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OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES
[Illustration:
PLATE I
NATURAL FLIES
1. ALDER-FLY. _Sialis lutaria_, Linn. (Slightly enlarged.)
2. CAPERER. _Halesus radiatus_, McLach.
3. RED SEDGE. _Anabolia nervosa_, Steph. (Slightly enlarged.)
4. WELSHMAN'S BUTTON. _Sericostoma collare_, Pict.
5. CINNAMON-FLY. _Mystacides longicornis_, Linn.
6. GRANNOM. _Brachycentrus subnubilus_, Curt.
7. WILLOW-FLY. _Leuctra geniculata_, Steph.
8. BLUE-BOTTLE. _Calliphora erythrocephala_, Mg.
9. GREEN-BOTTLE. _Lucilia caesar_, Linn.
10. HOUSE-FLY. _Musca corvina_, Fab.
11. OAK-FLY. _Leptis scolopacea_, Linn.
12. COW-DUNG-FLY. _Scatophaga stercoraria_, Linn.
13. HAWTHORN-FLY. _Bibio marci_, Linn.
14. _Corixa geoffroyi._
15. FRESH-WATER SHRIMP. _Gammarus pulex._
Swan Electric Engraving C^o.]
OLD FLIES
IN NEW DRESSES
HOW TO DRESS DRY FLIES
WITH THE WINGS IN THE NATURAL POSITION
AND SOME NEW WET FLIES
BY
CHARLES EDWARD WALKER
_ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR AND EDWARD WILSON_
[Illustration]
LONDON: LAWRENCE AND BULLEN, LTD.
16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN
MDCCCXCVIII
RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED,
LONDON AND BUNGAY.
PREFACE
In the first part of this little work I do not wish my reader to suppose
that I claim to be the first who has dealt with any particular imitation
in the manner he will find that I have dealt with it. In the case of
particular flies, others have frequently observed that the imitations
generally used were inaccurate. The imitation of the Alder-fly has
perhaps been most treated in this way, but it is not alone. One
instance, however, of inaccuracies in imitations of natural flies having
been observed, will I hope not be trespassing too much upon my reader's
patience.
Blaine, in his _Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports_ published in 1840, says
when speaking of the Cow-dung fly:--"By some extraordinary mistake
Bowlker describes this fly as having upright wings; and as many of the
London fly-makers dress their flies by his directions, we need not
wonder that they are often bought with their wings unnaturally glaring
outwards."
What I have tried to do, is to work out and bring down to a definite
rule the position in which the wings of the imitations of the various
kinds of flies should be placed.
My reader therefore must not hope in this first part to meet with many
imitations of creatures that have not been imitated before; but if he
finds that the manner in which the flies are dealt with as a whole is
any step forward, be it ever so small, I shall be satisfied in having
attained the object at which I aim.
My reader may be surprised at the order in which I have arranged the
various flies; but it was necessary, or at any rate very much more
convenient, to arrange them in the way I have, as entomological accuracy
of arrangement in a work on fishing must not be the first consideration
of the author. That the wings of the Alder and the Caddis flies are in
practically the same position in relation to their bodies, was my reason
for placing the descriptions of these flies next each other, and this
instance is sufficient to suggest to those of my readers who are
entomologists, reasons for the other cases in which I have not placed
the descriptions of the various flies in their correct sequence.
A disclaimer must also be my preface to the second part of my work, for
I know that I am far from being the first in thinking that the wet fly
of the fisherman is not taken by the fish for the natural fly it is
supposed to represent.
Here my hope is that my reader will find a definite theory which is
sufficiently plausible to interest him, at least for the moment.
I have to acknowledge the kind assistance of Dr. G. A. Buckmaster,
Lecturer on Physiology at St. George's Hospital, of Mr. Ernest E.
Austen, of the British Museum (Natural History), and of several other
gentlemen.
I must also thank the Editor of _Land and Water_ for allowing me to
republish an article in the first part of my book, and the Editor of
_The Field_ for a similar permission with regard to certain articles
which appear in the second part.
Mrs. J. R. Richardson, of Kingston-on-Thames, has also given me some
hints as to improvements in the dressing of some of the flies described.
CHARLES WALKER.
