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H.CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL,
AUTHOR OF
"THE MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER &c
J-
■ I
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LONDON: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE <k SONS
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WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
THE MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER.
A Complete Guide to Fly-fishing, Bottom-fishing, and Trolling.
Profusely Illustrated. Third Edition, enlarged. Price $s.
11 Mr. Pennell is not only well known as a Senior Angler, but as one
of the straightest riders and straightest shots in England, and whatever
he writes is well worthy of the consideration of sportsmen." — Bailys
Magazine.
THE BOOK OF THE PIKE.
A Practical Treatise on the various methods of Pike-fishing, with a
history of the fish from early times. A New Edition. Price 5^.
" Exhausts the subject Mr. Pennell leaves nothing for other
writers to add." — Field.
THE ANGLER-NATURALIST.
A History of British Fresh-Water Fish, with a plain explanation of the
Rudiments of Ichthyology. Illustrated by upwards of 150 Engravings.
A New Edition. Price 5^.
"The most complete history of British Fish of the present day." —
Field.
London : George Routledge and Sons.
FISHING GOSSIP.
" Containing essays by all the most eminent living authors on fish and
fishing." — Sporting Gazette.
Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh. 4*.
CAN FISH FEEL PAIN? A Pamphlet.
Warne, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. 6d.
Edited by the same Author.
THE FISHERMAN'S MAGAZINE & REVIEW.
Chapman and Hall, London.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
"THE MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER."
Baily's Magazine. — "The 'Modern Practical Angler' is the latest, though
let us hope not the last, of Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell*s contributions to our
angling literature. The purpose of the work is twofold : first, to supply the
demand which exists for some general and complete angling manual, bringing the
subject up to the mark of modern art: and secondly, to introduce the author's
views on the subject of fly-fishing, which not only differ widely from hitherto
received canons, but, if accepted, will practically revolutionize, in the direction
of simplifying, the whole system both of making and using artificial flies. Our
readers will hardly need our assurance that the first object has been thoroughly
and ably fulfilled In regard to the second portion of the book, which
relates to fly-fishing, the result of Mr. Pennell's teaching is 'the substitution of
six tvpical flies — three for salmon and grilse, and three for trout, grayling, &c. —
for the whole of the artificial flies now used.' This is indeed a ' revolutionary
measure,' and one in which every fly-fisher is directly and personally interested ;
for who would not be glad to dispense if he could, once and for all, with the cum-
brous assortment of furs, silks, and feathers with which the orthodox practice
now loads his tackle-box, and the thousand-and-one patterns of flies enjoined by
tackle-makers and angling writers as necessary for each variety of fish, river, and
season ? To the disciples of Mr. Pennell's school this will be all changed
The prospect seejns almost too tempting to be realized ; but it cannot be denied
that the author's \heories and conclusions are the legitimate deductions from an
argument logically and even severely worked out ; and we can hardly conceive
that Mr. Pennell, whose ' fame is on many waters,' would peril his reputation by
putting forward in so deliberate a manner theories which he had not himself
thoroughly tested in practice.
" Mr. Pennell is not only well known as a senior angler, but as one of the
straightest riders and straightest shots in England, and whatever he writes is
well worthy of the consideration of sportsmen."
Land and Water. — "The book is adapted as a vade-mecum to all classes
of anglers."
Gentleman's Magazine.— " Written by an angler of long and varied ex-
perience, the ' Modern Practical Angler' is certainly the best modern fishing
guide that has come under our notice. The work is full of practical informa-
tion."
Scotsman. — "The book is clever and handsome, containing much that will
interest old anglers and instruct new ones Mr. Pennell has fished in many
places, in many ways, with many men ; he has an eye for natural scenery, and a
knowledge of natural history ; and he has proved himself the possessor of an
elegant and sprightly pen both in prose and verse."
Daily Telegraph. — "We have no need to certificate the author's thorough
knowledge of a sport which, as he justly observes, is becoming every day more a
matter of difficulty and of fine art Mr. Pennell covers ably the whole
field of angling pursuit. "
Field. — " Mr. Pennell is so well and so favourably known as a fishing author,
that anything which comes from his pen is sure to deserve and secure serious con-
sideration from an angler's point of view. What Mr. Pennell's politics maybe we
do not know, but in matters piscatorial he is undoubtedly an awful radical : he
insists on the most complete revolution in all things, and he is a philosophical
radical to boot, for he gives reasons for the faith that is in him .... we hav^
no doubt that this, the latest addition to angling literature, will take a high place
in the estimation of the public."
FLY-FISHING
WORM-FISHING
SALMON, TROUT AND GRAYLING.
Now Ready.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
Uniform with this Edition, price One Shilling.
TROLLING FOR PIKE, SALMON AND TROUT.
ILLUSTRATED.
BOTTOM OR FLOAT-PISHING.
ILLUSTRATED.
LONDON: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS,
THE BROADWAY, LUDGATB.
FLYFISHING
AND
WORM-FISHING
FOR
SALMON, TROUT AND GRAYLING
jA
BY
W CHOLMONDELEY-PENNELL
}|
LATE H.M. INSPECTOR OF FISHERIES
LONDON :
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE
NEW YORK: 416 BROOME STREET
LONDON :
SAVILL, HOWARDS AND CO., PRINTERS, CHANDOS STB*»T,
COVBNT GARDEN.
CONTENTS.
pa«;e
General Observations 9
the system of artificial flies 9
Brown Trout 25
artificial fly-fishing in rivers and lakes 25
river fly-fishing 27
how to fish ........... 28
CASTING 28
WORKING THE DROPPER . 30
TROUT DROP-FLIES 3 1
KNOT FOR FASTENING REEL LINES TO CASTING
LINES, &C '♦'•'. 33
striking and playing 33
when to fish 34
where to fish 35
Trout Flies 36
dressing of typical flies 36
selection of flies 42
fly-rods, lines, hooks, &c 47
reel lines for fly-fishing 4&
gut lines 50
staining gut 5 1
fishing with the dry-fly 55
M842713
6 CONTENTS.
PAGE
lake fly-fishing . 57
selection of flies 58
fishing with natural flies 59
blow-line fishing with the may-fly . . 62
worm-flshing for trout 64
new worm tackle for trout 66
White Trout Fishing 74
Grayling Fishing 79
general remarks 79
fly-fishing 8$
grasshopper-fishing ......... 85
gentle-fishing . 89
Salmon Fishing 91
outline of " salmon history" and nomen-
CLATURE ... 91
NAMES OF SALMON IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
AND STAGES OF GROWTH 93
FLY-FISHING 95
WADING IOI
SALMON AND GRILSE FLIES 102
NEW KNOTS FOR GUT LOOPS AND DROP FLIES 108
THE ROD , . 112
THE REEL AND LINE II4
THE GAFF . . II4
HOOKS 115
WORM-FISHING FOR SALMON 1 1 5
NOTE.
It will be seen from the following pages, that in
regard to the theory and practice of Artificial fly-
making and fishing the Author has arrived at
conclusions very different to those usually accepted
by anglers and angling writers ; but fishermen
who, in spite of preconceived views and the vener-
able sanction of the fathers of the gentle craft, have
the courage and patience to test for themselves the
results of these conclusions fairly and thoroughly,
and to adopt them if they are satisfied of their
soundness, will find their reward in the increased
weight of their baskets, and the diminution of
trouble and expense.
On this point a reviewer in " Baily's Monthly
Magazine" observes : —
" The result of Mr. Pennell's teaching is ' the substitution
of six typical flies — three for salmon and grilse, and three for
trout, grayling, &c. — for the whole of the artificial flies now-
used/ This is indeed a l revolutionary measure/ and one in
which every fly-fisher is directly and personally interested ;
for who would not be glad to dispense if he could, once and
8 NOTE.
for all, with the cumbrous assortment of furs, silks, and
feathers with which the orthodox practice now loads his
tackle-box, and the thousand-and-one patterns of flies en-
joined by tackle-makers and angling writers as necessary for
each variety of fish, river, and season ? To the disciples of
Mr. PennelPs school this will be all changed. His three
typical trout-flies, which are new both in principle and con-
struction, can be made, he assures us, by the merest tyro ;
and both these and the salmon-flies — dressed, of course, of
different sizes — will readily stow away, with the materials for
making them, in the compass of an ordinary bait-box. The
' glorious uncertainty' as to ' which is the right fly/ and the
loss of precious time in experimental changes, are also obviated
under Mr. PennelPs system, which we look forward with
great interest to testing by the river-side on the first oppor-
tunity. The prospect seems almost too tempting to be
realized ; but it cannot be denied that the author's theories
and conclusions are the legitimate deductions from an argu-
ment logically and even severely worked out ; and we can
hardly conceive that Mr. Pennell, whose 'fame is on many
waters,' would peril his reputation by putting forward in so
deliberate a manner theories which he had not himself
thoroughly tested in practice."
FLY-FISHING.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES.
Englishmen are as a race decidedly conservative
in their habits, and very slow to move out of the
beaten track — phlegmatic is the term used by
their continental critics — and I shall be sorry if
anything I am about to write should give offence
to this in many respects excellent instinct. Con-
servatism, however, in the largest sense of the
term implies contentment with what is ; and if
that were my condition in regard to the theory
and practice of Angling, and especially of fly-
fishing, this book would certainly not have been
written. The measures which I am about to submit
to the general parliament of anglers are decidedly
radical — revolutionary would not be too strong a
term, — for they aim at revolutionizing the funda-
mental principles of the fly-fisher's " constitution "
IO FLY-FISHING.
— the very alpha and omega of his craft — I mean
the system of artificial flies.
Trout fly-fishers may nowadays be divided
roughly into two parties, which may be described
as the " colourists," or those who think " colour "
everything and " form " nothing ; and the " for-
malists," or "entomologists" as they have been some-
times termed, who hold, with the late Mr. Ronalds,
that the natural flies actually on the water at any
given time should be exactly imitated by the
artificial fly used, down to the most minute par-
ticulars of form and tinting. The latter class
includes probably the very great majority of
anglers — both apostles and disciples — who have
in most cases imbibed their opinions almost un-
consciously and without ever questioning their
soundness. The " colourists" are still but a section,
though an increasing one, of the general fly-
fishing community, and are represented by a few .
enterprising spirits in advance not only of their
age, but also, as I believe, of the truth. The
theories of both I hold to be distinctly unsound ;
and if my reader will follow me in the next few
pages, calling to mind also his own fly-fishing
experiences, I have little doubt that he will
arrive at a similar conclusion. In fact, the ar-
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. I 1
guments of the two schools are mutually de-
structive.
The position of the " formalists" is as follows : —
" Trout," they say, " take artificial flies only
because they in some sort resemble the natural
flies which they are in the habit of seeing ; if this
be not so, and if colour is the only point of im-
portance, why does not the 'colourist' fish with a
bunch of feathers tied on the hook promiscuously ?
why adhere to the form of the natural fly at all ?
Evidently because it is found, as a matter of fact,
that such a bunch of feathers will not kill ; in
other words, because the fish do take the artificial
for the natural insect. If this be so, it follows
that the more minutely the artificial imitates the
natural fly, the better it will kill ; and also, by a
legitimate deduction, that the imitation of the
fly on the water at any given time is that which
the fish will take best."
To the above argument the " colourists" reply: —
" Your theory supposes that Trout can detect
the nicest shades of distinction between species of
flies which in a summer's afternoon may be
numbered actually by hundreds, thus crediting
them with an amount of entomological knowledge
which even a professed naturalist, to say nothing
of the angler himself, very rarely possesses ; whilst
at the same time you draw your flies up and
across stream in a way in which no natural insect
is ever seen, not only adding to the impossibility
1 2 FLY-FISHING.
of discriminating between different species, but
often rendering it difficult for the fish even to
identify the flies as flies. The only thing a fish
can distinguish under these circumstances, besides
the size of a fly, is its colour. We therefore
regard form as a matter of comparative indif-
ference, and colour as all-important."
Now in each of the above arguments there is a
part that is sound and a part that is fallacious ;
and it is from the failure in distinguishing the
true from the false, that what I believe to be the
erroneous practice of both these opposite parties
springs. Each argument, however, is sound so far
as to be an "unanswerable answer" to the other :
for it is clear — as stated by the " formalists" — that
colour is not everything in a fly, because if it were,
a bunch of coloured feathers tied on anyhow to
the hook would kill as well as an artificial fly,
whereas by their practice the colourists them-
selves admit that such is not the case ; on the
other hand, the argument of the " colourists," that
from the way the artificial fly is presented to the
fish it is impossible they can distinguish minutice
of form and imitation, equally commends itself to
common sense and common experience. This is
the point, in fact, in which the entomological
theory entirely breaks down. Because Trout take
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 1 3
the artificial for the natural fly, the formalists
argue that the one should be an exact counterpart
of the other, ignoring the fatct that the two insects
are offered to the fish tender entirely different condi-
tions. The artificial fly is presented under water
instead of on the surface ; wet instead of dry ;
and in brisk motion up, down, or across stream,
instead of passively floating. No doubt if the
flies could always be kept dry and passively
floating — that is, as they are seen in nature — the
exact imitation theory would (though only up to
a certain point) be sound enough ; but as in
practice this is impossible, we are perforce driven
to artificial expedients to extricate us from the
"unnatural" dilemma. Thus at the very outset
we find ourselves compelled to simulate life instead
of death in our flies ; and for this purpose impart
to them a wholly unnatural motion whilst
swimming : again, because " fluffy" materials when
wetted lose much of their strength of colour, fly
bodies are constantly made of hard silk instead of
soft dubbings ; and as it is found that a naturally
proportioned insect is deficient in "movement," an
unnatural quantity of legs (hackles) are added to
it — in the smaller species the wings being often
omitted entirely. In short, we are launched upon
14 FLY-FISHING.
an altogether artificial system, in which experience
to a great extent supersedes nature as a pilot.
The colourists take advantage of this undeniable
position to assail the whole system of " form" as a
blunder, and in doing so themselves make a
blunder still greater ; they not only draw from
correct premises an erroneous conclusion, but they
draw a conclusion the very opposite of the logical
one. For if it be admitted (a), that Trout do take
the artificial for the natural fly, and (b), that from
the way in which the fly must be presented to
them it is difficult to be recognised ; the logical
deduction is, not that form is of no consequence,
but on the contrary that it is of the utmost con-
sequence, and that the fly should be as " fly-like"
and characteristic as possible, so that, notwith-
standing its rapid and unnatural movements, it
may be at once and unmistakably identified as a
M
I do not see any escape from this position,
which if accepted, puts the colourists as entirely
" out of court" as by the previous argument are
the formalists.
The superadded theory of the latter, that the
imitation of the natural fly on the water at any
given time is that which the fish will take best,
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. I 5
falls as a logical sequence with the proposition on
which it was based. As might be expected, this
theory was never found to stand the test of prac-
tice, the experience of every fly-fisher teaching
him that when a particular natural fly is on the
water in abundance, Trout will commonly take
better an artificial fly imitative of any other
species. To this principle there is only one ex-
ception — namely, the case of "May-fly fishing
with the dry fly." In this case, owing to the large
size of the fly, it is possible to really simulate
nature by presenting the artificial insect literally
dry, and floating passively. Thus the exception
proves the rule.
Mr. Stewart, who has written one of the most
able books of modern times on Trout fishing in
clear water, founding on the same sound proposi-
tion as Mr. Ronalds — viz., that Trout take the
artificial for the natural fly — argues that because
the natural dry fly usually floats passively down
the stream, the artificial fly — wet — should do the
same. This is another analogical fallacy, the
error of which would seem hardly to require an
almost universally opposite practice for its demon-
stration. Ninety-nine men out of a hundred find
B
1 6 FLY-FISHING.
it best to give a slight movement to the fly in the
water.
