silk, Plover's breast and crimson silk Wren's tail and orange silk, Dottrel and bright scarlet silk; Plover's back feather with gold twist and orange silk, Landrail and bright red silk, dark Snipe and sky coloured blue silk.--Hooks No. 1 or 2 at discretion. If the water is very clear, use hooks as small as possible.

_August._--Some of the July flies for the first fortnight, with dark Snipe and green, Snipe's breast and purple silk, Dottrel and black silk, Landrail and red silk, dark Snipe or Starling's breast and red silk, Grouse hackle and bright scarlet silk.--Hooks 1 and 2 according to water.

_September._--Some of the August Flies, with Landrail and yellow silk, pale blue from sea Swallow and primrose silk, pale blue from ditto and crimson silk,--Hooks 1 and 2.

_October._--Inside of Snipe's wing feather and yellow silk, Woodpigeon's feather and pale yellow silk, dark outside feather of Snipe's wing and crimson or orange silk, outside feather of Dottrel's wing and yellow silk--hooks No. 1 or 2.

_November._--Same Flies as February.

The Blue, Black and Dun Gnats are at times on the water from May to August, and when the fish are taking them they generally refuse the larger flies.

The Blue Gnat may be made thus: A blue feather from a Titmouse's tail for wings, body from pale blue floss silk, on a cypher hook, which means the smallest hook made; or the wings may be had from Heron's plumes, with same or primrose silk.

Black Gnat--Starling's breast and black silk, cypher hook; or black Ostrich strand and inside wing feather of Starling for wings.

Dun Gnat--from inside wing feather of a Landrail and fawn coloured silk--cypher hook.

Observe, that you may put more feather on your hackle flies in the Spring than in the Summer; when the water is low and clear, a very small quantity of hackle is sufficient, and it should by no means descend much, if any, below the bend of the hook.

In low waters, except when the blue, dun and brown drakes are on, the hackle flies will generally be found to kill better than the winged flies.

REMARKS ON THE MARCH BROWN OR DUN DRAKE.

The March Brown is well known to all anglers as a fly to which they are chiefly indebted for the greatest portion of their sport in the Spring, commencing as its name indicates in March, and continuing the whole of April and into May. They appear on the water each succeeding day about eleven in the forenoon, and retire about half-past two p.m. Few rivers or brooks produce March Browns that are exactly alike;--I mean with regard to the same shade of colour, even in the same river there are frequently darker and lighter flies. For the lighter one I recommend the hen pheasant's or brown owl's wing feather, dubbed with hare's ear and yellow silk; for the dark, the tail feather of a partridge, a brown red hackle underneath the wings, and dark orange silk, or a woodcock's feather for wings, and a dark red hackle with dark orange silk,--kills exceedingly well. When the water is low and fine, I consider your chance of killing fish far greater with two, than three of the large spring flies. If you put the brown, and blue dun on your stretcher, three quarters of a yard apart, you will find your cast will be much lighter with the two than three; this plan also holds good in reference to hackle flies, provided that you know what the fish are taking.

SELECT LIST OF VERY KILLING FLIES, BOTH PALMERS AND HACKLES.

If these flies do not answer, it is very rare that you will succeed with any other. They are suitable for all the rivers and brooks of Yorkshire, Durham, Westmoreland and Cumberland; about thirty years experience has convinced me of their entire excellence, and probably the ingenuity of man cannot devise any to supersede them.

Palmers for March, April, and first week in May,--The March Brown or Dun Drake,--The Blue Dun,--Early Bright Brown.

_May._--The Dun Cut,--The Cow Dung Fly, and also the March Brown and Blue Dun are on the waters in late seasons to the middle of the month.

_June._--Little Black Gnat,--The Brown Palmer,--Little Red Spinner--and Alder Fly.

_July._--The Wasp Fly,--Black Palmer,--July Dun.

_August._--The Late Ant Fly,--The Pale Blue.

_September._--The September Dun,--The Camel Brown and Willow Fly.

_October._--Blue Dun, Pale Blue, and Dun Drake.

NOTE.--If there are no Flies on the water when you begin to angle, try a Palmer till you find what Flies the fish are taking. One Palmer and two small hackle Flies on your stretcher give a tolerable good chance.

