Published by the Authors, 23, Bank Street, Bradford.
All rights reserved
CONTENTS.
| Page. | |
| Preface | [5] |
| Chapter I. Flies. Table I. Table II. Dressings | [7] |
| Chapter II. Fly Fishing. Wet-Fly Fishing. Dry-Fly Fishing | [31] |
| Chapter III. Creeper and Stone Fly Fishing | [62] |
| Chapter IV. Upstream Worm Fishing | [69] |
| Chapter V. Minnow Fishing | [91] |
| Index | [103] |
ILLUSTRATIONS.
| [Frontispiece]: The Wharfe near Burnsall | |
| Snipe’s Wing, Inner side | [8] |
| Snipe’s Wing, Outer side | [8] |
| Shades of Silk | [10] |
| Drawings of Natural Flies | [12] |
| Flies with Dressing Materials | [16 et seq.] |
| A Typical Stretch | [30] |
| Headwaters of the Aire | [46] |
| Broken Water | [60] |
| The Head of the Dale | [76] |
| A Brook in Spring | [96] |
PREFACE.
When the writers began to take a practical interest in trout fly dressing, they experienced great difficulty in determining the correct feathers for the various patterns, as the older books on the subject of North Country flies are vague in the extreme. The few more modern writers on wet flies, for want of precision, have done little to help the beginner to a proper appreciation of his materials. It was therefore felt that a book, which not only prescribed the exact part of a bird from which the correct feathers should be taken, but illustrated such feathers and other materials (as also the flies made therefrom), in colour, would be a help, at least to beginners in the craft, and not merely an encumbrance on angling literature.
Having conceded the difficulties of the novice wishing to dress his own flies, the question of the number of patterns necessary for fishing the Rivers of the North Country naturally came next for consideration. As the tendency during recent years has been to increase the number out of all reason and beyond practical bounds, to the great bewilderment of the beginner and the occasional fisherman, a list of flies has been drawn up which, while it contains few patterns as compared with many other lists, is yet wide enough to provide for varying conditions the season through. The flies are for the most part old friends, but for the above reasons it is hoped they will not be unwelcome.