CONTENTS
PART I
_DRY FLIES_
CHAPTER I PAGE
INTRODUCTORY 3
CHAPTER II
COLOUR PERCEPTION IN FISH 14
CHAPTER III
HOW TO DRESS FLIES WITH THE WINGS IN THE NATURAL POSITION 29
CHAPTER IV
THE ALDER-FLY 41
CHAPTER V
CADDIS-FLIES 45
CHAPTER VI
PERLIDAE 54
CHAPTER VII
DIPTERA 58
CHAPTER VIII
WINGED ANTS 72
CHAPTER IX
CATERPILLARS 76
PART II
_WET FLIES_
CHAPTER I
A THEORY 87
CHAPTER II
CORIXAE 96
CHAPTER III
FRESH-WATER SHRIMP 107
LARVAE OF WATER-INSECTS 113
SOME HINTS ON DRY FLY-FISHING 115
OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES
PART I
_DRY FLIES_
CHAPTER I
Introductory
Though it would not be true to say that hitherto writers on fly-dressing
have shown any lack of power of observation, still it is unfortunately
true that their energy seems, strangely enough, to have stopped short at
observing the natural fly, and has not been sufficient to carry them on
to making even passable imitations, except of Ephemeridae. With the
exception of this family of flies, no one could possibly recognise the
artificial through knowing the natural fly which it is supposed to
represent. Yet the fisherman who knows the natural fly well by sight
will go on using these imitations year after year unquestioningly; and
though he himself would certainly not have known, unless he had been
told, what natural fly the imitation he is using is meant to represent,
he expects the trout to do so at once.
There has been much discussion recently as to whether trout have the
power of discriminating between different colours, but no one has ever
cast a doubt on their power of discriminating between different shapes;
yet in most of these imitations it is not the colour that is wrong, but
the shape. The wings of a fly undoubtedly play a most important part in
forming the outline, and consequently the general appearance of the fly.
Therefore, if they are not put in the natural position, the whole
contour of the imitation must be entirely different from that of the
natural fly.
It seems, however, judging by the standard works on the subject, that
there is practically but one recognised position for the wings of the
artificial fly, as the difference between the position of divided wings
and wings dressed flat together is, after all, but slight. No one seems
yet to have realised the fact that the wings of a May-fly do not lie in
the same relative position to the body as do those of the Blue-bottle,
whilst in the case of the Alder there is a further marked distinction
from both.
The wings, in the different families of flies upon which trout and
grayling feed, lie when at rest in three distinct positions in relation
to their bodies.
In the Ephemeridae they lie in planes approaching the vertical, slightly
diverging from each other towards their extremities. Fig. 1 gives a
sketch of one of the Ephemeridae, and Fig. 2 a transverse section through
the line [alpha] [beta] of Fig. 1. These drawings show the relation of
the wings to the body. All flies have so far been treated by writers on
fly-dressing as though their wings were in this position.
In the Caddis-flies (_Trichoptera_) and the Alder-fly (_Sialis lutaria_)
the wings lie on each side of the body, meeting at their upper edges in
front, gradually diverging towards their lower edges and posterior
extremities.
Fig. 3 gives a sketch of an Alder, and Fig. 4 a transverse section
through the fly, showing the position of the wings.
In the Diptera (Blue-bottle, Cow-dung, &c.), and Perlidae (Stone-fly,
Yellow Sally, &c.), the wings lie in a horizontal plane. In some Diptera
the wings diverge from each other towards their extremities, as in the
Blue-bottle, shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In some other Diptera and in the
Perlidae, the wings lie over each other, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It
will be seen that the wings in both these cases lie in a horizontal
plane.
In Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8 [beta] represents the section of the body,
[alpha] and [gamma] the section of the wings.
I wish it to be thoroughly understood that these positions are the
positions of the wings of the natural fly _when at rest_.
Many flies when they fall on the water buzz round in circles
periodically, apparently with the object of disengaging themselves from
the surface. Between these efforts, however, their wings generally
assume the normal position of rest. The only way to imitate the fly when
it is buzzing is by dressing it without wings, and with extra hackle;
and this is, after all, but a poor imitation. In most cases it is better
to imitate the wings at rest; and if this is done accurately, it will
present to the trout an accurate imitation of the natural fly as it
appears to him when not trying to raise itself from the water.
[Illustration:
FIG. 1. FIG. 2.
FIG. 3. FIG. 4.
FIG. 5. FIG. 6.
FIG. 7. FIG. 8.