I fear we must include in the same " unproven"
category, and for the same practical reason, the
theory that flies should usually be cast up stream,
rather than down.
To sum up, therefore, the foregoing arguments,
the true rationale of the matter seems to me to be
as follows : —
i. Whatever Salmon, et hoc genus, may do,
Trout certainly take the artificial for the natural
fly.
2. But as the artificial fly is necessarily pre-
sented in an abnormal condition — namely, wet in-
stead of dry, sunk instead of floating ; and as the
resemblance which wet feathers and silk under
water bear to dry insect-down, fluff, and wings on
the water, is imperfect, — (3) it is necessary for the
purpose of hiding the counterfeit, and partly also
to hide the hook, to give the fly an unnatural, life-
like movement in the water ; adding to it also an
unnatural quantity of legs (hackles) which open
and shut, and move with the movements of the
fly.
4. These " movements" and alterations, however,
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 1 7
make it quite impossible for Trout to discriminate
minutely between the various unnatural imitations
of natural flies, whether in form or tint ; (5) and
render it doubly important that the imitation in-
sect should be as characteristic and " fly-like" as
possible in shape, lest the fish should fail to per-
ceive the resemblance altogether.
6. General shape, general colour, and size, are all
that can be distinguished by the fish. These are
the points, therefore, to be kept in view in the con
struction of artificial Trout-flies.
The next step is to reduce these propositions to
practice ; and the argument naturally takes some-
what the following form : — If when presented to
them in the only manner in which we can present
them, nice varieties of imitations, and shades of
shape and colour cannot be distinguished by Trout,
the great mass of flies now used are obviously
unnecessary, and where either the colour or outline
is confused, are mischievous. It would be better
on every ground to select two or three of the
most favourite and distinctive families of flies, and
imitate them only ; not in their varieties, or even
species, but, as it were, in their types — and using
those colours only which represent the prevailing
B 2
1 8 FLY-FISHING.
tints in the selected families. What, then, are the
most favourite families of flies — most favourite,,
that is, in the eyes of the Trout ? Without ques-
tion the Ephemcridcz and Phryganidce, — and for a
very good reason, as with hardly an exception they
are all bred in the beds, banks, and reeds of the
waters over which they afterwards fly. To the
first-named family belong, roughly speaking, the
whole collection of the " duns," and " spinners" —
the drakes or May-flies, the dark mackerel, the
sand-fly, and the March brown ; whilst the latter
includes the cinnamon, the grannom or green-fly,
the willow-fly, and, more important than any, the
stone-fly, or " water cricket," which in the early
part of the year is so plentiful on many rivers.
From these two great families, in fact, some of
which are on the water every day of the year, fully
three-fourths of the contents of most fly-books
will be found to consist ; they therefore commend
themselves as the families from which our typical
flies should be made.
As regards form or shape no question can arise,
as the selected families are all unmistakably and
characteristically flies, in the proper sense of the
term, having wings, legs, and, I think without an
exception, " whisks," or hair-like appendages at the
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 19
tail. These whisks are not only very " fly-like" and
distinctive features, but are also easily imitated,
and assist materially to disguise the hook, as well
as to make the fly swim straight. This last is an
important point, as the effect of the extra weight
at the bend of the hook, unless counteracted by
some additional " float," is to make the fly swim
tail downwards.
The great majority of the most favourite river
flies belong to the order Netiroptera, or nerve-
winged insects, the wings of which, being filmy
and transparent, cannot be really imitated by
feathers or by any otlier available material. Wings
are therefore merely an encumbrance to the
artificial Trout-fly, and should be entirely re-
jected.
The next point is Colour. On examining the
fresh caught ephemeridce and phryganidcz (for those
in entomologists' collections are generally faded) it
will be found, in the first place, that there is almost
always a general similarity in colour, though not
in the exact tint, between the wings and the bodies
and legs, and that the colours which predominate —
indeed almost monopolize — are greens, yellows,
and browns. Our typical flies should evidently,
therefore, be of these colours.
20 FLY-FISHING.
Moreover the colours of the bodies of the
ordinarily imitated flies made of silk, dubbing, &c.,
generally change their colours when wet, and thus
lose another important item of the exact imitation ;
whilst as a rule they always lack the glossy, semi-
transparent appearance of the real insects. To the
question of colour I have accordingly devoted a
large share of attention, and the three typical
flies which are hereinafter described are new
both in principle and detail. They will be found
to give the real colours strongly and unmistakably^
and in a form which makes any discoloration on
wetting impossible.
Size, a most important point in artificial flies,,
demands the next consideration. As we have no
longer imitations of individual species, size is a
matter of no moment as regards the flies them-
selves, though of the utmost consequence in an-
other point of view. And this is one of the greatest
advantages which those who may act on the
principles here advocated will reap. For nothing
is more certain than that some waters — usually
large ones, whether rivers or lakes — require
large flies ; whilst small ones, almost equally
universally, have to be fished with small flies, This
necessity cannot be ignored by the " formalists" any
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 21
more than by the " colourists," and the result, as
regards the former, is that they are obliged fre-
quently to use a fly professing to be an exact imi-
tation of the March brown, for example, and having
no other advantanges but such supposed resem-
blance, which is only about half, or a third even, of
the natural size ! This one fact, which is undeni-
able, is of itself almost a sufficient refutation of
the " exact imitation" theory.
Under my system, in which the flies are typical
and not specific imitations, the size can always be
adapted to the size of the water, without any loss
of imitativeness.
The foregoing observations, of course, fully
hold good as applied to Grayling ; and the
three flies referred to will be found, taking the
season through, to kill more fish than the many
varieties now generally used.
This then is, in my belielf, the true theory of
artificial Trout-flies ; not by any means as I ori-
ginally conceived it — for first theoretical concep-
tions are almost always more or less crude and im-
perfect — but the theory as ultimately elaborated,
examined by the light of the theories of others,
and worked out, tested and re-testqd by myself
during many years' practical experience of fly-
2 2 FLY-FISHING.
fishing on many of the principal rivers and lakes
in the three kingdoms.
With regard to Salmon-fishing the arguments
adduced against a multiplicity of flies apply, and
with even greater force, inasmuch as it is not pre-
tended by any one that Salmon-flies really imitate
the colour or form of any known insects, but are
rather spontaneous evolvements from the internal
consciousness of anglers and tackle makers. They
are certainly more numerous in their endless
variety of colour and pattern than even Trout-flies,
and are proportionately more useless, except to
those who are paid for making or selling them.
The result of my investigations is, that there is
only one essential in the construction both of
Salmon and Grilse-flies, and that is brilliancy and
strength of colouring ; and that in proportion as
they fulfil these conditions are their killing proper-
ties. Size is on the contrary an element con-
stantly varying from local circumstances. A large
river or lake usually demands a large fly, and vice
versa, and this again should be larger or smaller
according as the weather is dark or bright, windy
or calm. These are all points requiring the exer-
cise of judgment, for in their combinations they
THE SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 23
present considerable variety ; but the essentials of
the flies themselves never vary. Nor is the
rationale of this difficult to understand. The
Salmon admittedly does not take the fly for any
living insect, or food which he can have pre-
viously met with. Then for what and why
does he take it ? For its beauty and tempting
appearance. Probably it has an appetizing effect
like that of a rosy-cheeked apple on a school-
boy.
In the remarks on Salmon-fishing I have given
three patterns of Salmon-flies which combine the
real essentials as above described, in what my
experience leads me to believe to be the most
perfect form.
White or sea Trout, and their congeners, appear
in their tastes, and habits of feeding, to be some-
what intermediate between Salmon and brown
Trout ; and the Trout-flies described, with a slight
addition of tinsel, will kill them, both in still and
running water, better than any others with which
I am acquainted.
// will thus be seen that I propose to substitute
six typical flies — three for Salmon and Grilse,
24 FLY-FISHING.
a?id three for Trout, Grayling, &c. — for the zvholc
of the artificial flies ?iow used.
That there are a great number of existing
patterns of flies for each different kind of fish,
most anglers are probably aware, but perhaps few
have any very distinct notion of what the number
really is. In a small collection of my own, con-
sisting of so-called " standard" flies only, and
those for Salmon and brown Trout alone, I find
there are 121 distinct patterns, or " species." But
these are a mere drop in the ocean. Besides
Salmon and Trout-flies proper, there are the
endless varieties of flies for Grilse, Salmon-Trout,
Bull-Trout, Grayling, &c, the general total having
been estimated by a recent writer at more than
one thousand patterns. In fact, their name is
simply " legion." With most, if not all, fish may
no doubt occasionally be killed, and with some,
excellent baskets made ; but yet, painful as the
admission must be to the accomplished student of
angling entomology, and fiercely as it will be con-
tested by many a gallant veteran of the old regime,
it is nevertheless true that nine-tenths — or rather
ninety-nine hundredths — of these graceful com-
binations of furs, silks, and feathers represent sa
much wasted time, money, and ingenuity.
25
BROWN TROUT.
ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING IN RIVERS AND LAKES.
In thus placing Trout-fishing before Salmon-
fishing, I invert the usual order of sequence. I
do so deliberately, because, both as a sport, and
as indisputably the most popular branch of angling,
it seems to me to be entitled to precedence. With
no assistance but his rod and no guide but ex-
perience, the Trout-fisher wanders down the bank
of the untried lake or stream, selecting by intuitive
perception the most likely casts, and if he raises a
heavy fish has many a heart-quake and many a
moment of breathless suspense, before he transfers
the shining beauty to his creel. No Salmon-fisher,
on the contrary, however skilful, can select for
himself the places where he ought to fish, Salmon
apparently being guided by the merest caprice in
the choice of location, so that the very stone
behind which the fly must fall to give a chance of
success, has often to be pointed out by the local
assistant ; whilst the tackle used is so strong, and
generally the nature of Salmon casts so open, that
with ordinary skill a fish once fairly hooked has
little chance of breaking away. The chief glory
26 FLY-FISHING.
of Salmon-fishing lies in the " rise" — which is
certainly magnificent — and the only difficulty of
the capture, as a rule, consists in the " stroke."
So much is this the case, that I have known
veteran Salmon-fishers, who, when Salmon were
plentiful, made it a habit to resign the rod into
the hands of an assistant after checking the first
rush or two. But who ever heard of the Trout-
fisher adopting such a practice ? Not that I
blame the Salmon-fisher ; for though I never could
bring myself to follow in this respect the example
of men who were doubtless better anglers than
myself, yet it must be confessed that there have
been moments when I felt sorely tempted to do
so. Wielding an 18- or 20-foot rod for five or
six hours consecutively is apt to tire even the
strongest muscles ; and as I have said, as a rule,
the cream of the sport is over when the fish is
fairly struck, and his first wild rush or two met
and mastered. Still Salmon-fishing is a gallant
game, fit for the persevering spirits and strong
arms that play it ; and it has, too, its gleams of
triumph and excitement, the more intensely bright
perhaps partly from their very shortness.
But to return to the first part of my sub-
ject,—
27
River Fly-fishing.
There has been much excellent writing devoted
to describing How, When, and Where to fish for
Trout in rivers and streams ; and this is one
reason — want of space^another — why I shall not
go very minutely into those questions. It seems
doubtful also whether anglers, as a rule, read, or if
they read, remember so as to derive practical
benefit from the detailed maxims and rules laid
down on these subjects.
With regard to particular states of the atmo-
sphere, for instance, some writers think the presence
of ozone in a greater or a less proportion may
probably make one day more favourable than
another for fly-fishing. But what then ? Nine
men out of ten fish just the same, and make
the best basket they can, whether they know, or
think they know, the day to be good or bad ;
whilst as to "Where" to fish in any particular
river, the only really available knowledge is to
be gained by experience, and the most general
instructions are all that can be given or recol-
lected.
Again, as regards the " How." The proper
movement of a fly-rod is very difficult to de-
28 FLY-FISHING.
scribe intelligibly, and I advise all tyros who do
not understand the art to get a lesson from some
one who does. I can only attempt to give an
outline, which may facilitate the acquirement of
details.
How to Fish,
casting.
The flies and some of the line being in the
water, and the rod held by one or both hands (in
the latter case the right hand being above the
left), the rod should be raised rapidly yet steadily,
with a backward motion over the right shoulder,
so as to fling the line well out behind into the air ;
and then brought with a circular sweep round the
head to the left, and propelled lightly forward,
with force proportioned to the length of cast to be
made. A short line will of course be best for the
first essay. The shape of the curve described by
the rod in casting is nearly that of a horse-shoe.
In completing this movement the point of the
rod must not be allowed to approach too near the
water, but should be kept well up ; and even, at
the moment the line is falling, a little upward
springy movement of the point should be given.
This has the effect of making the flies light
HOW TO FISH. 29
softly, and before the line — two most important
points.
As soon as the flies have touched the water, the
rod should be gradually raised towards the per-
pendicular, the flies being kept in motion by-
gentle upward movements of the rod point
Each cast will of course be only a repetition
of the above process ; but as skill is acquired,
the fly-fisher will soon learn to cast the flies
either over the right or left shoulder with one or
both hands, and from any position.
" Switching" is another most useful method of
casting, as by it water otherwise inaccessible,
owing to trees or banks, can often be fished satis-
factorily.
The modus operandi is as follows : —
By raising the rod to the full stretch of the
arms the flies are drawn in until they are nearly
below the angler's feet. Then with a very sudden,
strong, circling movement of the rod they should
be cast straight out again, up, down, or across,
and the first process repeated. " Switching"
requires practice, but it is well worth the trouble
of learning.
As a rule the best mode of fishing rivers is to
cast down and across the current, beginning under
SO FLY-FISHING.
the further bank if possible, and ending under the
near one. In spite of Mr. Stewart's able advocacy,
most anglers have now arrived at the conclusion
that fly-fishing up stream, always, or even generally,
is a mistake in practice. In my general observa-
tions on fly-fishing I have pointed out one or two
of the reasons which led me to consider it so in
theory also. With a strong wind up stream it is
sometimes a necessity, though, even then, I cannot
but think an unfortunate one.
WORKING THE DROPPER.
Some angling authorities recommend the use of
three flies, and some even four.
The objections to this practice are many ; but
perhaps the most important are, that it is more
difficult, especially in windy weather, to cast three
than two flies ; that it is more difficult to work
them properly when they have been cast ; and
that when fish have been hooked there is more
danger of entanglement in weeds, &c. Vexations,
in short, are multiplied and efficiency impaired.
The fact is that only one dropper can be properly
worked, the perfect working of a drop-fly consist-
ing in its skipping, or "dribbling" along the
surface of the water amongst the ripples, and thus
• TROUT DROP-FLIES. 3 I
offering a sort of imperfect representation of a
half-drowned insect endeavouring to rise from the
water. Cross lines and others are more killing
than any other form of fly-fishing, only because all
their flies work in this manner. The point, how-
ever, is more important in lakes than in streams.
TROUT DROP-FLIES.
There are several ways recommended by angling
authors for attaching the drop-fly to the casting-
line, but most that I am acquainted with fail
either in neatness or in strength, and all in
rapidity. By one method, for instance, the drop-
fly can be properly attached only when the casting-
line itself is made ; by another, the knots of the
casting-line have to be pulled asunder at the point
of junction, and so on. My plan is as follows :
Take the casting-line in the left hand a little
above the intended point of junction, thick end
upwards ; then take the drop-fly, and with the
same hand hold it along the casting-line, the fly
end upwards ; then, with the other end, make a
knot round the casting-line, in the form shown in
the engraving ; draw it tight, and push it down on
to the next knot of the casting-line below.
This knot, which in practice is the simplest
C
32
FLY-FISHING.
possible, may perhaps be called a " double half-
knot." The only difference between it and the
ordinary single half-knot is, that after the gut has
Fig. i.
First step in tying knot (enlarged) .
Fig. 2.
Appearance of knot before drawing tight (enlarged).
Fig. 3.
