The Art Of Fly-making
To give something that will convey a durable and correct idea of
Fly-making, Angling, and Dyeing of Colours to my pupils, is what I aim
at, and desire they should understand: for when they are inhaling the
fresh breezes on the river's bank, observing with delight the varied
tints and delicate forms of the winged insects skimming the surface, and
the sportive trout, pitching over and over, taking them down, this is
the time, no doubt, when far from the din of a busy town they will thank
me for my trouble in directing their attention to the proper shades,
which is the most essential of all things in the Art to be considered.
The amusement and pleasing recollections of the Fly-fisher, (when
studying the various colours and materials necessary for the formation
of the artificial fly--those fanciful ones which salmon take so freely,
and the imitating, if possible, by the aid of these materials, those
beautiful ones in Nature), will be infinitely more pleasing than can be
well comprehended by a careless observer of the craft. Many a pleasant
hour may be spent, that otherwise would prove tedious, when confined to
quarters of an unfavourable day, far from home, looking over your
dubbing book and tying a fly. It gives relief to the uneasy mind by
calming the disorders that disappointments may have caused, and by
cheering the hearts of those who pursue it as a relaxation and
enjoyment. The recommendations on Angling are without number, and there
is nothing can delight the heart of the fly-fisher so much as to see the
fish rise at the flies on the surface of the water, and their beautiful
appearance when landed on the bank; this, with the varied scenery which
the windings of the river presents to the imagination, as you roam
along, are inducements that cannot fail to gratify the admirer of
sportive fish and rushing streams.
I have seen, in days when the fish are not in the humour of taking, a
fly tied neatly near the tint, somewhat gaudy, will unquestionably
entice them to rise, and will decidedly be more advantageous than
fishing without plan. In days when the natural flies are most numerous,
the trout will not take the artificial fly so freely; on the contrary,
when these insects are rarely to be seen, if the angler can find the
colour that is then prevailing, and imitate it, his success will be
considerably increased.
In these pages will be found descriptions of Flies that will kill well
in every river and lake in the United Kingdom. And those in the "Hand
Book of Angling," and the "Book of the Salmon," by the celebrated
"Ephemera," will also be found excellent throughout the Kingdom.
Next:
An Easy Method To Make The Trout Fly
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