Flies.--Here we shall no doubt come into conflict with many opinions,
and most probably meet with the most criticism. However, as all we have
written, and mean to write, is the result of actual experience, we may
be pardoned for being somewhat dogmatic on the subject in hand. In the
first place, don't keep a large stock of flies. If going for a day's
fishing, buy as many as you think you'll need, and _no more_. Buy them
of different sizes; and if you get a few each time you go for an outing,
you will be astonished how soon a spare stock accumulates. Ascertain
carefully beforehand the _size_ suitable to the loch--the _kinds_ are
not of so much importance--and once you have made up a cast, in which
operation there is no harm in taking your boatman's suggestions, _do not
change_, unless it be to put on a smaller or larger size according to
the wind, or unless it is conclusively proved that other flies are
raising trout when yours cannot. Of course, if you are going for a
fortnight's fishing, you will require to lay in a fair stock; but even
then get as few as you think you can possibly do with. Do not run any
risk of running short, and do not place yourself in the position of
needing to use old casts: that is poor economy in the long-run. The
following is, we think, a fair list for a fortnight's sport in an
out-of-the-way place:--

Half-dozen harelugs.
" red and teal.
" orange and mallard.
" green and woodcock.
" black spiders with red tips, commonly called "Zulus."
" red spiders, hackle taken well down the hook.
" March Browns, which, though supposed to come out in March,
are really capital flies at any time.
" yellow body with cinnamon wings and golden-pheasant tip.
" dark harelug body, mallard wing and red tip. This is a
splendid spring fly.

These we would get dressed on Loch Leven size--any fly-dresser knows
what that means; but perhaps the better way would be to get a quarter
dozen of each dressed on that size, and a quarter dozen of each on a
hook two sizes larger. The patterns in a tackle-maker's book are
endless, but for the most part are modifications or combinations of the
flies we have named; and the angler will soon discover for himself that
flies and old half-used casts, and often casts made up in the humour of
the moment, and never used at all, accumulate upon him so rapidly that
he is glad