Sketches and diagrams showing the relative positions of the wings to the
body in the various natural flies. Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8 show sections
through [alpha][beta] in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7. In Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8
[alpha] = anterior wings; [beta] = body; [gamma] = posterior wings.]
I have on many occasions watched the behaviour of an Alder when it has
fallen on the water. At first it moves its wings rapidly, but soon
stops, to begin again, however, when it has rested. This is repeated
time after time, but after each succeeding struggle, the interval of
rest becomes longer. In many cases, however, the fly hardly struggles at
all.
In observing many other flies which had fallen on the water, I have seen
the same sequence of events occur, though some flies struggle to raise
themselves from the surface much more than others, as in the case of the
Blue-bottle.
The first trial that I made of a fly dressed with the wings in the
natural position was with an Alder. To make this trial complete, I
purchased some Alders, dressed according to the most approved patterns,
from three well-known firms of tackle makers. When I got to the
water-side the trout were rising freely, and the banks were literally
swarming with Alders. I saw a trout take one which had fallen on the
water, so it was evident that the Alder was the fly to use. I began with
the flies I had purchased, and cast over a trout which was rising under
a tree. He would not look at it, and the same happened with the flies of
the other two makers when I cast over two other trout. I then tried one
of my own, and got a fish at once. He did not take it in a half-hearted
manner, but was hooked right in the back of the tongue. I then tried the
other flies again without success. When, however, I went back to my own
fly I hooked the first fish I cast over.
Imitations of other flies made with the wings in the natural position
have served me as well as did my imitation of the Alder, though I was
not inclined to try the ordinary patterns so freely on every occasion as
I was at the first trial. I have, however, several times caught a rising
fish on one of my imitations when he had refused the ordinary imitation
not two minutes before.
My reader will of course think that these experiments, being carried
out by myself, are hardly a conclusive proof of my theory, as, however
impartial I might wish and believe myself to be, I must be naturally
biased in my own favour. I quite realise that this is a natural doubt,
but fortunately others besides myself have tried my flies.
Mr. Herbert Ash put them to an even more severe test than I did myself,
and has kindly permitted me to give his experience. I give an extract
from a letter written by him and published in _Land and Water_ on
October 23rd, 1897, as I think it is a very pertinent testimonial to the
practical success of my theory.
"I put up a cast of three Alders, two being the shop-tied patterns which
I usually used, and the third, which I put on as a first dropper, being
Mr. Walker's. I landed eight trout in about an hour and a half, and each
of those fish took Mr. Walker's fly."
"Now, although I used three flies, I was fishing up stream and dry, my
object being to test the new mode of tying the Alder, and I found that
while the fish rose boldly at the first dropper, not one took any
notice of the other flies."
Colonel Walker also had much greater success with flies dressed with the
wings in the natural position than with any others. In fact, for several
consecutive days, on different occasions he caught no fish except with
my flies, though he did not use them more than flies dressed in the
ordinary way.
Several other fishermen have told me that their experiments with my
imitations have produced similar results.
Mr. H. H. Brown, of the Piscatorial Society, after I had read a paper to
that Society on my theory of the right way to dress trout flies,
described a very interesting experience which he had one day when out
fishing, and which bears directly on this theory. While out fishing some
time ago, he rested on a bridge over the river in which he was fishing.
There were a great number of Alders about, and on observing some fish in
the water some little distance below the bridge, he caught some Alders,
pinched their heads slightly in order to either kill them outright or
at any rate stop them struggling, and threw them on the water. He was in
such a position that he could observe each fly individually until it
either floated past or was taken by the fish. What he observed was, that
when in killing the fly he had disturbed the natural position of the
wings, not one of the fish would look at it; while, if the wings
remained in the normal position of rest, the fly was always taken. This
occurred time after time, and not once was the fly with the wings in an
unnatural position taken, but, on the other hand, not a single fly with
its wings in the natural position of rest was allowed to pass. He also
observed that once or twice the fish came up to look at a fly whose
wings had been disarranged, but on getting close to it they always drew
back.
This is, I think, an extremely strong argument in favour of my theory.
I do not propose in this work to deal with Ephemeridae, as the wings in
the imitations now sold are in the natural position. The families I do
propose dealing with are the Sialidae, Trichoptera, Diptera, and
Perlidae, as no one has yet, to my knowledge, described the position in
which the wings of the imitations of these flies should be put.