Knot as complete (actual size).
been passed once round the main line, and through
itself, it is passed round the line once more, and
through the same loop again, before being drawn
close.
The preliminary configurations of the knot are
shown in figs. 1 and 2 in an enlarged form.
r
STRIKING AND PLAYING. 33
Fig. 3 is a facsimile of the actual knot when
finished, as tied with fine gut.
Knot for Fastening Reel Lines to
Casting Lines, &c.
An engraving of the simplest knot for
this purpose is annexed, and the mode of
tying it will probably be better understood
from the diagram than from a verbal
description. In the case of stiff or dressed
lines the small terminal knot on the reel
line can be omitted with perfect safety.
This knot has the advantage of being
both tied and untied with great ease and
rapidity.
STRIKING AND PLAYING.
After striking, which cannot be done too rapidly,
the point of the red should be kept well up, and
a steady though yielding pressure brought to bear
on the fish, until he is killed. With a proper
check reel, it is better when playing a fish, to
remove the hand altogether from the line, so as to
allow of its yielding freely to any sudden springs
or rushes.
C 2
34 FLY-FISHING.
When to Fish.
i. Some rivers and lakes are early and some
late, whilst there are a few, like the Devonshire
" Otter," in which it is said the Trout rise best in
a snow-storm. This of course is a very excep-
tional case ; but, taking the ordinary run of early
and late waters, there are few months of the year
from early spring to late autumn in which the
Trout-fisher cannot find sport somewhere or
other.
2. In all Trout fly-fishing, whether on lake or
river, a moderate, rippling breeze and a chequered
sky are great advantages ; principally, doubtless,
because they help to conceal the counterfeit fly,
and lessen the glitter of the gut.
3. A bright sun, a dead calm, or water that is
very low and clear, are always bad, for the con-
verse reasons.
4. Water that is thickened by rain or other
cause is always bad. It prevents the fish seeing
the fiies on the top, and brings down with it a
quantity of ground-food which fixes their atten-
tion on the bottom.
5. The rise that precedes, and the fall that
follows a flood ZL'hcji tJie water has cleared, are
WHERE TO FISH. 35
generally favourable, more particularly after
drought.
6. The presence of any large quantity of natural
flies on the water is usually exceedingly bad.
7. About sunrise and sunset are commonly the
two best hours of the day in hot weather, as the
fish are then on the look-out for the flies, which
oftener come out at those hours than at any other.
In cold stormy weather, however, the converse
rule often holds good.
8. As settled weather is very favourable, so
changeable weather generally prognosticates un-
certain sport.
Where to Fish.
The best places to fish in any river are usually
not where there are most fish, but where they can
be most easily caught. These places are mode-
rately rapid runs ; scours, or " stickles," where the
water is of a medium depth, and carries a brisk
ripple or curl ; pools with a sharp current through
them ; and mill-tails, weirs, and eddies.
Deep, stagnant, lagoon-like reaches can only be
fished with success when there is a good breezy
ripple on them.
36 FLY-FISHING.
TROUT-FLIES.
Typical Flies : Dressing of.
I HAVE explained in the preliminary obser-
vations the reasons which lead, I think inevi-
tably, to the conclusion that for all practical
purposes only a few typical flies, of the most
common insect-colours and distinctive forms, are
required for Trout-fishing, whether in lake or
stream.
Such flies it has been further shown should
naturally embrace the three most common
insect colours, — green, brown, and yellow ; and in
form imitate the phryganidce and cphcmeridce,
which are the most favourite families of river
flies, and the most distinctive and " fly-like" in
their form. Several other desiderata with regard
to colour, &c, have also been pointed out.
It will be seen that these conditions are ful-
filled in the three flies, yellow, brown, and green,
of which a detailed description is appended.
They can be made of any size, from that used in
the smallest and clearest of our Derbyshire
streams to the largest sized lake-fly :' nothing being
required to be varied but the size of the hook, the
TROUT-FLIES. 3 J
length of the hackle, and the thickness of the silk
with which the fly is tied. These flies are both
simple in construction, and more easily and quickly
tied than any flies hitherto made public, so far as
I am aware, only a single strand of coloured silk,
a,7id a single hackle feather is used ; and the other
flies are made in the same way. The principle of
their construction is as follows : —
A strand of common coloured sewing silk (not
floss), of the required thickness having been waxed
in the manner presently described, take two or
three turns over the end of the hook-shank and
gut ; lay the hackle on the back of the hook,
hollow side upwards, with the large end towards
the hook bend ; lap over it with three or four turns
of the silk ; spin the hackle on over these turns
{the same way round as the silk), leaving some of
the hackle over ; then fasten the hackle off with
the silk, continuing to work upwards towards the
bend of the hook, and lapping over the hackle until
the body is of sufficient length ; then fasten off
the silk and cut the stem (only) of the hackle almost
close to the end of the lapping, so as to leave the
fibres in a V-shaped form to represent the whisks.
By leaving and lapping over the stem of the hackle
and the end of the silk, or by " stripping" the
former and cutting the latter off close, the body
can be made thick or thin as desired.
$8 FLY-FISHING.
It will thus be seen that the body of the fly-
is made of the same strand of silk with which
the gut is tied on, and that the " whisk" is made of
the same feather that forms the legs, or hackle.
A fly thus constructed cannot break until the
hackle or body silk is actually worn through,
and will last twice as long as one made on the
ordinary plan, where the hackle, wings, &c, are
constantly coming undone at the head. The
saving in time in tying a fly (say a March brown)
thus, as compared with the common method, is
about 400 per cent. ; which I have proved by
having frequently tied the fly on my plan com-
plete in forty-five seconds, whilst in the ordinary
method it cannot be tied by even a professional
hand under three minutes. The whole process
is, moreover, so exceedingly simple that a single
lesson ought to be sufficient to impart it to the
merest tyro.
The difficulty which gave me the most trouble
to overcome was the body-silk. In order to use
this for whipping on the hook, &c, it was of course
necessary to wax it ; but I found that the ordinary
" cobbler's" wax quite destroyed the colouring of
the yellows and greens. It was also necessary in
.TROUT-FLIES. 39
some way to dress the silk with a waterproot
coating to obviate the loss of colour to which flies
tied with undressed body-silk are subject. The
yellows particularly lose in this manner. After a
good many experiments I hit upon a colourless
wax, which fulfils both these conditions, and is
moreover more convenient to manipulate than the
ordinary cobbler's wax, which in cold weather
becomes brittle and "chippy." A receipt for the
colourless wax is appended : —
Receipt for Colourless Wax. — Burgundy pitch,
120 grains (J of an oz.) ; white resin, 60 grains ;
tallow, 20 grains. Having reduced the resin and
pitch to a mixed powder and placed them in some
clean receptacle (an egg-cup will be found very
convenient), put them into an oven, and when
quite melted add the tallow, stirring the whole
thoroughly up together for several minutes. The
wax, which when cold will be quite hard, will be
ready for use in about twelve hours. The above
quantities will make a lump of wax as large as a
walnut.
The wax should be kept perfectly free
from dust and dirt, and in using it for dress-
ing the yellow flies, it is very desirable that the
40 FLY-FISHING.
fingers of the tyer should also be quite
clean.*
For the body-silk of the brown fly the colour-
less wax over brown silk does not answer entirely,
as the tint given by the brown silk is rather dead
and " unfly-like." I find, however, that by waxing
very dark orange silk with ordinary cobbler's wax
an excellent rich colour is obtained. The silk
whilst fresh waxed should be drawn tightly between
the finger and thumb ; by this means the wax is
almost removed from two sides of the silk, and
massed on the other two sides, producing a mottled
yellowy-brown appearance in the fly somewhat
like that seen in the March brown and other
principal brown varieties, as the stone-fly, great
and lesser red spinner, dark mackerel, &c, which
are mottled with yellow or orange ribbings. The
yellow and orange flies, on the contrary, as the
cinnamon, yellow sally, fern, sand, and cow-dung
fly, are all either plain yellows or oranges, or if
ribbed at all are ribbed with different tints of the
same colours. The oak -fly is an exception.
With regard to the heads of flies, these can, on
* The composition kept by chemists for making diachylon
plaister might very likely answer well, — either simply, or
mixed with the above preparation : but I cannot say positively
that it will do so.
TROUT-FLIES.
41
the above principle of tying, be made almost
microscopic without any sacrifice of strength ; but
I advise the angler, notwithstanding, to dress
them large. The heads of Trout-flies are usually
made much too small — much smaller, that is, than
they are in nature, and smaller therefore than is
desirable ; because it should be the aim of the
fly-tyer rather to exaggerate than to diminish in
the artificial imitation all the prominent features of
the natural insect, so that on a quick glimpse the
resemblance may be unmistakable. This last
observation applies also to the " whisks" or tails,
in exaggerating which there is an additional
advantage, inasmuch as the larger the whisk the
better and straighter will the fly swim.
The following is the formulary for the three
typical flies described : —
HACKLE, FOR BOTH
LEGS AND WHISK.
I.
" Green"
Very dark green
Dark green sewing silk,
lightly waxed with
colourless wax.
2.
" Brown"
" Fiery" or cinna-
Dark orange sewing
mon brown (not
silk, well waxed with
"claret") brown
cobbler's wax, and
then drawn tightly
between the finger
and thumb.
3-
"Yellow"
Darkish " golden
" Golden yellow" sew-
olive"
ing silk, lightly waxed
with colourless wax.
42 FLY-FISHING.
Floss silk will not answer at all for dressing
these flies, as it loses all glossiness and strength
of colour. For convenience in tying them several
different thicknesses of sewing silk are requisite,
from ordinary sewing silk — which is of the proper
thickness for small flies — to silk of about the
substance of holland thread, which is the size
most suitable for lake flies.
All flies should be carried in a box, instead of
being pressed together in a book, a process which
robs them of half their elasticity and play of
hackle, and to which they should never be sub-
jected even for a moment. This is a most
important point. Tackle makers think that the
fly regains its full elasticity as soon as it is wet,
but I have convinced myself by repeated practical
experiments that this is not the case.
Selection of Flies.
size.
It is a curious fact, but nevertheless an indis-
putable one, that the size of the flies to be used in
any given river or lake generally depends, within
certain limits, not upon the size of the fish, but
upon the size of the water, modified by the con-
dition of the wind and sun. There are occasional
TROUT-FLIES. 45
exceptions to this rule — as to most others — but
in the absence of local knowledge or guidance,
which on this point is often useful, the fisherman
acting upon it will find himself right in nineteen
cases out of twenty.
In most Trout streams, properly so called, in
either portion of the United Kingdom, the best
sizes of hooks are Nos. 2, 3, or 4 on the annexed
plate, a larger or smaller size being used as the
day is more or less dark or windy, or the water
high or low. In the Derbyshire streams, No. 1
or 2 will generally be found the best sizes.
Smaller hooks are sold in the tackle shops, but I
have not included them in my patterns because
I regard them as practically useless, No. 1
being small enough for every purpose usually
required.
COLOUR.
In small rivers and streams, where it is necessary
to employ very small flies, I recommend the use
of the " green," as the tail-fly, or stretcher ; and
the "brown," as the bob-fly, or dropper to begin
with, both of course dressed to suit the size of the
water : if either fly does not appear to kill, sub-
stitute the yellow as the dropper, and the best of
46 FLY-FISHING.
the other two for the stretcher ; in larger waters
the same flies of a larger size.
In deep lagoon-like reaches of river water, with
a breeze on them, and especially in Scotland or
Ireland, I recommend commencing with the
" yellow" as the dropper, and the " green" as the
stretcher. If either of these flies does not kill
substitute the "brown."
Local Anglers will probably, and that almost
without an exception, tell the fly-fisher that no
flies but local ones are of any use on their lakes
or streams, but this opinion is usually based on a
very slender experience, limited most likely to
that gained on some half a dozen lakes or rivers
in their own neighbourhood.
Local prejudices are, however, by no means
confined to professional fishermen. Even first-
rate amateur performers are often imbued with
the notion that no flies but those they have been
accustomed to consider the correct thing on par-
ticular rivers and streams will kill in them. I
remember once fishing the most famous Trouting
loch in Scotland, in company with two of her most
celebrated (and justly celebrated) anglers, and
when I showed them the flies I meant to use,
they assured me that they " would never kill fish
LINES AND REELS. 47
in Loch Leven !" At the end of the first day,
however, my basket, which included seven Trout
weighing 14 lbs., was found to be heavier than
both theirs. This result I attribute of course
solely to the flies, not, be it well understood, to
the fisherman.
I will not go so far as to say that there may
not be exceptional occasions — or even exceptional
rivers — on which some local pattern of fly may
not prove more killing than the three flies I recom-
mend ; but I am quite satisfied that taking the
average of waters and weathers, and the great
saving of time in the avoidance of experimental
changings of flies, my patterns — which have been
tested frequently against the best local flies on
half the principal Trouting waters in the British
Islands — will kill more fish in the course of the
year than any others at present generally known.
Fly-rods, Lines, Hooks, &c.
As regards fly-rods it is difficult to give any
opinion upon a matter which is so much one of
taste, and dependent to a great extent on the
strength and height of the individual angler. As
far as my experience goes, a twelve-foot rod
inclined rather to stiffness than to pliancy, will be
D
48 FLY-FISHING.
found the most generally efficient weapon. It is
also convenient to have a hollow butt, so that one
or two shorter tops — one for minnow-spinning, and
one for worm-fishing — may be carried in it. A
square ring of india-rubber slipped half-way down
the butt will throw off the rain-drippings, which
would otherwise run down the rod on to the
angler's hands and sleeves.
Reel Lines for Fly-fishing.
During the last few years it has become a not
uncommon custom amongst fly-fishers to use for
the fly the ordinary 8 -plait dressed silk line
formerly almost exclusively confined to trolling
purposes ; and in windy weather the extra weight
of such a line as compared with its bulk is an
unquestionable advantage. Perhaps, however, the
dressed line has made most converts owing to the
equally unquestionable shortcomings of the mixed
silk and hair line which was commonly the
alternative. Nothing can well be worse than this
line. It is expensive ; wears out quickly ; is never
really strong even when new ; " kinks" on the
slightest provocation, and, owing to the protrusion
of numberless points of hair, has a special inapti-
tude for running freely through rod-rings. For
LINES AND REELS. 49
these reasons no one who values pocket or com-
fort should use a silk and hair line, whether
twisted or plaited. Until recently I have myself
for some years used the dressed silk line, and
found it at any rate strong and smooth-running —
two great advantages, it must be admitted, — but
within the last few years a new description of line
made of spun cotton has been manufactured by
the Manchester Twine-spinning Company, which
whilst inexpensive as compared with the dressed
silk line, is equally strong and more durable. This
line is what is termed "cable-laid" — twisted, that
is, in the same manner as a ship's cable, — the
principle of which is that whilst the cable itself is
twisted, say from right to left, the separate ropes
of which it is composed are twisted from left to
right. The result of this is that the two twists
counteract each other in their mutual inclination
to kink, and when wetted the cable instead of
swelling hardens and contracts. The spun-cotton
lines are made on the same principle, of sizes to
suit all sorts of fish, including Salmon, and answer
perfectly both for fly-fishing and ordinary bottom
fishing.
They are not dressed in any way, but are
stained a good neutral, or slate colour. Specimens
D 2
SO FLY-FISHING.
have also been sent me of the same lines dressed
in various ways with india-rubber and tar for pur-
poses of trolling. Neither of the dressings, how-
ever, properly effect their object ; and if they did,
would still be useless, as in a single day's spinning
the whole of the dressing wears off. The Com-
pany, however, informed me that they were
about, at my suggestion, to try experiments with
oil dressings, with what result I have not yet
heard.
Gut-lines.