LIST OF HACKLES AND SILKS TO SUIT.

(GOOD KILLERS.)

_For March and April._--Dark Snipe and crimson silk,--Dark Snipe and Purple silk.--Hooks No. 1 and 2.--Outside feather of Woodcock's wing and dark orange silk.--Inside feather of Woodcock's wing and yellow silk.--Dottrel's back or neck feather and yellow silk.--Hooks No. 2 or 3.

_May._--Inside and outside feathers of Woodcock's wing, with orange and yellow silk,--Starling or Blackbird's breast and black silk,--Freckled Snipe and yellow silk,--Dark Snipe and crimson silk.--Hooks No. 1 and 2.

_June._--Blackbird and orange silk,--Plover and orange silk.--Dottrel's breast and yellow silk,--Freckled Snipe and crimson silk,--Partridge's breast and crimson or yellow silk,--Dark Snipe and yellow silk,--Freckled Snipe and orange silk,--Sandpiper and purple or yellow silk.--Hooks No. 1 or 2.

_July._--Light Dottrel and scarlet silk,--Inside of Landrail's wing and yellow silk,--Blackbird and dark red silk,--Feather from neck of a Grouse and scarlet silk,--Plover's breast and bright yellow silk,--Sandpiper and purple silk.--Hooks No. 1 or 2.

_August._--Most of the July hackles for the first fortnight, to which add dark Snipe and green silk,--Snipe's breast feather and purple silk,--Dottrel and black silk,--Landrail and red silk.--Hooks No. 1 and 2.

_September._--Some of the August Flies with Landrail and yellow silk,--pale blue from Sea Swallow's wing and yellow or primrose coloured silk,--pale blue from Sea Swallow and crimson silk.

_October._--Same as March,--with inside of Snipe's wing and yellow silk,--Woodpigeon's feather and yellow silk,--Dottrel and pale yellow silk.--Hooks No. 1 or 2.

I deem _November_ like February, not worth a list.

A LIST OF FLIES THAT WILL, OR AT LEAST ARE LIKELY TO KILL, IN ALL TROUT STREAMS.

FLIES FOR MARCH.

1. Dark Blue,--one of the earliest. 2. Olive Blue,--March and April,--a good Fly in cold weather. 3. Red Clock,--April and March. 4. Little Brown,--March and April, the dark first, then the lighter,--good on warm days. 5. Blue Midge,--early in Spring and late in Autumn. 6. Great Brown, or March Brown,--March, April and first week in May. 7. Yellow Legged Blue,--from the latter end of March to the end of April, on cold days, particularly in April.

FLIES FOR APRIL.

1. Dark Blue,--yellow or Dun Midge from middle of April to middle of May. 2. Spider Legs,--end of April and May,--kills best in a wind. 3. Land Fly,--end of April till towards the end of May 4. Green Tail or Grannam, from six in the morning till eleven again in the evening, when the Browns are off. 5. Ash Fly,--from April to the end of June,--a good killer on windy days.

FLIES FOR MAY.

1. Grey Midge,--the latter end of April and all Summer. 2. Yellow Sally Fly,--all May. 3. May Brown,--latter end of May till latter end of June. 4. Pale Blue,--from middle of May and all through June,--good in the evenings. 5. Yellow Fly,--the greatest parts of May and June,--kills best on cold windy days. 6. Little Stone Blue,--from the middle of May till the Autumn. 7. May or Stone Fly,--if the weather is genial, the last week in May, and continues through June.

FLIES FOR JUNE.

1. Hawthorn Fly,--all June. 2. Little Dark and Pale Blue,--the dark during the middle of the day, the light in the evening. 3. June Dun,--about the middle of June,--suits showery weather. 4. Twitch Bell,--continues till the middle of July,--best in the evening,--Stone fly.

FLIES FOR JULY.

1. Little Olive Blue,--the greater part of July and August 2. Black and Red Ant Flies,--in July, August and September. 3. Little Blue,--July and August,--best in the middle of the day.

FLIES FOR AUGUST.

1. August Brown,--comes on about the latter end of July, continuing through August and till the middle of September. 2. Light Blue,--August, September and October,--a capital Fly on cold days. 3. Orange Stinger,--hot days in August. 4. Grey Grannam,--showery days in August and September.

