These flies, which are known as May flies, afford great sport. Trout
and Greyling are so partial to them that they refuse all others during
the time they are on the water, but they are not common to all rivers.
The Driffield, Derwent and other Yorkshire streams, have them in great
abundance. The best chance with the artificial May fly, is when there
is wind stirring sufficient to cause a pretty considerable curl on the
water. The _Yellow Drake_ may be made in this way,--a Mallard's back
feather dyed yellow; for wings, Cock's hackle dyed yellow; underneath
the wings to make them stand upright, yellow camlet, ribbed with brown
silk for body; tail, two hairs from Squirrel's tail. _Grey Drake_,--wings
from Mallard's back feather, black Cock's hackle underneath; body sky
blue camlet ribbed with copper coloured Peacock's herl; tail from
Squirrel. _Green Drake_,--same as yellow except the wings, which must
be from a Mallard's feather dyed a yellowish green.
I have not deemed it requisite to introduce any illustrations of flies,
because I cannot conceive that any really beneficial results are
obtainable by merely showing the difference on paper between natural
and artificial flies. Catch the natural fly, imitate it as closely as
possible; put your made fly into a tumbler of clear water, then if the
size and the prevailing colours as to body and wings resemble your
copy, you are all right. This appears to me the best comparative
illustration.
I beg to suggest to those who have opportunity and leisure, that they
might at the cost of a little trouble, make a collection of all the
flies that come on the waters, where they are accustomed to angle. They
are easily caught and preserved, and if classed according to the months
during which they were found, would be useful and interesting to
themselves and friends, if only to refer to when manufacturing flies.