Gut lines are preferable for every description of
bottom and fly-fishing, and, especially in the latter
case, it is important that they should be carefully
and evenly tapered from top to bottom. The
three chief points to be looked to in selecting
silk-worm gut, are roundness, evenness of substance \
and above all transparency ; and in the case of
very fine gut, to seeing that it has not been scraped,
or artificially fined down in any way. Gut so
treated is what is termed "drawn-gut." Its
appearance is not so glossy as the natural material,
and it frays and wears out almost directly when
exposed to moisture and friction of any sort.
Exceedingly fine, round, natural gut is, of course,
LINES AND REELS. 5 I
somewhat expensive, and not always to be ob-
tained without some trouble, but it is essential in
many kinds of fishing, and will in the end be
found really much more economical than gut arti-
ficially fined.
Staining Gut.
Stained or clouded gut is much to be preferred
to gut unstained, because it is less visible in the
water. Different fishermen affect different stains,
some preferring what is termed the "red-water
stain," others a neutral or slate tint, and others a
blue. The most important point in the staining
of gut is to remove the gloss, which catches the
light, and on a sunny day glitters through the
water in a manner that must produce no little
astonishment among the fish, and which would
probably equally astonish the angler himself could
he obtain a bird's-eye, or rather fish's-eye, view of
his line.
In this cardinal point, however, all the ordinary
stains used by the tackle makers signally fail ; the
tints of colour produced being moreover by no
means the best obtainable. It is to be remem-
bered that the fish sees the gut usually from
below, and that therefore, especially in fly-fishing,
5 2 FLY-FISHING.
the colour of the zvater hardly affects the question.
A colour which without being glossy will assimilate
best with the sky-tint for the time being is that
which would be theoretically perfect if obtainable,
but as the sky-tints change perpetually, dark
alternating with light, and sun with shade, so as
to make it impossible in practice to keep the
colours actually matched, the next best thing is to
employ a colour which harmonizes best with the
largest number of the most commonly prevailing
cloud-tints. This colour appears to be a sort of
greyish-green, but I have never met with any
single stain which will produce it. It seems to
require the blending of several separate tints, and
that may probably be the secret of the success of
the following receipt, for which I was originally
indebted to my friend Mr. W. C. Stewart : —
The first step in the process is to impart to the gut a
lightish tint of the common " red- water stain." For this
purpose take a teacupful of black tea, and boil it with a quart
of water : keeping the gut steeped in the mixture until it has
acquired the necessary tint. This process will sometimes
take only half an hour or even less, and sometimes several
hours, according to the strength and staining power of the
tea : when sufficiently stained, rinse the gut well in cold
water. When dry, take a handful of logwood-chips (obtain-
able at most druggists), and boil them in a quart of water till
the latter is reduced to about a pint. Then take it off the
fire, and put into it a small piece of copperas (sulphate of
copper), about the size of a hazel nut, powdered, stir the
LINES AND REELS. 53
mixture, and when the copperas is dissolved, which it will be
in a few minutes, dip the gut into the mixture until it has got
the dirty greyish-green tinge described. Very often a few
instants' immersion will be sufficient, and in order to ascertain
the exact amount of the stain, as well as to avoid overstaining,
it is best always to keep a basin of water close at hand to
rinse the gut in, the moment it is taken out of the dye.
This method of staining involves a little extra
trouble, but it is trouble well bestowed, and will
tell on the baskets. The removal of the gloss is
I think due to the action of the copperas. Every
description of gut used in fishing should be stained
in this manner.
To produce the common stains already men-
tioned : —
Red-water stain. — Use tea-leaves as above described : or
coffee, previously charred in a frying-pan and ground, will
answer instead of tea.
Walnut juice is said to produce a similar colour,
but as I have never tried it, I cannot speak
from experience.
Slate stain. — Soak the gut in a mixture of boiling water
and ink, rinsing it well when stained.
All gut stains can be reduced in intensity by
soaking the gut in clean boiling water.
Elsewhere I have offered detailed observations
on the subject of reels, &c. It may suffice in the
54 FLY-FISHING.
present essay to say that for all the purposes of
the fly-fisher the ordinary plain check reel is in
every respect the best, and that of all materials
of which they are made brass stained black is the
most convenient and serviceable.
Within the last few years a considerable im-
provement has been introduced into the form of
reels generally, by the substitution of narrow
grooves and deep side-plates for the old-fashioned
shallow-plated, broad-grooved winches. The ad-
vantages thus gained are increased speed and
power ; speed, inasmuch as the diameter of the
axle on which the line is wound is enlarged ; and
power, because the handle being further from the
axle a greater leverage is obtained. Whilst speak-
ing of handles, I would here most strongly recom-
mend those attached to the side-plate of the reel
itself, without any crank, as they obviate the con-
stant catching of the line which takes place with
handles of the ordinary shape.
One serious drawback, and so far as my
experience goes, one only, is common to every
reel hitherto made ; namely, that the line is apt to
get caught or hitched under the posterior curve of
the reel itself, thus involving a constant trifling
annoyance, and in the case of trolling and Salmon
TROUT-FLIES. 5 5
fishing, a serious danger. To obviate it I have
had a small spring attached to the last of the
lateral girders or supports, and so arranged that
when the reel is in its place the spring presses
closely on the wood or fittings behind. This
spring, of which a diagram is annexed, is very
inexpensive, and can be attached with ease to any
properly made reel, and I venture to think that
no troller or fly-fisher who has once found the
practical convenience of such an antidote to
" hitching" will ever use a reel without it.
Fishing with the Dry-Fly (Artificial).
The object of the dry-fly is evident from its
name — it is made to float dry on the water like
the natural insect, thus affording the solitary
instance of the " formalist" or entomological theory
being carried to its legitimate result. The pecu-
liarities in the construction of the fly to enable it
to fulfil this rdle, are first its wings, which gene-
rally consist of the whole tops of feathers (mallard,
56 FLY-FISHING.
generally), set nearly back to back, and pointing
upwards and outwards ; and secondly, its body,
which is composed almost entirely of materials
unabsorbent of water, such as mohair and hackles.
The method of using the dry-fly on the Stour
and a few other rivers, where its use is best under-
stood, is very peculiar. A large fish, say, is known
to inhabit some particular hole or eddy. The spot
is watched by the angler until he sees the fish
rising, and then the fly is cast so as to fall a foot
or two above him, and allowed to float (dry)
passively over him. On the fly becoming wet,
which happens after every cast, it is dried by being
rapidly thrown to and fro, or " spread" in the air,
when it is ready for another cast ; but this is
seldom made until the rise of a fish is seen, or his
haunt known. Some fishermen who use the dry-
fly consider it is not properly dried without a little
crack or " flick" taking place at the end of the
spread ; but this " flick," though doubtless very
artistic, often whips off the fly. A stiff rod with
a tolerably pliant top is the best for the purpose.
The dry-fly being presented to the fish in the same
way as the natural fly, is most killing when the
particular natural fly imitated (which is commonly
the May-fly) is on the water. Smaller flies are
TROUT-FLIES. 5 7
made, but it is found difficult in practice to " float"
them ; and, indeed, the whole process is cumber-
some, and is only worth practising on rivers where
the fish are very large and wary, or cannot be
taken in any other way.
Lake Fly-fishing.
Almost all the remarks already made on the
principles of river Trout-fishing both as to the
" How" and the " When," apply also to Trout-fish-
ing in lakes. The case is different, however, as
regards the " Where," and on this point a few ob-
servations may be offered.
The best spots for fly-fishing in lakes are usually
outfalls of streams, rocky patches and banks, the
edges of reed-beds, and generally the sloping
shores at the point where, without being shallow,
tJie water is not too deep for the bottom to be seen.
The use of a boat is commonly a great advantage
in lake fishing, as by its means not only can a
greater range of water be fished, but it can be
fished in a much shorter time. Moreover, such
spots as the margins of reed-beds, and submerged
banks, which are as stated usually amongst the
best casts, can rarely be commanded from the
shore, even with wading — a practice, by the way,
5 8 FLY-FISHING.
which in lakes is apt to lead to awkward results,
unless pursued with great care.
The boat should be allowed to drift before the
wind, the flies being cast out in front and at the
bow and stern, according to speed.
A ripple on the water is almost a sine qua non
in lake-fishing, and a good curling breeze an ad-
vantage. When the water has been quite calm,
however, I have sometimes caught fish by throw-
ing the flies into the centre of the circle caused by
a " rise."
Selection of Flies,
size.
The considerations which regulate the size of
flies to be used on any given lake are in many re-
spects similar to those given under the head of
River Fishing ; and on this point the opinion of a
local practitioner may usually be taken with ad-
vantage. Loch flies, however, as a rule, are con-
siderably larger than those applicable to streams ;
the sizes most commonly used varying from No. 7
to No. 10.
COLOUR.
For some reason which I have not succeeded in
fathoming, the Yellow fly always seems to kill best
TROUT-FLIES. 59
in the position of dropper, or bob-fly, and the
Green when employed as the stretcher, or tail-fly.
The Brown can be used in either position ; but I
have found it best, especially on new waters, to try
the Yellow and Green first, reserving the Brown
as a change in case of necessity ; a necessity, how-
ever, which very seldom arises.
For lake fishing a light double-handed rod from
14 to 16 feet long will be found most conve-
nient, as, whether the angler is fishing from the
shore or the boat, it enables him to work his flies
better than a shorter rod, and to command a greater
reach of water.
Fishing with Natural Flies.
" CREEPER" and stone-fly fishing.
Creeper and stone-fly fishing is confined to the
Border and Lowland Scotch rivers ; at least, I
never remember to have met with it elsewhere, and
it may therefore be regarded as a branch of the
art rather local than general. The creeper is the
larva of the stone-fly (Scoltice May-fly), in which
condition it passes most of the winter and spring
months, living under stones in shallow water, from
whence it may generally be readily obtained in
quantities sufficient for angling purposes. It will
60 FLY-FISHING.
live for a day in any perforated can or bait-box,
even if kept in the pocket, and for a longer time
in a little water. The mode of baiting and using
the creeper is as follows. Put the upper hook
through the shoulder, and the lower hook through
the tail of the creeper, so that it may hang straight
on the line ; when baited, use it precisely in the
same manner as the worm described under Worm-
fishing for Trout, always selecting rapid rather than
still parts of the stream. The bright weather and
low clear water, which are best for worm-fishing, will
also be found most favourable for the creeper. The
stone-fly usually remains in its larval or " creeper"
condition until the middle of May, and from early
in April until this time heavy baskets may often
be made with it. When in season, the creeper is
commonly from an inch to an inch and a quarter
long.
The rod, line, and hooks recommended for worm-
fishing, omitting the shot or sinkers, and setting
the hooks a little closer together, will be found the
best tackle for creeper-fishing.
About the middle of May the creeper changes
from the larval into the fly state, casting its tor-
toiseshell-like covering, and unsheathing its wings,
of which, however, it makes but little use. Mr.
TROUT-FLIES. 6 1
Stewart, whose excellent chapter on the subject
should be studied by all Border anglers, considers
that the fly is even more deadly than the creeper.
He advocates the use of two flies as the bait. Ex-
cept, however, on very large rivers like the Tweed,
I confess I think the large one is to be preferred,
both because it is more easily put on and kept on
the hooks, and because it presents a more natural
appearance in the water. The fly is nearly the
same length as the creeper, and the tackle used for
one should be used for the other. In fact, when
the creepers are changing the angler will often find
it convenient to fish indiscriminately with either
the one or the other. Trout take the stone-fly
best under water, and close to the edges of the
stream or pool, even under hollow banks, if the fly
can be got there. This point is laid much stress
on by Border anglers, and with good reason, inas-
much as the natural spots to find the fly are close
to the banks, from which they are washed ; and it
is here consequently that the Trout come to look
for them. A dark full water is more favourable
for the effective use of the stone-fly than one
that is low and clear ; but in both states good
baskets may be made with it. The flies should
be collected in a box the night or early morn-
62 FLY-FISHING.
ing before they are to be used ; the best places
for finding them being under the stones above,
but near the water's edge ; and where most cast-
off shells are seen, the fly will probably be found
to be most numerous.
Colonel Campbell tells me that he has had great
success on the Border streams, with this fly used
with blow-line tackle (as described on the next
page).
A method of natural-fly fishing is also much
practised on the Peterel, and doubtless on
many other neighbouring streams, in which
tivo flies — the generic names of which I could
not ascertain — are used upon a small double
hook.
The season for stone-fly fishing begins about
the middle of May, and ends about the middle
of June.
BLOW-LINE FISHING WITH THE MAY-FLY.
Besides the fishing above described the only
really effective method of using the natural fly for
Trout is with the " blow-line ;" and the place to
see blow-line fishing is in the Lakes of Westmeath.
Indeed, this beautiful chain of waters seems to be
the natural habitat of the art. Each lake in its
TROUT-FLIES. 63
turn, as the fly appears on it, becomes for a few
days a centre of attraction to the angling com-
munity, and many a boat which, as Pat says, is
only safe provided you do not " cough or snaze,"
is then dragged from her moorings — perhaps at
the bottom of the lake — and pressed into the
service. The art of blow-line fishing, though in
its principles exceedingly simple, demands much
nicety of execution in practice, and, as indeed
its name implies, it cannot be pursued at all
without the assistance of that most inconstant
element, the wind. Weather, however, prov-
ing propitious, the tackle is easily adjusted. A
skein of floss silk prepared for the purpose, and
attached to the end of a light running-line, is sub-
stituted, so far as the actual casting is concerned
for the "reel-line," and to this, instead of the
ordinary fly-collar, is fastened a single small hook
whipped on a strand of fine gut. The hook is
baited with a May-fly, and as the boat drifts the
wind carries out the floss silk, which ought to be
so managed by the aid of hand and rod that only
the hook and fly should actually touch the water.
Near the edges of the reeds will usually be found
the greatest quantity of Ephemeridce, and as
corollary the greatest number of Trout. The
E
64 WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
exact time for this fishing varies a little, as the
spring has been cold or genial ; and the several
lakes vary also inter se, which is a great convenience
to the fisherman ; but from the middle to the end
of May is commonly about the time. The. West-
meath lakes, when the fly " is up," will well repay
a visit, as the fish, which are at this time in the
highest condition, run from two to five, and some-
times ten pounds, and take the natural fly freely ;
and if the angler puts Dr. Peard's charming book,
" A Year of Liberty," into his portmanteau, he will
need no abler or more agreeable guide.
An analogous system to that above described
is pursued occasionally on some streams in
England ; but on others it is strictly prohibited,
and on many hardly considered fair fishing. The
circumstances of the two cases, however, are
entirely different.
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
FOR the present scientific method of worm-fishing
for Trout we are chiefly indebted to Mr. Stoddart
and Mr. Stewart. This branch of the art was,
until late years, principally confined to rivers in a
state of partial flood — rising or falling. The per-
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 65
former, armed with a short stiff rod and extra
coarse tackle, walked down the river or stream,
fishing the pools and likely runs in front of him,
and hoisting out bodily any unlucky fish which
the purblinding condition of its own element was
mainly instrumental in transferring to ours. Now
all this is changed, and worm-fishing for Trout is a
branch of the gentle art requiring much nicety and
skill in its successful performance, and rapidly
becoming second only to fly-fishing and spinning
in the estimation of anglers.
We have learnt that the real time for the use of
the worm is not when rivers are swollen or swell-
ing, but when they are low and bright, — June and
July in Scotland, and July and August in England,
bemg the two best months — at the time, in short,
when fly-fishing is, from the nature of the case,
least attractive and most unremunerative. Instead
of short rods and coarse tackle, long, light weapons,
and the very finest gut, are in requisition, with which
the worm-fisher enters the river, and wading as
nearly up the middle as he can, fishes before him
the swift runs and shallows, and the broad bed of
the stream itself ; often going far towards filling
his creel without ever setting foot on the bank.
