I am induced to offer the following pages to the youthful aspirant
after piscatory fame, from the belief, that the various treatises,
which have appeared from time to time on Fly-Fishing, do not contain
those minute details, which are so essential to the ready acquirement
of the art, and which are generally learnt by slow degrees; either
from some experienced angler, or by the accidental discovery of the
noviciate.
My chief object however, is to furnish the sportsman, who for the first
time is about to wet his line in the west, with a list of flies; which,
for a period of twenty years, I have found the most effective, in the
Rivers of Devon and Cornwall. I have no doubt, they would be equally
successful in Somerset, in the smaller Rivers of Wales, and in some of
the Irish Lakes; but, as I cannot vouch from personal experience, I
must leave to others the task of testing their more general application.
My remarks are restricted to Fly-Fishing; partly, because I hold this
to be the most skilful and pleasing of the various ways by which man
secures the wily fish; and also, from the length to which this paper
would extend, if I were to enlarge on the numerous other devices
adopted to entrap the finny tribe.
Worms, kill-devils, salmon-roe, minnows, cock-chafers, &c. &c. &c., are
to be met with in the catalogue of the fisherman’s stock in trade; and,
if we extend our researches to distant climes, we find even birds are
classed among the fishing implements.
The Cormorant, an aquatic bird of China, and other countries, is an
excellent swimmer and diver, and also flies well. It is very voracious,
and as soon as it perceives a fish in the water, it darts down with
great rapidity, and clings its prey firmly, by means of saw like
indentations on its feet. The fish is brought up with one foot; the
other foot enables the bird to rise to the surface, and by an adroit
movement, the fish is loosened from the foot and grasped in the bird’s
mouth.
Le Comte, a French writer, describes the mode in which the Chinese
avail themselves of this angling propensity on the part of the
cormorants: “to this end,” says he, “cormorants are educated as men
rear up spaniels or hawks, and one man can easily manage one hundred.
The fisher carries them out into the lake, perched on the gunnel of
his boat, where they continue tranquil and expecting his orders with
patience. When arrived at the proper place, at the first signal given,
each flies a different way to fulfil the task assigned it. It is very
pleasant on this occasion, to behold with what sagacity they portion
out the lake or the canal where they are upon duty. They hunt about,
they plunge, they rise a hundred times to the surface, until they have
at last found their prey. They then seize it with their beak by the
middle, and carry it without fail to their master. When the fish is
too large, they then give each other mutual assistance; one seizes it
by the head, the other by the tail, and in this manner carry it to the
boat together. There, the boatman stretches out one of his long oars,
on which they perch, and being delivered of their burden they then fly
off to pursue their sport. When they are wearied he lets them rest
for a while: but they are never fed till their work is over. In this
manner they supply a very plentiful table--but still their natural
gluttony cannot be reclaimed even by education. They have always, when
they fish, a string fastened round their throats, to prevent them
from devouring their prey, as otherwise they would at once satiate
themselves and discontinue the pursuit the moment they had filled their
bellies.”
Local information, is at all times, most valuable to the fisherman;
without it, his money is often wasted, and his patience, sorely taxed.
He purchases flies, which frighten, rather than attract, the fish. A
sportsman should seek instruction from every quarter, and not take for
granted that the experience he has acquired in his own neighbourhood,
will serve him when he roams from home. But many are too apt to rely on
their own judgment; they procure flies, which are totally inapplicable
to our rivers; they sally forth on a piscatory trip well provided with
these monsters; they have little or no sport; are disgusted with our
rivers; and seek in some distant land that amusement, which under
more favorable auspices, they might have obtained in these counties.
Not that our fish generally run so large, as in some parts of the
kingdom--they are however very strong, and one of a half pound, will
afford better sport, than one of double the weight in some of the more
popular streams.
Let not the reader flatter himself, that the closest attention to
the suggestions I shall shortly offer; nay, that all the information
contained in the numerous books, which have been written upon this
interesting subject; will, at once, enable him to supply the larder or
gratify a friend; they are _only_ facilities to the acquirement of the
science; practice and patience, are required in large proportion to
form the expert fisherman. The days, the weeks, which he must devote to
the attainment of his wishes, will not however be unprofitably passed,
if he avail himself of the numerous opportunities which will offer
for the study of those works of nature, with which his path will be
abundantly strewed. He will find opportunities for acquiring an insight
into the natural history of the finny tribe; into the natural history
of the busy fly, or beauteous moth, that tempt the wily fish. The
lichen and the moss--the thousand plants that line the rivers bank, or
the stately trees and shapeless rocks that shade its waters; all, are
subjects, which the more he contemplates, the more he will wonder and
admire. And, when by practice, he finds himself an adept in the art,
and looks with pleasure on his captured prey; it may suggest the fate
of those, who attracted by the glittering tinsel and allured by the
gaudy show, follow these dangerous snares and fall a sacrifice to the
pomps and vanities of life.
The expert fisherman must be temperate in all things: the steady hand
and quick eye are indispensable; the drunkard must quit our ranks,--the
feverish temperament,--the blood-shot eye,--the giddy head, bespeak the
peril of the man--not of the fish. The epicure must follow his boon
companion;--the bloated cheek--the shortened breath--the gouty ancle,
are more likely to furnish food for fish, than fish, for food. That
temperance has characterised many of our best artists, is evidenced,
from the extreme age that several have acquired; for it cannot have
been from mere accident, or from their having originally stronger
stamina than other mortals, that so many have lived to an age far
exceeding the ordinary term of human existence.
