coloured flies.

[3] Under favourable circumstances you may begin to troll with
the Minnow about the middle of the month.

[4] The Duns are first-class flies all the season, beginning
with the Blue Dun in March and April,--The Yellow Dun, little
Iron Blue Dun on cold windy days,--July Dun Cut, Blue Gnat, and
Willow Fly.

Some anglers fish with four flies upon a stretcher, I much prefer
three, and never, except for Lake fishing, use more--a stretcher for
three flies should consist of about a yard and a half of either gut or
hair. What are termed water knots are the best for tying your gut or
hair together, the tighter they are drawn the faster they become. Every
angler is no doubt partial to some particular flies, and probably he
will have no great difficulty in selecting his favourites from the
copious lists given in the Teesdale Angler; but for the benefit of
those anglers who have not had much experience, I beg to observe that
they should never have three flies at once on their stretcher, that
closely resemble each other. In the Spring the Blue, Brown and Dun
Drakes are certain killers, and as for hackle flies, if they select the
Brown, Blue and Black, they will do well. During the Summer months
there is such a great variety of feed upon the water that it is
difficult, nay, almost impossible to give any certain rule, because the
set of flies that kill well one day, may be rejected the next. I may
however venture to affirm, that one dark and two light flies are the
most likely, either as regards hackle or winged flies. By catching the
natural fly, you will never be at a loss either in Spring or Summer, as
to the colour of the silk you require for the body of your fly. In
Summer when the midges are on, use the Black, Blue and Dun midges, and
when they disappear, try the larger flies.

APRIL.--The month of sunshine and showers is generally, and especially
towards the latter end of it, most favourable for angling; in fact if
the water is in order, and the weather temperate for the season, it is
the very best fly month in the year. Trout are now sure to rise well
and freely at the fly. Every day between the hours of eleven and three
o'clock the feed is on the water. The fish, full of life and motion,
are hungry and voracious, and in full pursuit of the Dun or Brown
Drake, which any gleam of sunshine brings on the surface of the water.
The Blue Dun (a better fly than the Brown for co