Worm-fishing, as above described, is certainly a
E 2
66 WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
very deadly — probably the most deadly — mode of
Trout fishing generally sanctioned by the canons
of the art ; and it is not at all to be wondered at
that on some much-frequented waters its use is
prohibited.
But there are thousands of miles of river and
stream in the wilds of Ireland and Scotland, and
some few still in England, where from year's end
to. year's end the fly of the angler rarely falls, and
on which the breed of Trout is only improved by
a little thinning out now and then. Here is the
legitimate domain of the worm-fisher, and thus
pursued worm-fishing is a sport which need fear
comparison with none.
As regards the tackle to be used in worm-fish-
ing, I cannot better explain the views which I
would commend to the reader's consideration than
by quoting a letter which I addressed to a con-
temporary periodical in January, 1867 : —
" NEW WORM TACKLE FOR TROUT.
" I see in your last number a letter asking me
to explain through your columns the principle of
the two-hook Trout worm tackle, to which I in-
cidentally referred in a recent communication on
the subject of the relative advantages of the
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 6 J
various bends of hooks. It gives me much plea-
sure to comply with this request.
" The easiest way of explaining the form of the
tackle will be by a diagram, but before doing this
it may perhaps be desirable to preface my remarks
by a few observations on the views hitherto pre-
vailing on the subject of Trout worm tackle.
" With one exception, no writer on fishing that I
am acquainted with has ever suggested the use of
more than a single hook. On looking through the
modern school of angling authors, I find the follow-
ing recommendations and instructions on the sub-
ject : — Bowlker, in his i Art of Angling,' recom-
mends a single No. 5 or No. 6 hook ; Mr. Stoddart
advises, in his i Angler's Companion,' single hooks,
sizes No. 10, 11, or 12, 'according to the dimen-
sions of the stream, its condition, and the kind of
Trout inhabiting it.' Mr. Bailey, in his 'Angler's
Instructor,' suggests a single No. 7 ; Otter's
' Modern Angler,' a No. 5 ; 'Glenfin' ('The Fish-
ing Rod, and How to Use It,') a 6 or 7 ;
1 Ephemera,' Hewett Wheatley, and some other
authors, either simply recommend ' a single hook,'
without naming the size, or omit the question
altogether whilst Mr. Moffat, whose ' Secrets of
Angling' burst upon the world since all the fore-
going works appeared, of course hits upon a com-
bination the very worst possible, and one which
would be tolerably certain to lose three out of
every four fish run — i.e., one small hook, extra fine
in the wire ! The ' member for Finsbury,' as this
author, with the detestable slang which some
6S
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
modern writers appear to think funny, calls the
Trout, would certainly let Mr. Moffat into at
least one angling secret with which he is at pre-
sent unacquainted, if he were to appear on the
banks of the Tweed, or the Spean, arrned with
such an apparatus.
" It will thus be seen that a " single hook ' for
Trout worm-fishing has been hitherto universally
recommended by angling authorities, with, as I
before stated, a solitary exception, and that is Mr.
Stewart, who in his * Practical
Angler,' boldly deviates from the
beaten track, and gives a diagram
(of which, for the sake of clearness,
a facsimile is appended) of a tackle
composed of four small hooks, in
lieu of the conventional single large
one. I give Mr. Stewart the greatest
credit for the originality of this idea,
which belongs to him alone ; at the
same time, I am not surprised at its
proving, as he himself admits, only
a modified success. Mr. Stewart
says that with this tackle he found
he could kill larger fish, but fewer
in number, than with the single
hook, and that this experience
confirmed by others. He attributes, and
4-hook Tackle
(Baited).
was
I have no doubt correctly, the diminution in the
numbers of fish run, primarily to the circum-
stance of its being impossible properly to conceal
so large a number of hooks in a single worm, and
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 69
to their being consequently seen by the fish. This
was the principal drawback to the four-hook
tackle. As a minor inconvenience, Mr. Stewart
also mentions that, from the number of hooks
often fixed in the fish's mouth when landed, a
certain waste of time necessarily occurred.
"These being the incidental disadvantages of
Mr. Stewart's plan, its advantages were, (1) that
the worm was more quickly baited than with the
single hook, (2) that it lived much longer — with
the large single hook it dies almost directly — (3)
that it presented a much more natural appearance
to the fish, and (4) that, owing to the superior
penetrating tendency of small over large hooks,
much fewer fish escaped after being once hooked,
whilst it became possible to use the finest gut,
which could not be safely done with large heavy
hooks. This of itself is an advantage the impor-
tance of which can hardly be over-estimated in
Trout fishing in clear streams.
" As regards the other point — the killing
powers — my own experience of the tackle was
that when fishing properly up stream, and with a
shortish line, hardly any fish escaped at all, whilst
with the large single hook, I think the experience
of most of my brother anglers will bear me out
when I say that fully 50 per cent, of runs were
' missed.' On the other hand, I fully recognised
the practical force of the objections mentioned by
Mr. Stewart to his own four-hook tackle, and accord-
ingly I endeavoured to construct a tackle similar
in principle but different in detail, which should
7o
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
combine its advantages, without being open to its
drawbacks. The result of my experiments was
that a tackle consisting of two hooks instead of
four, and these a trifle larger and thicker in the
wire, fulfilled the required conditions, and also com-
bined one or two material improvements in other
points. Annexed is a diagram of this tackle,
j
i
baited and unbaited. The size of the hooks, &c,
can be varied slightly according to the size of the
stream, or of the worms.
" The worm is here shown in a curled-up posi-
tion in order to contrast more readily with Mr.
Stewart's tackle, but in actual work it is recom-
mended that the worm should, on the contrary,
hang as straight as possible on the hooks, which
gives it a more natural appearance, and is in every
way much the more killing method.
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 7 1
" The great advantages, in several points, of Mr.
Stewart's tackle over the old large single hook have
been already explained. The following are the
advantages which I believe will be found to belong
to the two-hook over the four-hook tackle : — (1.) It
is baited in less than half the time. (2.) The worm
lives much longer. (3.) Its appearance is much
more natural and lively. (4.) The hooks are com-
paratively unseen. (5.) They are 'disgorged' in
half the time.
" In killing powers I do not think that there is
any appreciable difference, but if there is, the extra
size of hook and strength of wire which can be
employed in the two-hook tackle ought to give it
the advantage. It is also, of course, more easily
made.
" In order to bait this tackle, I put the upper
hook quite through the worm, laterally, about half
an inch below the head, just above the knot, and
the second hook similarly about an inch below it,
according to the size of the worm, as shown in the
engraving.
" It will be found that the worm, especially when
unscoured, is very apt to wriggle itself off the hooks,
or into' pieces, and the most effectual remedy for
this inconvenience, and one which a very little
practice will make easy, is to put the two hooks
through the worm as expeditiously as possible,
and then drop the worm instantly into the water ;
the cold partially numbs it, and prevents it
twisting off.
" Thus much as to worm-fishing for Trout. I
72 WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT.
am by no means clear, however, that this tackle
will not be found equally advantageous in all kinds
of worm-fishing, either with a float, as for Barbel,
Bream, Perch, &c, and especially in running water.
If Trout, which are in many respects a very shy
fish, will take it readily in the finest and brightest
water, there seems to be no reason why other and
bolder fish should not do so ; and if they will, I
cannot but think, for the reasons above mentioned,
that it must entirely supersede the present single-
hook system."
The trace for worm tackle should consist of
about two yards of the finest stained gut ; one or
two shot, according to the depth and rapidity of
the stream, being placed on the line some 1 4 inches
above the hooks. The object of this is to weight
the bait, so as to bring it close to or touching the
bottom without checking or sticking fast ; but in
broad sha How water no sinkers at all will be found
necessary. A longish rod is most convenient for
the purpose.
With regard to baits, any well-scoured worms
which are not much larger nor smaller than that
represented in the woodcut will do ; but for worm-
fishing for Trout, as for most other species of fresh-
water fish, the brandling, or striped dunghill worm,
is distinctly the best, — probably owing to its
peculiar pungent smell and red colour. For the
WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 73
purpose of rapid baiting the most convenient
manner of carrying the worms is in a wide-mouthed
bag attached to the button-hole. A worm that is
disfigured or dead should never be kept on the
hooks. This is perhaps the most important point
of all. The name of the worm indicates where it
can best.be found. Before use it should, if pos-
sible, be placed in a damp moss for two or three
days.
After being cast up stream as far as the length
of rod and line will conveniently admit, the bait
should be allowed to be carried back with the
current nearly to the angler's feet. If in its pas-
sage the line comes to a suspicious stop, the
nature of which is not obvious, or if a fish evidently
takes the bait, the line should be allowed to re-
main for three or four seconds motionless, when
the angler should strike, — not very hard, as the
hooks are small, — but still firmly and decidedly.
In worm-fishing for Trout, perhaps more than in
any other kind of fishing, the short-handled pocket
net described at page 82 will be found an invalu-
able auxiliary.
74
WHITE-TROUT FISHING.
Under the name of White or Sea Trout are often
included in ordinary parlance several species which
are properly distinct, as the Salmon Trout and
Bull Trout (Salmo trutta and Salmo eriox) y and
also others the specific positions of which are
undetermined or disputed. One cause of the
difficulty which an angler, who is not also a
thorough ichthyologist, finds in identifying the
various species of migratory Salmonidce, is the
great variety of local names often applied to one
and the same fish. On the Tweed, for instance,
the Salmo eriox y which is of course most widely
known by its proper name of Bull Trout, is simply
" The Trout ;" on the Coquet it commonly goes
by the name of " The Salmon," and it is believed
to be identical with the Sewin or Sewen of Wales.
To anglers, by far the most interesting species is
the Salmon Trout.
Salmon Trout fishing when good is perhaps,
at any rate for a time, the most fascinating of all
fishing. Indigenous in many of our best Salmon
and Bull Trout rivers, and frequently abounding
in streams which produce neither the one nor the
WHITE-TROUT FISHING. 75
other, there is no fish that swims which rises more
fearlessly to the fly, or when hooked, shows for its
size such indomitable — English pluck I was about
to say — but at any rate such determined and en-
during courage. In fact, the bright graceful
Salmo trutta is the most game and mettlesome, if
not, on the whole, the most beautiful fish known
to Europe, or probably to the world.
Although the Don, the Spey, Tay, Annan,
Nith, and many other Scotch waters, as well as a
few English rivers produce the Sea Trout in
tolerable abundance, Ireland must be considered
as its home par excellence. Many of the streams
and lakes on the west coast of Ireland produce
Sea Trout in an abundance, rare if not unknown,
in the sister Island.
Salmon Trout are migratory, and in this re-
spect resemble the Salmon more than the Brown
Trout ; other of their habits, however, seem
more allied to the latter species, and, as already
remarked, the fish would appear to stand in
its habits and instincts somewhere about mid-
way between the two. So with regard to the
flies used for their capture ; in size and shape
they more commonly bear a resemblance to
natural insects, a resemblance which cannot be
7$ WHITE-TROUT FISHING.
sacrificed without loss of efficiency ; in colours,
on the other hand, for some of the most killing
artificial White Trout flies no natural prototype
could be found. Under these circumstances,
the arguments in the preliminary remarks on fly-
fishing apply with full force to White or Sea
Trout, and the three typical flies already recom-
mended for Brown Trout (including the plain
hackle wing) dressed with a very slight variation,
will be found at least as killing on lakes and rivers
as any of tlie numerous local or general flies.
From what has been said, it would naturally
be inferred that colour bears a more important
part in White than in Brown Trout fishing. In
fact, as " natural imitation" recedes in importance,
colour advances, and the "salmon sympathies,"
if I may so express it, of Sea Trout are principally
shown, so far as fly-fishing is concerned, by the
fact, everywhere recognised in practice, that they
usually prefer in flies a certain amount of actual
glitter as well as strength of colour. Therefore,
in dressing the three flies for White Trout the
addition of a little tinsel is desirable — to the
Yellow, gold tinsel, and to the Brown and Green,
gold or silver according to fancy. The tinsel
should be applied sparingly, as its effect is
WHITE-TROUT FISHING. J J
weakened by excess. Three complete turns
round the body are ample ; the tinsel being of
course broad or narrow as the fly is large or
small. Occasionally in very large waters the
silver or gold flies recommended for Salmon, and
dressed small, will be found very killing..
As in lake fishing for the ordinary Brown Trout,
I advise the use of the Yellow fly as the dropper,
and the Green as the stretcher to begin with ; the
Brown being reserved in case a change seems
desirable.
The limits within which the sizes of White
Trout flies vary, although influenced to some
extent by the common considerations of water
and weather, are narrower than those applicable to
Brown Trout ; and White Trout flies are rarely
required to be dressed on hooks smaller than
No. 8, or larger than No. 13, (vide Plate, p. 42).
But size is still a point of great importance, and
as it is desirable to exactly suit the size of the fly
to the fish and to the water, the White Trout
fisher should keep by him all or nearly all the
intermediate sizes.
In the case of White, as in that of Brown
Trout, too great stress can hardly be laid on the
importance of carrying the flies loose in a box.
78 WHITE-TROUT FISHING.
From the moment they are dressed they should
never be squeezed or pressed, as in a fly-book, for
instance, as they thereby lose much of their
crispness and vitality.
All the larger sized flies for White Trout
should be dressed with a loop, both as lasting
much longer, and, by the method of fastening
herein proposed (see p. in), swimming much
better. The method of working the flies, and the
other observations as to the how, when, and where
of Brown Trout fly-fishing and minnow-fishing,
apply also in almost every case to the Salmon
Trout. Both this fish and Bull Trout will occa-
sionally take the worm, but it is at best an
uncertain bait.
The double-handed fly-rod, similar to that
already recommended for Brown Trout fishing in
lakes, will generally be found to answer best for
White Trout fishing.
When in full season, and tolerably fresh from
the sea, the White Trout is bright and silvery, but
as autumn spawning time approaches, the fish
begin to lose their brilliancy of scaling, and
acquire a reddish or blackish tinge. The most
common weight is from one to five pounds, but
specimens have been taken as heavy as twenty
GRAYLING FISHING. 79
pounds. Some years ago I hooked and played a
Sea Trout which must have exceeded ten pounds ;
but having only a light single-handed fly-rod I
could not exercise that wholesome pressure on
his movements which is so desirable, and after
three-quarters of an hour of alternate somersaulting
and " sulking" he eventually broke me.
GRAYLING FISHING.
General Remarks.
Whilst yielding to the Trout in courage and
dash, the Grayling is yet a beautiful and mettle-
some fish — a foeman not unworthy of our steel —
and if the former is the handsomer, the latter
would by many be considered the prettier species
of the two. The Trout has, so to speak, a Her-
culean cast of beauty ; the Grayling rather that of
an Apollo — light, delicate, and gracefully sym-
metrical.
Except in the Clyde, where the fish was intro-
duced about ten years ago, there are no Grayling,
so far as I am aware, either in Ireland or Scot-
land — and even in England the fish is still local,
and comparatively speaking, even rare. The
following are amongst the streams which produce
F
80 GRAYLING FISHING.
the Grayling in more or less abundance. In
Hampshire and Wiltshire — the Test, Wharf, and
both the Avons ; in Herefordshire — the Dove,
Lug, Arrow, Wye, and Irwin ; in Shropshire — the
Teme and Clun, Corve and Onny ; in Stafford-
shire — the H odder, Trent, Dove, and Wye ; in
Derbyshire — the Dove ; in Merionethshire — the
Dee ; in Lancashire — the Ribble ; in Yorkshire
— the Derwent, Ure, Wharfe, and Whiske ; and in
Cumberland, according to Heysham, the Esk and
the Eden.
The Wye, Dee, Lug, and Teme are the only
Welsh rivers holding Grayling that I am acquainted
with. Leintwardine on the Teme may be con-
sidered as the centre of the Grayling country ; and
from Leintwardine to Ludlow is the best piece of
Grayling water in the kingdom ; so far as my
experience goes.