Henry Jenkins, who lived to the age of 169, and who boasted when giving
evidence in a court of justice, to a fact of one hundred and twenty
years date, that he could dub a fly as well as any man in Yorkshire,
continued angling for more than a century, after the greater number of
those who were born at the same time, were mouldering in their graves.
Dr. Nowell was a most indefatigable angler, allotting a tenth part of
his time to his favorite recreation, and giving a tenth part of his
income and all the fish he caught to the poor. He lived to the age of
95, having neither his eyesight, hearing, or memory impaired.
Walton, lived to upwards of 90.
Henry Mackenzie, died in January, 1831, aged 86.
These and many others that might be named, were remarkable for their
temperate habits: there is no doubt however, that their pursuits
by the side of the running streams, whose motion imparts increased
activity to the vital principle of the air; and, that composure of mind
(so necessary to the perfect health of the body), to which angling
so materially contributes, must also have had an influence on their
physical constitutions.
We boast in our ranks, some of England’s bravest warriors, her
most experienced statesmen, her best divines, and her cleverest
philosophers. Our princes have substituted the rod for the sceptre,
and have endeavoured to vie with their subjects in the capture of the
wily trout.
George the Fourth, was much attached to this amusement, though he was
not particularly successful. His fishing apparatus was of the most
costly character: the case, containing the various requisites, was
covered with the best crimson morocco leather; the edges, sloped with
double borders of gold ornaments, representing alternately, salmon,
and basket; the outer border, formed a rich gold wreath of the rose,
thistle, and shamrock, intertwined by oak leaves, and acorns; the
centre of the lid, presented a splendid gold impression of the Royal
Arms of Great Britain and Ireland. The case was fastened with one of
Bramah’s patent locks, handles, eyes, &c., all double gilt; whilst the
interior was lined with the finest Genoese sky-blue velvet. The hooks
for angling and fly-fishing were of the most chaste and beautiful
description.
That majesty is not famed for proficiency in the art, may be partly
accounted for from the circumstance, that fly-fishing is one of the
few occupations which depend _entirely_ on the individual skill of the
sportsman. Keepers may rise pheasants by the score, and drive hares by
the dozen before the well-placed gun; offering shots which the veriest
tyro cannot fail to kill: the huntsman by a judicious cast, may exhibit
the hounds and their quarry, in the most accommodating proximity to
the royal group--the highland deer may be driven within the limits of
the rifles range--but, no keeper’s art can oblige a trout to rise; or,
compel the salmon to quit its darkened haunt, even for the amusement of
princes, or sport of kings. The finny tribe acknowledge no allegiance,
and will not be tempted, though the fly be proffered by royal hands.
Prompt obedience is expected by kings; a ready compliance with their
wishes, is their behest.
Nelson, was an excellent fly-fisher; and, as a proof of his passion for
it, continued the pursuit even with his left hand.
Dr. Paley, was ardently attached to this amusement, so much so, that
when the Bishop of Durham enquired of him, when one of his most
important works would be finished; he said, with great simplicity and
good humour, “My Lord, I shall work steadily at it when the fly-fishing
season is over;” as if this were a business of his life.
To the list of eminent characters who have been lovers of angling, may
be added the name of Robert Burns.
Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, may be noticed as an expert angler.
Professor Wilson, is one of the best fly-fishers that ever threw a fly.
Wordsworth, is an angler, and in many of his poems may be traced images
which have reference to, or have been suggested by this delightful art.
Emerson, the mathematician, was a fly-fisher.
Dr. Birch, formerly Secretary to the Royal Society, was a lover of
angling; and Dr. Wollaston and Sir Humphrey Davy, are instances of men
of the highest philosophic attainments, finding pleasure in the rod and
line.
Chantrey, was much attached to this amusement, and prided himself on
the superiority of his equipment.
A sport which is thus seen to be so universally popular, has naturally
been selected as a subject upon which some of our ablest men have
written many instructive and interesting pages. The first treatise in
our language appeared in 1496 but the _earliest_ allusion to the art,
is by Elian, who flourished in the year 225. In the fifteenth book
of his History of Animals, he says, “that a fish of various color is
taken in the River Austræum, between Beræa and Thessalonica.” He also
describes a fly which frequents the river, which is greatly preyed
on by this fish; he states, that the skilful fisherman, dresses an
imitation of it on his hook, forming the body of purple coloured wool,
and adding two yellow feathers of a cock’s hackle for wings.
The work which appeared in 1496, was printed by Wynkyn de Worde, and
is known by the name of the “Book of St. Albans,” from its having been
first printed in the monastery there in 1486. This book is a small
folio of seventy-three leaves, and contains short treatises on hawking,
hunting, fishing, &c. How long the latter art had been practiced in
England before this publication, is not known; but the directions
for dressing the twelve different kind of flies, (which even Walton,
writing a hundred and fifty years later, availed himself of) are not
such, as were likely to be suggested in the infancy of the art.