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Mr. Barker commends several sorts of the palmer-flies; not only
those
ribbed with silver and gold, but others that have their bodies all
made of
black; or some with red, and a red hackle. You may also make the
Hawthorn-fly: which is all black, and not big, but very small, the
smaller the better. Or the oak-fly, the body of which is orange
colour
and black crewel, with a brown wing. Or a fly made with a peacock's
feather is excellent in a bright day: you must be sure you want
not in
your magazine-bag the peacock's feather; and grounds of such wool
and
crewel as will make the grasshopper. And note, that usually the
smallest
flies are the best; and note also, that the light fly does usually
make
most sport in a dark day, and the darkest and least fly in a bright
or
clear day: and lastly note, that you are to repair upon any occasion
to
your magazine-bag: and upon any occasion, vary and make them lighter
or sadder, according to your fancy, or the day.
And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a natural-fly
is excellent,
and affords much pleasure. They may be found thus: the May-fly,
usually in and about that month, near to the river-side, especially
against rain: the Oak-fly, on the butt or body of an oak or ash,
from the
beginning of May to the end of August; it is a brownish fly and
easy to
be so found, and stands usually with his head downward, that is
to say,
towards the root of the tree: the small black-fly, or Hawthorn-fly,
is to
be had on any hawthorn bush after the leaves be come forth. With
these
and a short line, as I shewed to angle for a Chub, you may cape
or cop,
and also with a grasshopper, behind a tree, or in any deep hole;
still
making it to move on the top of the water as if it were alive,
and still
keeping yourself out of sight, you shall certainly have sport
if there be
Trouts; yea, in a hot day, but especially in the evening of a
hot day, you
will have sport.
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