The cause of the non-existence of Grayling in
Irish or Scotch rivers is probably to be found
in the " rock, stone, and scour," which are their
most common characteristics, whilst the Grayling
appears to thrive best in rivers, the beds of which
are composed partly or wholly of sandy gravel
or loam ; and instead of dashing torrents and
rapids in uninterrupted succession, affects waters
GRAYLING FISHING. 8 I
in which shallows and " stickles" alternate with
gentler currents and deep sluggish " lanes" or
channels of stream.
The spawning months for Grayling are April
and the early part of May, when they come up to
the gravelly scours in shoals — in this respect
resembling dace. The spawning process occupies
from three to four days, after which the fish return
to their own haunts, and are then unfit for food
until about August ; during the intervening
months the spawned fish rarely take the fly or
bait, and if caught in May or June should be
returned to the river. The Grayling season begins
in August and properly ends with December, as
after Christmas the fish begin to get heavy in
spawn, a condition in which a good sportsman
will not kill them, although it cannot perhaps be
truly said that they are actually unfit for the table
until after the spawning has taken place. When
I last fished the Teme, the limit of size under
which the Leintwardine Club wisely prohibited the
taking of Grayling was 10 inches. I hear, how-
ever, that the club rules have been recently
revised.
One year old fish are locally termed " pinks ;"
at two years, when they weigh about Jib., they
F 2
82
GRAYLING FISHING.
become " shot" or " shut" Grayling ; and after-
wards "Grayling." The "Pink" Grayling have
neither spots nor lateral lines observable. " Shot"
Grayling have spots, but no well-marked longi-
tudinal lines as seen in the full-grown fish. At
three years old the Grayling weighs about \ lb. in
average waters, and is supposed to continue
growing at about the same rate, viz. \ lb. per annum,
until reaching its maximum weight, which may pro-
bably be considered under ordinary conditions
GRAYLING FISHING. 83
from 4 to S pounds. A Grayling weighing half a
pound spawns, but a " Shot" Grayling does not.
The mouth of the Grayling is exceedingly ten-
der ; and consequently both striking and playing,
the fish requires to be handled carefully. For the
same reason, and also from the peculiar character
of the banks, a net is almost a necessity in Gray-
ling waters. The light pocket-net shown in the
engraving opposite will be found the most con-
venient for the purpose.
Grayling but seldom take the minnow, either
natural or artificial, or the worm. The three most
killing ways of fishing for them being with the
artificial fly, with the artificial grasshopper, and by
float-fishing with gentles.
. Fly-Fishing.
Fly-fishing for Grayling begins in earnest in
August — that is, about a month earlier than either
the grasshopper or gentle fishing — and continues
through September and October. Fair bags may
not unfrequently be made as late as November,
but a warm day, and the middle hours of it, are
then desiderata. Indeed, as soon as the weather
becomes cold, the warmest hours of the day, say
from 12 till 2 or 3 o'clock, will usually prove
84 GRAYLING FISHING.
best for the fly. The flies locally used for Gray-
ling fishing are not quite so numerous as those for
Trout — the only reason being, I believe, that the
localities themselves are fewer ; but still the Gray-
ling fisher's repertory will commonly contain from'
ten to twenty varieties, good and bad, the greater
part of which are wholly unnecessary, and in their
effects on the basket mischievous. Perhaps the
most killing of the list are the August, Whirling,
and Blue Duns (light and dark) ; Silver-twist, blue ;
Red and Green Insects ; Willow, Orange, and
Sedge or Cinnamon fly. One or other of these
will kill all through the season ; but if the Gray-
ling fisher will substitute for them and their con-
geners the three flies, Yellow, Green, and Brown,
which I have recommended for Brown Trout, and
use them steadily throughout the season, he will
probably find reason to congratulate himself on
the exchange.
The arguments which have been adduced on
this subject as applicable to Trout flies, as well as
the observations on Trout fishing generally in
streams, and how it is to be done, Rod, Tackle,
&c, apply equally to Grayling fishing and flies.
The finest possible stained gut should be always
used for both flies and collar.
GRAYLING FISHING. 85
Comparatively few heavy Grayling are taken
with the fly, the haunts of the large fish being
chiefly the long slow-running deeps which are most
unfriendly to this mode of fishing. In the rapids
and " stickles," small Grayling may be taken, but
these scours are not really good either for the fly,
grasshopper, or gentle. The best spots for all
three are steady running streams, and tails of pools,
for the fly about three, and for the grasshopper
about four feet deep. The grasshopper can, how-
ever, be frequently used with advantage in water
which is much too slow for the fly.
Grasshopper-Fishing.
The lure known by the name of the artificial
grasshopper, is really a rough imitation of a cater-
pillar, and not of a grasshopper. The best are
imitations made as follows. Whip a strand of fine
stained gut on to a No. 1 o or No. 1 1 hook ;*
making the silk lapping extend as far as the bend
of the hook. Take a lightish lead, bored, of about
an inch in length ; cut it down at one end to the
# If a No. 1 1 hook is used, which is on the whole the best
size of bend, a small piece of the end of the shank should be
nipped off, as the grasshopper would otherwise be too long
and large for ordinary purposes.
86
GRAYLING FISHING.
length of the lapping (about three-quarters of an
inch), taper it off at the thick end a little with a
knife, and then run it over the shank of the hook,
with the heaviest end towards the bend of the
hook : pinch it so as to fix it firmly in its place ; and
make a few transverse " nicks" with the knife to
cause the dubbing to stay on : then lap the lead
all over with light green worsted ; and make a few
turns over this body with yellow silk, waxed with
colourless wax. It is an improvement to the
appearance of the grasshopper to run a narrow slip
of straw down each side of the body under the
yellow ribbing.
The form of the grasshopper is shown in the
Fig. i. Fig. 2.
Grasshopper.
Float.
engraving (figure i). It should be baited for use
with three or four large gentles put on the hook
GRAYLING FISHING. 87
so as to make a bunch and partly cover the bend
and point. The trace should consist of three
yards of fine stained gut.
The grasshopper is worked by " sinking and
drawing," as it is termed : that is, the bait is thrown
in and allowed to sink till it touches the bottom,
and is then steadily drawn up again about a foot
or a foot and a half, and allowed to sink as before.
The stream is usually strong enough to shift the
bait as much as is desirable, but if the water is too
still for this, the result can be arrived at by " draw-
ing" the bait a little to right or left with the rod.
The great point is to be quite sure that the bait
touches the bottom before drawing up, and in order
to assist the eye in judging this point, it will be
found of the greatest advantage to have a small
moveable white mark on the line, placed a foot or
a foot and a half higher up the line than the highest
point which ought to be submerged. It is, in fact,
a miniature float, always kept out of water, and the
most convenient form is this. Take a small white
feather, and cut off about half an inch of the hollow
quill, and three-quarters of an inch of the solid
white part of the feather-stem, just thick enough
to fit neatly into the hollow quill cap (a), as shown
in the engraving, figure 2 ; the cap passes over the
88 GRAYLING FISHING.
line and is shifted according to the average depth
of the water fished.
A run will of course be perceived as the bait is
being drawn up, when a smart stroke should be
given, and the fish held tightly. Otherwise from
its non-fighting propensities a large Grayling is
very likely to get off : the hook also is a good deal
encumbered with gentles. When first struck, the
larger Grayling appear to me to fight as an eel
does — pulling tail backwards, instead of running
down, or away head first as other fish generally
do ; and I hardly ever remember seeing a hooked
Grayling spring out of water.
The best spots for grasshopper-fishing have
already been described. Where the water is deep
enough, a short line worked almost perpendicularly
near the bank will be found most successful ; but
by throwing out a considerable distance, excellent
water otherwise inaccessible can often be reached.
The cast may be made over hand like a fly to a
distance of some ten yards, but care must be taken
to allow the line to spread well behind, or other-
wise the bait will perform various eccentric flights
into the water or bushes. A longish light rod, say
fourteen or fifteen feet, is most convenient for
grasshopper-fishing : and the " General Rod," reel r
GRAYLING FISHING. 89
and line recommended for worm-fishing for
Trout will be found to answer the purpose
excellently.
As a rule, fish caught with the grasshopper are
twice as large as those caught with the fly. Sep-
tember, October, November, and December are the
best months, and the best days are usually quiet
warm days succeeding frosty nights — in fact,
grasshopper-fishing never fairly gets into play until
after the first sharpish frost. From about eight
A.M. until four P.M. is commonly the best time of
day. I have been informed that grasshopper-
fishing was first introduced into Shropshire about
forty-five years ago by the late Mr. Jones, fisher-
man, of Ludlow ; whose son, also residing in Lud-
low, is, or was when I last fished with him, as
deadly a Grayling-killer as I ever met.
Gentle-Fishing.
Before the introduction of the artificial grass-
hopper, it was the custom, in Shropshire at any
rate, to fish for Grayling with gentles only for bait
and ground-bait, used in the same manner as we
now use them for Roach, and with similar tackle.
Fished in the " Nottingham style" they will still be
found a very killing bait.
go
GRAYLING FISHING.
In the above and every description of gentle-
fishing a tin box like that shown in the engraving,
with a tray in front of the opening, and which can
be suspended from the button-hole, will be found
a really great practical convenience and saving of
*ime. This box was, I believe, the ingenious in-
vention of Messrs. Dawson, Bell Yard, Temple Bar.
9i
SALMON FISHING.
Outline of " Salmon History" and
Nomenclature.
A History of the Salmon, in the proper sense
of the term, is beyond the scope of this work,
and I have moreover already dealt with the sub-
ject in detail in the "Angler-Naturalist." A few
facts, however, which I shall put as briefly as pos-
sible, are desirable, if only to enable the fisherman
to know what Salmon he may put into his creel
and what he ought to return to the river. The
general terms used in Salmon nomenclature may
also perhaps be useful.
The young of a Salmon remains one, two, or
three years in the river before migrating to the
sea : during this period it is a " parr." Just
before migrating it changes its golden and brown
coat for a silver one, and becomes a " smolt," at
which time it weighs from one to two ounces.
The smolt returns from the sea a "grilse," com-
monly in from five to ten weeks, but sometimes
more, and having increased in weight from two
to ten pounds. Sometimes, however, the smolt
does not come, back as a grilse, but returns in
92 SALMON FISHING.
the spring of the following year as a small
Salmon.*
The smolt, whether it comes back in the grilse
or Salmon state, and the mature Salmon also,
spawn usually about November or December, and
go back to the sea as a spent-fish, or " kelts,"
in February or March ; ordinarily returning during
the following four or five months as " clean"
fish, and increased in weight from seven to ten
pounds.
Shortly before spawning, and whilst returning
to the sea as " kelts," Salmon are considered
u foul fish" — unfit for food — and their capture is
then illegal. " Foul fish" before spawning are, if
males, termed " red fish," from the orange-coloured
stripes with which their gill-covers are marked,
and the golden orange tint of the body ; the
females are darker in colour and are called
" black fish." After spawning the males are
called " Kippers," and the females " Shedders,"
or " Baggits." The History of the Salmon-
* The circumstance of the non-return of the Smolt in all
cases during the first year, and the theory of the spawning of
Salmon in alternate years, is now very generally received
amongst naturalists. It was first propounded by the author
in the Times in 1863, an d subsequently in the "Angler-
Naturalist," published during the same year.
SALMON FISHING. 93
Trout and other migratory Salmonidse has never
been quite so decidedly established ; but in many
points it certainly, and in most others probably,
is nearly identical with that of the Salmon.
The colours of the Salmon-Trout and Bull-Trout
before or after spawning are also nearly the
same as those of the Salmon, and their con-
dition may be ascertained accordingly.
The above names may perhaps be conveniently
presented in a tabular form : —
NAMES OF SALMON IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
AND STAGES OF GROWTH.
Parr Before taking its migratory
dress.
Smolt After taking ditto.
Grilse Smolt, on first return from the
sea, during the same year.
Salmon .... Smolt, not returning till year
following ; or Grilse after
its first trip to the sea, and
at all subsequent stages.
Clean fish . . . Fish fit to eat ; neither just
going to spawn, nor just
after spawning.
Foul fish .... Vice versa.
94 SALMON FISHING.
Fresh-run fish . . Salmon recently ascending-
rivers or lakes from the sea.
Red fish .... Male Salmon just before
' spawning.
Black fish . . . Female Salmon ditto.
Kippefs .... Male Salmon just after spawn-
ing.
Sheddersor Baggists Female Salmon ditto.
Kelts or Spent fish . Male or female Salmon return-
ing to the sea after spawn-
ing.
Well-mended Kelts . Salmon which (after spawn-
ing) have partially re-
covered their condition in
the fresh water.
Both Grilse and Salmon can always be at once
distinguished from the Salmon-Trout and Bull-
Trout, by the spots. After the smolt stage, these
latter fish invariably have spots on the sides r
below the lateral or side-line ; the line, that is,
longitudinally dividing each side of the fish into
two halves. Salmon and grilse never have such
spots.
Grilse can be distinguished from Salmon, (i) by
the tail being forked, whereas in the Salmon it is
SALMON FISHING. 95
always nearly square, and ultimately convex ; and
(2) by the scales, which in the grilse come off
even with the slight pressure of the hand. Fresh-
run Salmon — i.e., Salmon just fresh from the
sea — carry on their bodies the parasites com-
monly called "tide lice," these drop off after a
few hours' contact with the fresh water, but the
marks, something like miniature leech-bites, re-
main for a day or two. The longer the Salmon
remains in fresh water the less brilliant becomes
its colour.
Fly-Fishing.
Although, in common with many Trout-flshers
who are also Salmon-fishers, I prefer good Trout-
fishing to any other sport with the rod, it must
be admitted that there are points in which
Salmon-fishing carries off the palm — and carries
it off too not only from Trout-fishing, but from
every other sport which these islands afford.
Perhaps I could not with truth say that I prefer
fishing to shooting, or shooting to hunting ; they
are a glorious trio, to each of whom in turn I
have sworn allegiance ; and if like Paris I had a
golden apple to bestow, it should be given to
Fishing only because she has been in a special
G
g6 SALMON FISHING.
sense my mistress — " the fairest and most loving
wife" — in many a wild and lonely spot where but
for her gentle companionship and solace, I should
have felt myself in every sense of the word alone.
But though it would perhaps be impossible,
honestly, and " unbiassed by self-profit," to award
the palm of superiority to either of our three
national sports as a whole, I unhesitatingly assert
that there is no single moment with horse or gun
into which is concentrated such a thrill of hope,
fear, expectation, and exultation as that of the
rise and successful striking of a heavy Salmon^
I have seen men literally unable to stand, or to
hold their rod, from sheer excitement.
And indeed in this very excitement — in the
impetuosity of spirit it engenders — lies almost the
only real difficulty of Salmon-fishing. Two
causes combine to make the moment of striking a
critical one : In the first place the Salmon is so
large and bright, and in the second so compara-
tively slow-moving, owing to his bulk, that the eye
almost certainly perceives him in the water before
he has actually taken the fly ; when a premature
stroke, an almost instinctive tightening of the
muscles and line, at once snatches the fly from
the fish, and the fish from the creel. The art
SALMON FISHING. 97
is to resist for a moment the inclination to
strike ; only for one moment, but long enough
to allow the fish to take and turn down again
with the fly ; and then strike if you will : not a
slight hesitating blow like the tap of a lady's
fan — for there is often a long line and a heavy
strain on it between the Salmon and his would-be
captor — but a strong, steady, determined stroke
bringing the line up as flat as a knife, and driving
the tapering hook-point well in over the barb.
