f places of 
1 a hook to 
the baited 
nk in the 
face, as is 
o or dead, 
ipal kinds 
gots, min- 
1iethods of 
nany cases 
e to bear 
1 live flies, 
gler. The 
s’ hackles 
of a hare’s 
J, to form 
the whole, 
the hook. 
d spiders, 
pursue his 
stream in 
n; and it 
cut below, 
l a spider, 
0 pattern. 
t, without 
s from the 
tied with 
partridge 
silk. 
the corn 
1 close to 
her of the 
ose to the 
ving with 
makes a 
rel ; body 
ng wing ; 
f the dot- 
  
Spider. 
ith small 
h yellow 
the small 
llow silk. 
w of are 
pheasant ; 
) turns of 
ured pigs’ 
Y wool at 
rith silver 
’s feather 
. or wid- 
—of black 
  
ANGLING. 
  
  
¢ No. 2. Tail—crest feather from golden pheasant ; 
body composed of pigs’ wool and mohair mixed, of a 
dark-cinnamon shade ; wound with silver twist and 
  
Salmon Flies. 
-dark-red hackle; shoulders composed of breast- 
feather of the argus pheasant; wings composed of 
golden pheasant tippet or neck feathers, distinctly 
marked teal, four fibres of blue and red macaw 
tail-feathers, with pairs of wings from the brown 
and black barred feathers of the peacock wing 
surmounting the whole; a blue feather from the 
kingfisher or blue chatterer on each side of the 
wings ; feelers—from blue and buff macaw tail- 
feathers; head—Dblack ostrich herl.’ 
Larger and more gaudily dressed hooks are neces- 
sary for some of the bigger rivers of Great Britain, 
such as the Shannon m Ireland, and the Tay in 
Scotland ; but the two here described are the most 
killing varieties for general use that we know of, 
and have been found more or less serviceable in 
every salmon river of any importance. No. 1 may 
be varied by different shades of wing, to sut 
various colours and sizes of water. Both are stock- 
flies with every tackle-maker. 
The angler’s equipment is completed by the addi- 
tion of a basket or bag for holding his fish, and a 
dackle-book ; also a flat, round tin box for holding his 
fly-casts. In fishing for perch, gudgeons, bream, &c., 
4 small float is often used. Floats are made of cork, 
quill, reed, and other light materials; and a choice, 
according to circumstances, may be added to the 
tackle-book. Books adapted for the angler’s pur- 
pose can be had of any tackle-malker. 
The angler’s dress should be a plain, dull-coloured 
suit ; his shoes strong; and if he prefers wading, his 
boots or leggings should be waterproof. 
The gaff’ and landing-net are each wuseful for 
securing large fish when stranded in very shallow 
water, or when fishing from a boat; and the drag- 
shook, which is an instrument with three bent 
prongs or hooks, with a long strong line attached, 
is frequently useful for casting into rivers or lochs 
to clear away any object at the bottom on which 
the hook has fouled. 
PrAcTICE OF ANGLING.—Bait-fishing—As a rule, 
bait-fishing is practised more on sluggish, deep 
rivers than on swift running streams, though it 
answers as well, and, under certain circumstances, 
«even better in the latter than in the former. The 
fish usually sought for in the slow-running, deep 
rivers south of the T'weed, are gudgeon, roach, dace, 
bream, chub, barbel, tench, carp, perch, pike, trout, 
&c. All are sometimes taken with fly ; but worms, 
.gentles, roe, or paste are more generally used. 
The first thing the bait-fisher has to learn, is the 
art of ll;aiting his hooks. Taking the hook in his 
  
right hand, and the bait between his fingers in the 
left, let him enter the hook at the head of the worm, 
and carryit through the animal to near the tail, cover- 
ing the entire hook and its tying. The worm should 
be broken or mangled as little as possible ; and the 
more lifelike it appears, the greater the probability 
of its proving an effectual lure. There must not, 
however, be too much spare worm left dangling 
from the hook, otherwise the fish will keep nibbling 
it away without biting at the bait bodily, and taking 
it into its mouth—the thing which the angler desires. 
In throwing the line with bait, take care not to 
splash the water, but throw forward and upward, 
so as to'let the bait fall gently on the surface, and 
sink slowly in the water to the required depth. The 
motion of the line down the stream must then be 
carefully followed and watched. 
Occasionally, the angler will feel a nibble, but he 
must not be in a hurry to strike—that is, to fix the 
‘hook in the fish’s mouth. Perhaps it is no more 
than a nibble, and it is well to allow the fish time 
to bolt the hook. If drawn too quickly, you may 
actually pull away the hook after it is half-gulped. 
Experience and dexterity are required in this ticklish 
part of the craft. 
In May, the creeper, or stone-fly, in its embryo 
state, is a deadly bait; and in June, when it assumes 
the winged state, it is the most killing bait that can 
be used. The creepers are found under large stones 
in the water, the flies under large stones in the dry 
channel at the edge of the water. On Tweedside 
this fly is frequently but erroneously -called 
the May-fly, and is productive of large takes of 
trout when other lures are comparatively use- 
less. Minnows and parr-tail are two important 
baits ; tackle is made on purpose for these, and 
consists of several hooks tied within an inch or so 
of each other. These are inserted in the minnow, so 
as to give a curving form to the bait, for the purpose 
of making it spin in the water ; swivels are attached 
to the tackle further up, to prevent the line from 
twisting with the spinning of the minnow. Stoddart 
says: ‘Fish in rapid streams, also in deep dis- 
coloured pools, and during a smart curl. Manage 
the minnow as you would your fly, throwing it 
down and across as far as you are able; bring it 
towards you about six inches below the surface, 
spinning rapidly by the aid of several swivels. 
When a fish rises, give him time before you strike ; 
let him turn and gorge the bait, then strike sharply, 
and he is yours” This mode of fishing requires 
more dexterity and practice than ordinary bait- 
fishing, and will be best learned by carefully 
watching the motions of an experienced hand. 
Fly-fishing.—This is the true A., all other 
kinds being tame in comparison. Trout and 
salmon are the fly-fisher's chief objects of de- 
sire; and here we will quote some remarks of 
Mr Stoddart’s upon the method of capturing the 
former of these fish with the lure in question: 
‘Your rod and tackle being ready, the wind in 
your favour down the river, draw out with your 
left hand a few yards of line from your reel, dip 
the top of your rod in the water, and with a rapid 
jerk you will lengthen as you wish that part you 
mtend for throwing. A thirteen-foot wand will 
cast from six to seven fathoms of line. With a 
large double-handed rod you may manage a much 
greater length. Always, if you can, angle from a 
distance. Trout see you when you least imagine, 
and skulk off without your notice. 
¢All jerks, in casting, are apt to whip off your 
hooks or crack your gut. A fly-fisher may use two, 
three, or four flies on his casts, according to plea- 
sure. 'When angling with small hooks, we adopt the 
medium number. Large ones ought to be%i;tshed