FLIES FOR SEPTEMBER.

1. Light Olive Blue. 2. Small Willow Fly. 3. Large Willow Fly,--September and October.

FLIES FOR OCTOBER.

1. Blue Bottle and House Fly. 2. Small Olive Blue. 3. Dark Grey Midge.

HOW TO DRESS THE ABOVE.

FOR MARCH.

1. Dark Blue,--dark feather inside of Waterhen's wing; body,--dark red brown silk, black hackle for legs--tail two strands of the same. 2. Olive Blue,--feather of Starling's wing, body light olive silk, and red hackle. 3. Red Clock,--wings and legs red; Peacock's brown herl, and bright red silk for body. 4. Little Brown,--feather from inside of Woodcock's wing, red copper coloured silk for body, and brown hackle for legs. 5. Blue Midge,--feather of Waterhen's neck,--lead coloured silk for body, grizzled hackle for legs. 6. Great Brown,--feather from the hen Pheasant's wing,--dark orange silk for body, brown red hackle for legs,--tail do. 7. Yellow Legged Blue,--feather from inside of Teal's wing, or lightest part of Starling's wing,--straw coloured silk for body, legs yellow hackle,--tail do.

FOR APRIL.

1. Dark Blue,--same as March. 2. Dun Midge,--lightest part of a Thrush's quill feather,--pale yellow silk, ribbed with light orange,--legs yellow hackle. 3. Spider Legs,--rusty coloured feather from Feldfare's back,--lead coloured silk for body, grizzled hackle for legs. 4. Sand Fly,--ruddy mottled feather of hen Pheasant's wing,--reddish fur from Hare's neck, ribbed with light brown silk,--ginger coloured hackle for legs. 5. Green Tail or Grannam,--wings inside of hen Pheasant's wing,--body lead coloured silk, with Peacock's green herl for tail,--legs ginger hackle. 6. Inside of Woodcock's wing,--body orange coloured silk neatly ribbed,--hackle from a grouse for legs.

FOR MAY.

1. Grey Midge,--feather from Woodcock's breast,--body of pale yellow silk. 2. Yellow Sally,--pale yellow feather,--body yellow silk,--legs yellow hackle. 3. May Brown,--ruddy grey,--feather from Partridge's back,--olive coloured silk ribbed with light brown for body,--legs, hackles of an olive colour, tail do. 4. Pale Blue,--Sea Swallow for wings,--yellow pale silk for body, ribbed with sky blue,--pale yellow hackles for legs,--tail do.,--Little Stone Blue,--feather from Blackbird inside the wing, or Swift,--brown silk for body, brown hackle for legs. Stone Fly,--Mallard's feather from the back,--very large for wings,--two strands of yellow, and one of drab,--Ostrich herl neatly ribbed,--tie with brown silk.--horns and tail, black cat's whiskers.

FLIES FOR JUNE.

1. Little Dark Blue,--inside of Waterhen's wing,--lead coloured silk for body, legs yellowish dun hackle, tail Rabbit's whisker. 2. Pale Blue--light part of Starling's quill feather for wings, pale yellow silk for body, pale yellow dun hackle for legs and tail. 3. June Dun--a feather from Dottrel's back, hackled on a body of blue Rabbit's fur and drab silk, dun hackle for legs. 4. Twitchbell--inside of lightest part of Starling's quill feather for wings, brown hackle for legs, brown Peacock's herl for body.

FLIES FOR JULY.

1. Little Olive Blue--Feather of Starling's wing dyed in onion peelings, lead coloured silk for body, ribbed with yellow, dun hackle for legs, stained like the wings, Rabbit's whiskers for tail. 2. Little Black Ant--feather of a Bluecap's tail for wings, black Ostrich herl dressed small in the middle for body, brown hackle for legs. 3. Red Ant--Lark's Quill feather for wings, cock Pheasant's herl from tail for body, red hackle for legs. 4. Little Blue--Bullfinch's tail feather for wings, dark blue silk for body, dark blue hackle for legs, tail do.

FLIES FOR AUGUST.

