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made yellow under the wings and under the tail； and so made with wings
of the drake。 The fourth is the ruddy…fly； in the beginning of May： the
body made of red wool； wrapt about with black silk； and the feathers are
the wings of the drake； with the feathers of a red capon also； which hang
dangling on his sides next to the tail。 The fifth is the yellow or greenish fly；
in May likewise： the body made of yellow wool； and the wings made of
the red cock's hackle or tail。 The sixth is the black…fly； in May also： the
body made of black wool； and lapt about with the herle of a peacock's tail：
the wings are made of the wings of a brown capon； with his blue feathers
in his head。 The seventh is the sad yellow…fly in June： the body is made of
black wool； with a yellow list on either side； and the wings taken off the
wings of a buzzard； bound with black braked hemp。 The eighth is the
moorish…fly； made； with the body； of duskish wool； and the wings made of
the blackish mail of the drake。 The ninth is the t…fly…fly； good until the
middle of June： the body made of tawny wool； the wings made contrary
one against the other； made of the whitish mail of the wild drake。 The
tenth is the wasp…fly in July； the body made of black wool； lapt about with
yellow silk； the wings made of the feathers of the drake； or of the buzzard。
The eleventh is the shell…fly； good in mid…July： the body made of greenish
wool； lapt about with the herle of a peacock's tail： and the wings made of
the wings of the buzzard。 The twelfth is the dark drake… fly； good in
August： the body made with black wool； lapt about with black silk； his
wings are made with the mail of the black drake； with a black head。 Thus
have you a jury of flies； likely to betray and condemn all the Trouts in the
river。
I shall next give you some other directions for fly…fishing； such as are
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given by Mr。 Thomas Barker； a gentleman that hath spent much time in
fishing： but I shall do it with a little variation。
First； let your rod be light； and very gentle： I take the best to be of two
pieces。 And let not your line exceed； especially for three or four links next
to the hook； I say； not exceed three or four hairs at the most； though you
may fish a little stronger above； in the upper part of your line： but if you
can attain to angle with one hair； you shall have more rises； and catch
more fish。 Now you must be sure not to cumber yourself with too long a
line； as most do。 And before you begin to angle； cast to have the wind on
your back； and the sun； if it shines； to be before you； and to fish down the
stream； and carry the point or top of your rod downward； by which means
the shadow of yourself and rod too； will be the least offensive to the fish；
for the sight of any shade amazes the fish； and spoils your sport； of which
you must take great care。
In the middle of March； till which time a man should not in honesty
catch a Trout； or in April； it the weather be dark； or a little windy or cloudy；
the best fishing is with the palmer…worm； of which I last spoke to you； but
of these there be divers kinds； or at least of divers colours： these and the
May…fly are the ground of all fly…angling： which are to be thus made：
First； you must arm your hook with the line； in the inside of it： then
take your scissors； and cut so much of a brown mallard's feather as； in
your own reason； will make the wings of it； you having； withal； regard to
the bigness or littleness of your hook； then lay the outmost part of your
feather next to your hook； then the point of your feather next the shank of
your hook； and； having so done； whip it three or four times about the hook
with the same silk with which your hook was armed； and having made the
silk fast； take the hackle of a cock or capon's neck； or a plover's top； which
is usually better： take off the one side of the feather； and then take the
hackle； silk or crewel； gold or silver thread； make these fast at the bent of
the hook； that is to say； below your arming； then you must take the hackle；
the silver or gold thread； and work it up to the wings； shifting or still
removing your finger as you turn the silk about the hook； and still looking；
at every stop or turn； that your gold； or what materials soever you make
your fly of； do lie right and neatly； and if you find they do so； then when
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you have made the head； make all fast： and then work your hackle up to
the head； and make that fast： and then； with a needle； or pin； divide the
wing into two； and then； with the arming silk； whip it about cross…ways
betwixt the wings： and then with your thumb you must turn the point of
the feather towards the bent of the hook； and then work three or four times
about the shank of the hook； and then view the proportion； and if all be
neat； and to your liking； fasten。
I confess； no direction can be given to make a man of a dull capacity
able to make a fly well： and yet I know this； with a little practice； will help
an ingenious angler in a good degree。 But to see a fly made by an artist in
that kind； is the best teaching to make it。 And； then； an ingenious angler
may walk by the river； and mark what flies fall on the water that day； and
catch one of them； if he sees the Trouts leap at a fly of that kind： and then
having always hooks ready…hung with him； and having a bag always with
him； with bear's hair； or the hair of a brown or sad…coloured heifer； hackles
of a cock or capon； several coloured silk and crewel to make the body of
the fly； the feathers of a drake's head； black or brown sheep's wool； or
hog's wool； or hair； thread of gold and of silver； silk of several colours；
especially sad…coloured； to make the fly's head： and there be also other
coloured feathers； both of little birds and of speckled fowl： I say； having
those with him in a bag； and trying to make a fly； though he miss at first；
yet shall he at last hit it better； even to such a perfection as none can well
teach him And if he hit to make his fly right； and have the luck to hit； also；
where there is store of Trouts； a dark day； and a right wind； he will catch
such store of them； as will encourage him to grow more and more in love
with the art of fly… making。
Venator。 But； my loving master； if any wind will not serve； then I wish
I were in Lapland； to buy a