The Stone Fly is invariably converted into the May-fly, by anglers who
fish the Tees and its tributary streams; but the actual and properly
named May-flies are the Green and Yellow Drakes, which do not appear
upon our Teesdale waters. If the weather has been warm, and the water
low, May-flies (for by so calling them I shall be best understood), may
be found the last week in May, or at all events in the beginning of
June, some indeed, but very few may be seen as early as April, and as
late as September. This fly is easily found, his whereabouts indicated
by his old coat, or husk, which he has discarded, and left on the
outside of his mansion, which is generally a flat stone near the edge
of the water. This fly is generally but an indifferent killer in the
middle of the day, mornings and evenings, (when not glutted and the
weather propitious), Trout take it with avidity, provided there has
been no frost during the night, and the water is free from the steaming
sort of mist prevalent about this season. You may begin to fish with
the May-fly as soon as you can see to put the fly on the hook, the
earlier you commence the better chance of large fish, especially if the
water is clear, and very low, or even moderately so. In fishing with
this fly, have your cast line light and strong, tapering gradually to
the end, to which attach about three-quarters of a yard of fine round
Gut, the best you can procure, on which tie your hook which must be at
least a size larger than the Palmer hook; arm this hook with a strong
pig's bristle, which must lay on the back of the hook, protruding a
short way over the top of the shank. In putting on the fly, insert the
point of the hook under the head of the fly, passing through the body,
bring it out underneath the tail, then take and press the fly upwards
over the head of the bristle on your hook, bringing it so far down that
it may pass through the back, behind the head of the fly, then set to
work by throwing your fly into rapid streams, eddies caused by rocks,
or other impediments; cast your fly always up and let it come down the
stream floating on the surface of the water in a natural and easy way;
if a fish rises and does not swallow it, do not pull your fly away, the
odds are he will follow and take it, his motive I suppose in the first
instance being to disable; however when Trout are fairly glutted with
the May-fly, they may rise, but will not even touch it. When a fish has
seized your fly, do not strike too hard or hastily, numbers of fish are
lost by doing so, let them always turn their heads either in stream or
log water before you strike. On dark cold windy days, during the
May-fly season you will find the small fly a much better killer than
the May-fly. On bright and very hot days a well scoured Brandling Worm
or Creeper may be used to advantage, after your morning's fishing with
the May-fly is done, for on such days the artificial fly is entirely
out of the question. A Bullock's horn with a few small holes bored in
it, is perhaps the best and handiest thing you can put your flies into.
Observe that the Alder or Orl fly, is a capital killer when the May-fly
is on. Who shall say that the May-fly short as is its life, has not
undergone all the vicissitudes of a long and eventful life, that it has
not felt all the freshness of youth, all the vigour of maturity, all
the weakness of old age, and all the pangs of death itself?