Next to the number of Salmon lost through
striking too quickly, are those lost from striking
too feebly. I repeat, therefore, strike strongly
and hard, as I have described, and repeat the
stroke by way of making sure. If the tackle will
not stand this strain it is a clear proof that it is
not fit for Salmon-fishing. A weak stroke is
worse than useless, because whilst it fails to make
the hook penetrate, it provokes the fish to a
sudden violent effort to rid himself of it, and thus
lessens the chance of his hooking himself.
If the above mode of striking is adopted, not
more than one fish in five which fairly take the
fly in open water ought to escape. I kept a
register for some time of my losses and takes, and
I found this to be a fair average.
G 2
98 SALMON FISHING.
Having mastered this point, the tyro who knows
anything of Trout-fishing will find that there is
very little to learn in the art of Salmon-fishing
which a few hours' practice under a good master
will not suffice to teach him. The principles of
casting and working the fly are in fact almost
identical, allowing for the difference in size and
weight of the tackle employed. All the move-
ments, that is to say, and particularly that given to
the fly in the water, are somewhat slower than in
Trout-fishing. The method of casting — the prin-
ciples which should guide the Salmon-fisher in
selecting the size of his fly — the general condition
of wind, weather, &c. — are also similar, and for all
these the reader is referred to the observations on
Trout-fishing.
Salmon, however, depend more on the condition
of the water than do Trout, and there are many
rivers in which the chances of taking a fish are
almost nil, unless there is a " fresh" in the river.
As regards the " where" to fish for Salmon in
any given river, this can only be acquired by local
experience. Sometimes what to the natural man
appears a most lovely cast, hardly holds a fish from
one end of the season to the other, whilst in the
uninviting lagoon-like looking hole below, a rise
SALMON FISHING. 99
may be predicted almost with certainty. Even
particular stones are not unfrequently haunted by
Salmon with a pertinacity which is very remark-
able. In the Conway, for instance, I have often
had pointed out to me a stone, the little eddy be-
hind which was almost invariably tenanted by a
Salmon. Such is also the Red Stone below
Makerston on the Tweed, and there are many
similar instances.
Why Salmon should evince such strong predi-
lections for particular spots is a question which has
never been entirely answered ; but that they do so
evince them is beyond a doubt ; and whilst such
is the case, the Salmon-fisher who does not want
to waste his time will never, if he can help it, try
a new water without some local guide who knows
the casts, and what are and what are not the spots
most likely to hold Salmon.
A gaff is sometimes necessary for the safe and
expeditious landing of Salmon, but it requires to
be used by an experienced eye and hand, and in
the early spring months, when the kelts or spawned
fish are dropping down the river, a net, (which
should not be less than two feet in diameter), will
both save the fisherman's time and probably the
lives of at least some " doubtful" fish. In fact, on
IOO SALMON FISHING.
many early Salmon rivers a net is almost a sine
qua non, and the use of the gaff should be dis-
couraged in every way.
Another important point in Salmon angling is
" fishing for a second rise." If a Salmon through
his own or the anglers fault has missed the fly, he
will, if properly managed, frequently rise a second,
and sometimes a third or even a fourth time, and
be hooked after all. When a Salmon has risen,
instead of immediately throwing again, the best
plan is for the angler to sit down quietly on the
bank for a few minutes, and then carefully cast
over the fish again, beginning a few yards above
the actual spot where the rise took place, and
bringing the fly gradually down over it. If the
fish does not rise, a short interval should be allowed
as before, during which the fly should be changed
for one of another colour, and afterwards the same
process repeated. Some good fishers advise
changing the fly the first time of recasting, and a
second or even third time afterwards ; but my ex-
perience is in favour of the system here described,
which is both simpler and less troublesome. If a
Salmon will not rise either to the original or to a
new fly, the chances are much against his rising
again at all at that moment: He may do so, how-
SALMON FISHING. IOI
ever, at another time of the day, and in view of
this contingency the casting over him of a number
of flies a great many times is less likely to attract
than to disgust him.
Wading.
Wading is often necessary in Salmon-fishing,
and indeed in Trout-fishing also. Where the
fisherman has to wade deep, as is often the case
in Salmon-fishing, fishing trousers fastening round
the waist will often be found a great convenience :
they are also much less dangerous than either
wading stockings or leather boots. In the event
of a sudden immersion these latter fill with water,
and thus act as plummets, loaded with which even
a strong swimmer may very easily be drowned.
Wading trousers, on the contrary, take so long to
fill that they practically act as floats during a time
which is generally sufficient to enable a swimmer
to reach the bank ; and they give of course a non-
swimmer a proportionately better chance than he
would otherwise have.
If leather boots are used, the best dressing that
I am acquainted with, as also for shooting-boots,
is a coat of the green-looking waterproof paste
manufactured by Messrs. Strawson, of Crewkerne,
102 SALMON FISHING.
Somersetshire ; and for merely keeping the leather
pliant when not in use, the following will be found
an excellent mixture : —
Waterproofing for boots, &*c. — Burgundy pitch, I oz. ;
bees' wax, 2 oz. ; turpentine, 2 oz. ; neatsfoot oil, 1 pint.
The turpentine should be added just before taking the com-
position off the fire.
Salmon and Grilse Flies.
I shall make no attempt at giving a code of in-
structions for Salmon-fly making : it has been
already done as far as accurate verbal description
and woodcuts can do it, by several living authors,
and very thoroughly and completely by the late
Mr. Blacker, in a charming little volume illustrated
by the actual flies. This, however, is a monograph,
and however beautiful or interesting as a work of
art, is too laborious and studious for an age in
which so much has to be done in every twenty-
four hours that even minutes are jealously econo-
mized. If anglers wish to know how to make a
fly themselves — a most useful and important
knowledge — a few lessons from a practical fly-tier
will be worth volumes of precept. It is, however,
an art requiring much nicety and delicacy of
manipulation, and not to be acquired in any degree
SALMON FISHING. IO3
of perfection without practice and a certain natural
aptitude.
As with Trout-flies so with Salmon-flies, none
should ever be put into a fly -book or be otherwise
compressed. The elasticity of the hackle fibre is
impaired by pressure, and all the fresh " crispness"
of the fly is lost. If as soon as made flies are put
into a box with others, they will bear any amount
of tossing or tangling without injury, and a round
tin box, equal in bulk to an ordinary fly-book,
will contain quite as many flies and collars as any
fly-fisher need wish to take with him to the river
side.
I have already referred to this more than once,
but it is in my opinion a point of such great im-
portance that too much stress can hardly be laid
upon it. This will be better understood when it is
recollected that the whole art of fly-fishing, as we
practise it, is based on the principle of simulating
life, rather than death ; and that between a fly
new and crisp, and one which has been long
flattened in a fly-book, there is almost as much dif-
ference when they are in the water as between a
living and a dead insect.
For the arguments bearing upon the question
of what a Salmon-fly ought to be — the rationale,
104 SALMON FISHING.
that is, of Salmon-flies — the reader is referred to
the general introductory observations on fly-fish-
ing. The table appended gives the formulary for
the three flies there referred to : —
No alteration whatever is required in the dress-
ing, from the smallest Grilse to the largest Shannon
flies, except that the hooks, hackles, and wings
must be proportionally larger or smaller.
The speciality of these flies it will be seen con-
sists in the arrangement of hackles, which are, in
fact, double, embracing a " shoulder" hackle, and
what may perhaps be best described as a " head
hackle ;" the body of the fly is made a trifle
shorter to admit of the additional set which are
put on between the wing feathers and the loop, in
the place commonly occupied by that foolish ap-
pendage, a twist of ostrich herl, which generally
goes before anything else about the fly, and is use-
less whilst it lasts. The hackles commonly used
in Salmon-flies are so small, and necessarily so
much compressed and pushed out of position by
the wings, that when in the water they present
very little appearance of movement or life in the
water.
The extra, or " head hackle" should be about the
same length in the fibre as the body of the fly from
SALMON FISHING.
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106 SALMON FISHING.
head to butt. As, however, the size of hackles is
limited, in very large flies it is impossible to carry
out this proportion strictly ; but with a little trouble
hackles of an inch and a half long in the fibre
can easily be obtained by feather-dyers and tackle-
makers, and up to this size anglers using the flies
recommended should insist upon the proper pro-
portion being maintained. These hackles not only
possess an amount of transparent, almost prismatic,
colour which no other part of the fly displays, but,
as they are worked through the stream, open and
close with every movement of the rod or fly, and
give the appearance of life to what would other-
wise look only like a bar of dead silver or gold or
colour.
The principal wing-feathers in all these flies,
are the black and white neck hackles of the
jungle cock, and the next in importance feathers
from the golden pheasant known as " toppings."
— perhaps the two feathers which experience has
proved to be on the whole most killing for
Salmon in the greatest variety of combinations.
If the expense of golden pheasant toppings in
the wings is objected to, the best substitutes are
golden orange hackles.
These colours have also the advantage not
SALMON FISHING. IO7
only of being in themselves strong and glowing,
but of harmonizing with the body colours of each
of the three flies — a harmony which the hackles
complete. As the harmonies of sound depend
upon the combination of certain natural " intervals"
furnished by the harmonic chord, so in forming
harmonies of colour the natural or prismatic
arrangement, as displayed by the solar spectrum
of the optician, must in every case be taken as
the basis. Thus in the gold-fly — the prevailing
colour of which is intended to be a rich golden
orange — red, orange, and yellow are the three
predominant colours — orange (the gold of metal-
lurgists) in the prismatic arrangement passing* into
red on the one side and yellow on the other. In
44 the Rainbow" the same model is closely followed,
the whole of the prismatic colours being combined
in the body and shoulder hackle in their proper
sequence. In No. 3, which is a silver-bodied fly,
no harmony of colour is strictly speaking possible
— silver (or white brightened) not being a colour
but rather a negation of it. In a more general
sense, however, both white and black harmonize
with all the other colours.
It is seldom — I may say never, except in large
waters like the Shannon — that two Salmon-flies,
108 SALMON FISHING.
or one Grilse and one Salmon-fly, can be used with
advantage. The bob-fly or dropper in lake Trout-
fishing is often the most killing fly, because when
properly worked it skips along the ripple like a
real live insect endeavouring to rise after a partial
immersion ; but the Salmon-fly, which is appa-
rently not taken for a fly at all, kills best under
water. If White-trout, however, are in the river,
a White-trout fly, as the dropper, may often be
used with advantage.
New Knots for Gut Loops and Drop-Flies.
I may here mention a method of fastening drop-
flies on Salmon casting-lines which I have found
very successful. The object sought to be attained
is, of course, that the fly should remain for the
longest possible time standing clear from — in fact,
almost at right angles to — the line, with the least
amount of knotting or thickening, and the greatest
facility for changing. To secure the first, it is
necessary that the casting-line should be stiffened
at the point of intersection. This is effected by
joining the two halves of the line in a single fisher-
man's knot, leaving about half an inch over at each
end. The knot having been drawn straight and
close, these two ends should be lapped down to
SALMON FISHING. IO9
the line with a few turns of light coloured silk, as
shown in figure 1 of the accompanying engraving ;
and the effect of this arrangement will be found
to be that the casting-line at that point is trebly
stiffened, with scarcely a perceptible increase of
thickness or clumsiness. Over the central knot
the loop of the drop-fly should be passed and drawn
close in the manner shown in figure 3.
For the tying of these loops, and all others
used in fishing, I have, I believe, succeeded in
hitting upon a new and considerably improved
form of knot, — the ordinary loop being both clumsy
and crooked (a serious drawback to the perfect
set of the fly), and, in thick gut, very difficult to
manipulate. My knot (fig. 2, and x in fig. 3) is
simply a new application of the principle of the
ordinary single fisherman's knot, thus : a half knot
is made, about an inch and a half or two inches
IIO SALMON FISHING.
from the end of the gut, but not drawn quite tight ;
the end of the gut is doubled over and passed back
again from above through the opening ; and then
again, with this end, a second half-knot, embracing
the main, link, is made < below the first. Both
half-knots are then again separately pulled tight,
and drawn together. This produces the smallest
possible knot, and one which will never draw and
is perfectly straight.
The collar should be of the strongest picked
Salmon-gut, stained as already directed for Trout-gut y
and the strands knotted in a single " fisherman's
knot," with a lapping of thin gut inside, or between
the knots, instead of the ordinary silk lapping
outside. This mode of lapping relieves the knot
itself of half its duty, and on any sudden jerk,
such as striking, acts as a sort of buffer to receive
and distribute the strain. It is, moreover, simpler,
much neater, and nearly twice as strong as the
common double knot. Tied with the latter a
couple of feet of very strong Salmon-gut will
break — almost always at the knot — on a steady
strain of from 12 to 1 5 lb. ; tied on my method
it will break at any other part in preference.
The gut-lapping has also the advantage of being
transparent, whilst silk is of course opaque. Fac-
SALMON FISHING. Ill
similes of the new and of the old knot tied with
the same strands of gut are annexed.
New knot. Ordinary knot.
All Salmon-flies should be dressed with gut-
loops, not only with the double object of strength
and durability, but for the purpose of making the
fly swim straight when attached to the casting-
line. This last object, however, is not accom-
plished with the ordinary mode of knotting on
the fly — viz., by forming a half-knot at the ex-
tremity of the casting-line, and then " reeving" it
in and out through the loop. When thus
attached the fly presents a sort of broken-backed
appearance, and must of necessity swim head
downwards instead of horizontally.
The following method will be found entirely
to obviate this defect, whilst it is at the same
time neater and stronger and equally simple : —
Pass the end of the casting-line through the fly-
H
I I 2 SALMON FISHING.
loop from above ; then over the loop ; then up
again through it from below ; and finally tie with
it a half-knot round the main line, in the form
shown in the diagram, fig. I. Then draw the
last-made knot tight, and slip it up to the loop,
drawing the main line also tight, as shown in
fig. 2, which is a facsimile of the knot as tied on a
small Grilse-fly. In fig. I the loop is exaggerated
in length for the sake of illustration.
The gut should always be- well moistened before
the knot is tied.
The Rod.
Salmon-fishers have almost all their peculiar
fancies about rods. Some pin their faith to the
swishy, spliced, and somewhat top-heavy weapon
which takes its name from Castle Connel ; whilst
others, going to the opposite extreme, will fish
with nothing more pliant than the old-fashioned,
untapered, four or five ferrule-jointed rod of the
past generation of London makers. The latter
would doubtless bring against the swishing rod the
charge of top-heaviness, whilst its owner would
consider that the extra top weight and "play" of
his rod did duty instead of muscular effort. He
might probably put his argument thus : — " In
SALMON FISHING. I I 3
every cast your stiff rod has to be worked with
twice the movement of arm that mine requires :"
to which the reply would be, " Yes, but then my
rod is so lightened towards the point, that it is no
effort to me to work it." For my own part I
think that, like the chameleon philosophers, both
are wrong and both are right ; in other words, that
each rod possesses a valuable principle of its own,
but carried to a mischievous excess in the two
extreme types I have referred to. In the Salmon-
rod power is pre-eminently necessary, and green-
hart gives it. Lightness is another essential ele-
ment, and the old-fashioned evenly-tapered hickory
rod admirably fulfils the condition.
Very strong and tall anglers may wield, and
very broad waters sometimes demand, a longer
rod than 18 feet, but for all ordinary purposes I
think from 18 to 19 feet will be found the most
convenient length. In order to insure the greatest
comfort and efficiency, the rings, &c, of Salmon
rods, as of all others, should be stiff instead of
moveable as ordinarily arranged.
H 2
114 salmon fishing.
The Reel and Line.
A reel similar in pattern to that recommended
for Trout, but capable of holding from 80 to 100
yards of casting-line will be found best. For an
18 or 19 foot rod, such as that described, a reel of
four inches in the diameter of the plate gives on
the whole the best balance.
The ordinary eight-plait dressed silk line, or the
spun-cotton line, already elsewhere described, will
be found the best, the latter being about one-third
of the price of the former.
The Gaff.