1. August Brown--feather from hen Pheasant's wing,--fern coloured fur from Hare's neck, ribbed with pale yellow silk,--grizzled hackle for legs,--tail do. 2. Light Blue,--inside of Snipe's wing,--body light Drab silk,--tail and legs grizzled hackle. 3. Cinnamon Fly,--feather from Landrail,--orange and straw coloured silk for body,--ginger hackle for legs. 4. Light Blue,--inside of Snipe's wing,--light drab silk for body,--legs and tail grizzled hackle. 5. Dark Blue,--feather from Waterhen inside the wing,--reddish brown silk for body,--legs and tail brown hackle. 6. Orange Stinger,--taken from middle of August to the end of September--feather from Starling's quill,--the head brown--the tail orange silk,--for body and legs, furnace hackle. 7. Grey Grannam,--dark feather from night Hawk or brown Owl,--red Squirrel's fur and fawn coloured silk for body,--ginger hackle for legs.

FLIES FOR SEPTEMBER.

1. Light Olive Blue,--Dottrel's wing,--body pale white French silk,--legs and tail pale blue hackle. 2. Dark Olive Blue,--wings inside of Waterhen's wing,--body lead coloured silk,--black hackle for legs,--tail Hare's whiskers. 3. Small Willow Fly,--wings inside of Woodcock's wing feather,--body mole's fur and yellow silk,--brown hackle for legs.

OCTOBER.

1. House Fly,--lark's quill feather,--light brown silk,--ribbed with dark Ostrich herl for body,--legs grizzled hackle. 2. Small Olive Blue,--wings Starling's feather stained with onion peelings,--yellow silk for body,--legs olive stained hackle. 3. Dark Grey Midge,--wings dark grey feather of a Partridge,--body brown silk,--legs grey Partridge hackle.

RED PALMER.

Body greenish herl of Peacock,--ribbed with gold tinsel,--wrapt with red silk,--red hackle over all.

BLACK PALMER.

Body dark Peacock's herl,--ribbed with gold tinsel,--green silk, black, brown or red hackle over all.

MAY FLIES.

THE YELLOW, GREY, AND GREEN DRAKES.

These flies, which are known as May flies, afford great sport. Trout and Greyling are so partial to them that they refuse all others during the time they are on the water, but they are not common to all rivers. The Driffield, Derwent and other Yorkshire streams, have them in great abundance. The best chance with the artificial May fly, is when there is wind stirring sufficient to cause a pretty considerable curl on the water. The _Yellow Drake_ may be made in this way,--a Mallard's back feather dyed yellow; for wings, Cock's hackle dyed yellow; underneath the wings to make them stand upright, yellow camlet, ribbed with brown silk for body; tail, two hairs from Squirrel's tail. _Grey Drake_,--wings from Mallard's back feather, black Cock's hackle underneath; body sky blue camlet ribbed with copper coloured Peacock's herl; tail from Squirrel. _Green Drake_,--same as yellow except the wings, which must be from a Mallard's feather dyed a yellowish green.

I have not deemed it requisite to introduce any illustrations of flies, because I cannot conceive that any really beneficial results are obtainable by merely showing the difference on paper between natural and artificial flies. Catch the natural fly, imitate it as closely as possible; put your made fly into a tumbler of clear water, then if the size and the prevailing colours as to body and wings resemble your copy, you are all right. This appears to me the best comparative illustration.

I beg to suggest to those who have opportunity and leisure, that they might at the cost of a little trouble, make a collection of all the flies that come on the waters, where they are accustomed to angle. They are easily caught and preserved, and if classed according to the months during which they were found, would be useful and interesting to themselves and friends, if only to refer to when manufacturing flies.

HOW TO MAKE A HACKLE FLY.

Take a hook of the required size, between the finger and thumb of your left hand, with the point towards the end of your finger, place the gut along the top of the shank, and with the silk bind them tightly together, beginning half way down the shank, and wrap the end, take two turns back again which will form the head of the fly; lay the feather along the hook, the point towards your left hand, and take three turns over it with the silk, clip off the points of the feather, and bind it neatly round till the fibre is consumed, bring the silk round the root of the feather to bind to the end of the tail of the fly. Cut off all superfluities and fasten off by the drawn knots, then with a needle trim the fibres and your fly is made.

TO MAKE A WINGED FLY.