A straight, sharp point is the only real essential
in a gaff. All other matters are comparatively
unimportant. As the gaff has always to be carried
by an attendant, one with a 6 or 7 foot solid
handle is most convenient. In gaffing a Salmon
there is an art which needs some little practice and
presence of mind to acquire. Unskilful gaffers
make a sort of dive or snatch at a fish. The
proper plan, on the contrary, is cautiously but
quickly to lower the gaff until the point nearly, but
not quite, touches the fish's opposite side below
the shoulder, and then give it a sharp, sudden jerk
SALMON FISHING. I I 5
(not stroke) inwards, which drives it home.
Snatching, diving, and striking at Salmon with the
gaff result in frequent hitchings of the line, and
abortive scratches and cuts being inflicted on the
fish, which, though impotent for purposes of cap-
ture, yet produce sufficient smart to frighten him
into a final and despairing rush, which is frequently-
fatal, I mean to the basket. So obstinately stupid
on this point are often even professional attendants,
that I have frequently gaffed my Salmon myself
with one hand, holding the rod in the other, rather
than entrust either to their tender mercies.
Hooks.
In the shape, weight, and especially in the
strength of the larger sizes of my pattern of hooks,
described at page 42, I have had particular regard
to the requirements of the -Salmon-fisher, and I
believe these hooks will be found to combine these
essentials in a greater degree than any of the
existing patterns.
WORM-FISHING FOR SALMON.
The observations elsewhere offered on the dif-
ferences of water and season for using the spinning
bait for Salmon in different localities, apply
I I 6 SALMON FISHING.
according to most authorities to a considerable
extent to worm-fishing also. For example, Mr.
Stoddart lays it down that worm-fishing " can be
practised with success only when the river is clean
and small," and yet in Ireland I have known seven
clean salmon taken before breakfast out of " The
Leap" on the river Bush, in April, when the water
was all but in actual flood and hopelessly thick for
the fly.
The mode of fishing as commonly practised is
extremely simple : a large single hook, say No. 1 4
or 15, is whipped on to two or three yards of
Salmon-gut. A supply of lob-worms having been
obtained, and, if feasible, previously scoured, the
hook is passed through the middle inch or two of
two or three of them, according to their size and
the size and state of the water, the last worm
being so put on that no part of the hook or barb
is left visible. Sufficient large split shot should
then be fixed to the line about if feet above the
bait, to take it well to the bottom, but yet they
should not be so heavy as to prevent the stream
carrying the bait freely along with it over the
stones.
The bait is then worked very much like the
worm bait for Trout, except that the angler,
SALMON FISHING. 117
having selected a pool or run in which he knows
that there are plenty of Salmon, generally remains
at the same place, shifting his ground a few paces
at a time higher or lower. The usual symptom
of a bite is a stoppage of the bait, followed by
a very gentle twitching. Sometimes, however,
though in my experience rarely, the Salmon takes
the bait in a more reckless fashion, resembling
-ather the run of a Trout. Having taken the
tait, the Salmon will frequently remain nearly or
qiite motionless for some little time, and then
trove steadily away. This is the moment to
stike, and as the bait is invariably actually swal-
lpved or pouched, there is little fear of the fish
behg missed. Should the fish move away at once
after biting, line and time must be given him to
pouh the bait. To provide for the contingency
of aiy sudden moves or rushes on the part of the
fish, md against that of any sudden check on the
part )f the angler, it is a wise precaution always
to kep a yard or two of spare line loose in the
hand between the bottom ring and the reel.
This jrecaution will not seldom save the loss
of a fisi.
The rod used for fly-fishing for Salmon, but
with a somewhat stiffer top, and also the reel
I I 8 SALMON FISHING.
and line, will answer every purpose for this kind
of worm-fishing.
But there is another method of worm-fishing
for Salmon, unpractised, so far as I am aware,
and at any rate ' unpreached,' by any angler or
angling writer, which, according to my experience,
is as superior both in its practice and results
to the system above described, as spinning is to
gorge baiting.
This method consists of applying to Salmor
the system of fine fishing already advocated fof
Trout, with three trifling differences only in tackt
and bait.
1. Instead of a "brandling" or other sm/ll
worm, the bait should be a lob-wom y
large or small, according as the rivei is
high or low, coloured or clear.
2. The hooks and trace should be simila* in
every respect to the Trout tackle, but
with hooks one or two sizes larger (clly),
as the bait is a large or small one ; and
instead of a small shot or two to veight
the trace, a sinker should be u£d of
sufficient weight to carry the bait
lightly down to the bottom of tie run
or pool. Small paternoster leads
SALMON FISHING. I 1 9
(smoked to prevent their glittering) are
most convenient for this purpose, and
they should be attached to the main
trace, about two feet above the hooks,
by means of a horsehair loop, which
will both admit of a ready change of
leads, to suit the varying depths of the
different casts, and, where a "foul"
occurs, which it frequently does, will, as
a last resort, break at a less strain than
the main line, and thus save the latter.
The lob-worm should be put on quite
straight, like a Trout worm, the upper
hook near the knot, and the tail hook
lower down. The thicker the hooks are
in the wire the better. The stroke, a
genlle one, should follow immediately
on a bite, or more often on a suspicious
stoppage being perceived.
I have repeatedly caught Salmon with this
tackle in bright sun, and in the clearest and finest
water, and after all other methods of fishing, in-
cluding the ordinary worm practice, had failed ; a
slightly clouded water is, however, best. It is of
course most important, especially in the former
case, that the angler should carefully keep out of
120 SALMON FISHING.
sight ; and, if possible, always below the spot
which the bait is fishing. This is almost a sine
qua non with this mode of fishing — than which I
know nothing more truly " sporting" and sports-
manlike. The very fine hooks and tackle which
must be used, and the nice manipulation of the
line and bait required to insure success, entitle it
to a front place in the Angler's Arcana.
THE END.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
ON
"THE AISTGHiER-lSrATUItALIST.'
Field. — "An admirable book . . . it is in fact the most complete
history of British fresh- water fish of the present day."
John Bull. — " A work of national importance. Characterized by
a careful and systematic knowledge of the special branches of zoology
which come within its scope ; and thoroughly worthy to place its
author's name by the side of that Coryphaeus of this class of lite-
rature—Gilbert White of Selborne."
Press. — " So good a manual has not hitherto appeared ; the lazy
angler will dream over it ; the strenuous angler will carefully study
it ; and make good use of its concise information and manifold sug-
gestions. . . . Instruction and amusement are pleasantly mingled
in its pages, and the angler will be unwise who does not contrive to
find room in his knapsack for this charming volume."
Saturday Review. — "It admirably carries out its selected pro-
gramme. It claims for every sportsman that he should be a bit of a
naturalist, and does its part to make the angler a complete one, as
far as fish are concerned. That its author is both one and the other
we have abundant evidence. The lucidus ordo bespeaks the natu-
ralist, the practical information a true disciple of the gentle craft."
Header. — " An admirable work. It is stored throughout with
anecdotes, which Mr. Pennell relates in language that is always
terse and graceful. On the subject of fishing he is well known as
an authority. . . The Angler Naturalist is a clever book, and a useful
book, and a book sui generis. We have no doubt that it will become
a standard work of reference. Let us add, what Mr. Pennell has
modestly omitted, that it is the most complete history of British
fresh- water fish of the present day ; and that the illustrations are
equal to the text — which is the greatest compliment we can pay
them."
Baity' s Sporting Magazine. — "No man can be qualified to send forth
such a book as this one, which we have just read with infinite plea-
sure and profit, unless his knowledge of natural history and angling
be a practical and full one, gained by personal experience, cherished
by a true love of the subject, and totally independent of theory and
book- wisdom."
Lancet. — "Let those who have hitherto been satisfied with being
simply killers of fish turn to this very beautiful book, and make
themselves masters of its pages. It will be strange, indeed,
they do not wish to become something more, and we must even say,
better."
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
ON
"THE BOOK OF THE PIK E."
Field. — u Since the days of Nobbes, the father of trollers, no work
has issued from the press likely to carry such consternation into the
homes and haunts of the tyrant of the waters as the book before us.
.... Mr. Pennell has certainly taken in the pike and done for him,
and there is nothing left for succeeding writers on pike-fishing to
tell their readers. He has exhausted the subject, and has done it so
well and so deftly, that one wanders on, and on, through his pleasant
pages, wondering where he has gathered all this pike-lore from, and
how it is that in a somewhat restricted subject like the history of,
and means of capture employed upon one particular fish, he has
contrived to beguile one of any sense of tedium. On the practical
department of his book we need enlarge but little. Mr. Pennell is
so well known to be a senior angler in the art he professes, that it is
far better to let him speak for himself and to recommend our readers
to cull his directions from the fountain-head, than to attempt to
condense them in simply mangled fragments. As for criticising
them, there is no need of it."
Sporting Gazette. — "That there is an actual necessity for and
value attached to such an addition to the fisherman's library, apart
from the consideration of the literary and piscatory talents of the
author, will readily be conceded by those who are aware that no English
work has ever before been devoted exclusively to pike-fishing. We
may therefore congratulate ourselves that such an addition has come
to us, and from such a source. . . . Part II. exhausts, we may say,
completely and satisfactorily, all the various details of each method
of pike-fishing.'*
Land and Water. — " ' Has this book a sufficient excuse for exis-
tence ?' Mr. Pennell asks in his preface. The best of excuses we
reply. Since Nobbes, of the dark ages, no substantial treatise on
puce-fishing has been given to the world, if we except those of Salter
and "Otter" — the one a Cockney, the other a catchpenny pro-
duction. The Booh of the Pike, on the contrary, is the work of a
scholar and a gentleman, and of a senior angler to boot, and it treats
its subject exhaustively."
BeIVs Life. — "This is in every sense of the word a clever book,
and is, moreover, as useful as it is unpretending. . . . We can with
every satisfaction endorse the prophetic suggestion of Mr. Westwood,
whose Bibliographical Anglomania is known and admired by all
anglers of note, when he says that ' Posterity will agree to designate
Mr. Pennell the * Father of Pike-fishers.' A naturalist and a most
genial writer, Mr. Pennell is also a student in history, and the charm
of his teaching is heightened by its graceful and gentle utterance."
EIGHTH EDITION.
Crown 8vo, cloth extra, price 5s. ; or, gilt edges, 6s.
PUCK ON PEGASUS.
By H. CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL.
With nearly 100 Illustrations by Sir Noel Paton, Leech, Tenniel,
Doyle, Cruikshank, &c.
Opinions of the Press on Former Editions.
London Review. — Who does Dot know " Puck on Pegasus," which
now comes before us in a sixth edition ?
Times.— The epigrammatic drollery of Mr. Cholmondeley PennelPs
" Puck on Pegasus" is well known to many of our readers. . . . The
present is a superb and handsomely printed and illustrated edition of the
book.
Daily Telegraph. — There is no doubt that Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell's
" Puck on Pegasus," which has reached a sixth edition, merits the
honour and success of that unquestionable proof of popularity. The
book has been reviewed over and over again.
Standard. — Splendid verse. . . . The sixth ecfition — on the merits
of the book it ought to be the sixtieth — is published in exquisite garb by
Mr. Hotten. Those who do not already know the wonderfnl swing of
Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell's lines should make their acquaintance at
once.
Scotsman. — A beautiful and amusing book. . . . Mr. Pennell always
shows himself a master of the art of versification.
Saturday Review. — The book is clever and amusing, vigorous and
healthy. There is plenty of poetry in railways and steam-engines, and
now that other mines of inspiration are growing exhausted, we cannot
see why a new shaft should not be run in this direction.
Morning Post. — The rhythm and rugged swing of the "Night Mail
North 1 ' will give our readers a taste of Mr. Pennell's higher qualities.
Field. — This is a sixth edition, but it might honestly be a sixteenth
.... Mr. Pennell often plays with his power, but there is the right stuff
in almost every line he pens.
Observer. — The public have affixed the seal of their approbation on the
work, arid we have only to say that in doing so they have judged as they
usually do, wisely and well.
Examiner. — Let Mr. Pennell trust to the original strength that is in
him, and he may bestride his Pegasus without fear.
CHATTO AND WINDUS, PUBLISHERS, PICCADILLY.
Small Svo, cloth extra, price 4s. Qd.
MODERN BABYLON;
CRESCENT?; AND OTHER POEMS.
By H. CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL.
Morning Post. — An author who has reached the honour of a sixth edition
—as Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell has done in his very clever and amusing
book, "Puck on Pegasus" — can venture again before the reading public
without any great anxiety as to his reception. His present work, " Modern
Babylon," contains some sixteen poems, well calculated to show the versatility
of the author's muse .... Mr. Pennell grasps his subject with the
vigour of a man of genius, and he invariably works on the right side of the
question. He is wholesome, earnest, thoughtful — a worshipper not only of
the beautiful but the good. ... In such poems as " Holyhead to Dublin"
there is rush and swing in the verse, which make it audible as the pace of a
horse or the clank of a steam-whistle. . . . Side by side with this strength
we find grace and elegance and airy fancies. What a charming little poem,
for instance, full of suggestiveness and sparkle, is the one we quote at length,
entitled " Outside" ! . . . . What sweetness of tone and purity of idea
live in this little poem ! It recalls the matchless lines "To Helen," written
by the most poetic of all American poets, the ill-starred Edgar Allan Poe.
It is very exceptional to find a gentleman like Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell
capable of charming us with such verse as this, and yet so practically gifted
that Bailey's Magazine can say of him, " He is not only well known as a
Senior Angler, but as one of the straightest riders and best shots in
England."
Westminster Gazette. — Mr. Pennell is an accomplished and versatile
man. . . . The volume we have under notice shows another and very
different view of the mental diagnosis of its author. An elegant gift of
rhyme, and no small share of the divine afflatus are evident in every page.
The opening poem, " Modern Babylon," is worthy of the philosophy of three-
score years of earthly sojourn. " The Two Champions," gives an exquisite
poetic setting to a beautiful idea. " Fire," evidently inspired by a recent
calamitous event, is a clear and incisive bit of word-painting. . . . There
is not, in fact, a single piece in this volume which does not evidence know-
ledge of the springs of human nature; deep culture and study, allied to in-
variable purity of thought and expression. . . .
One feels inclined to say to the seeker of true poetry — poetry without the
effeminacy of Tennyson, the "naughtiness" of Swinburne, or the harsh,
croaking unmusicality of Browning — Go to the glowing verses, the unstained
morality, and the panoramic imagery to be found in the pages of "Modern
Babylon."
John Bull. — Mr. Pennell is a stalwart champion of his age, and in reading
his ringing lines we feel that most assuredly there is a charm for the poet in
even the most material of modern life. ... The following comes from a
master-hand. . . .
Scotsman. — Real and undoubted poetic talent.
Athenceum. — Language alike strong and musical. . . . Earnestness and
fine appreciation of the grander qualities of nature, more especially of human
nature, are on this occasion the chief characteristics of Mr. Pennell' s muse.
. . . . " Crescent" is a passionate protest against the complaint ever on the
lips of idlers, but scouted by all honest workers, that the Age of Poetry is
past. . . . The nervous and deep-rolling lines of " Crescent" would of them-
selves be a sufficient answer.
CHATTO AND WINDUS, PUBLISHERS, PICCADILLY.
WORKS EDITED BY
H. CHOLMONDELE Y-P ENNELL.
THE MUSES OF MAYFAIR:
SELECTIONS
*BOM
VERS DE SOClfcrti OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Recently published, cloth extra, gilt and gilt edges,
pp. 382, Is. 6d.
Embracing Specimens from the Works of all the Principal Poets
and Writers of Vers de Society of the last eighty years, including
Tenntson, Browning, Swinburne, Rossetti, Jean Ingelow,
Locker, Ingoldsby, Hood, Lttton, C. S. C, Landob, Henry
S. Leigh, &c. &c.
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