It is often said, that all arts ought to imitate nature, and among the rest that of artificial fly fishing. We shall not combat the general maxim, hut in this case, we can with confidence affirm, that there are exceptions to it ; for we have known the salmon, as well as the trout, so capricious, as often to prefer a fancy fiy, with out having any prototype in nature, to all others, whether real or imitative. Yet, although we leave the angler to indulge his humour in this respect, we at the same time must advise him to copy from the following originals, be ing most commonly successful lures for the taking of this fish. Every species, of which we have seven, of the genusphryganea, particularly of the red, brown, or stonc fly ; it is about an inch in length ; and is produced front the larva of the eadis, or case worm, so called from its housing itself, while in that state, in straws, rushes, and small sticks. From this kind of dwelling, they disen cumber themselves in the middle of May, and then be come perfect flies. Two or three kinds of the ephemera, of which we have five belonging to Britain; but more especially the common May fly (-vulgata.) This is a great favourite with most anglers. In the dressing of it, a colosscan proportion must, however, be observed, that is much larger than the life, for the real insect is only two lines, or one fifth of an inch long. The dragon flies, adder bolts, or water nymphs, (libellzda) of which genus we have nine species natives of this country. They are gaudy, of many colours, and large, varying from one half to two inches and a quarter in length. Although all of them in their natural state have four wings, put only two on your hook, as they lie better in the water, and the deviation is scarcely, if at all, perceptible. Sal mon are extremely fond of all the imitations of these dragon flies, and they seize them with more than com mon avidity immediately after a flood.
We might here take tip the young anglers' time with an unavailing catalogue of artificial flies, and which have been often enumerated, under various and unmeaning names, by many quacks in the art of angling. But nothing except practice, attention to the weather, to the river, and to the observations of old fishermen, inhabi tants of the spot, will give a thorough knowledge of the most successful flies with'which you can angle ; neither shall we here enter on any directions for the fishing with lob worms, minnows, pars or samlets, as the same instruc tions to be given for the mode of using them in trout an gling, will be applicable to that for the salmon ; we have only to remark, that these baits frequently succeed in the capture of the trout, when no flies can tempt him to bite ; on the contrary, if the salmon, during the pro per season, (that is when not foul, nor in a shorten state) rejects the artificial fly, it is in vain to offer him any other lure. This fact the writer of this article can assert from long experience.
It is most common, before a person becomes a sal mon angler, that he has passed his noviciate in trout fishing ; yet even then, he will require a few instructions, for the prosecution of this more important and delight ful branch of angling.
Composure, patience, and perseverance, are indispen sable qualifications for all the followers of this art, but more especially for the salmon angler. He must lay his account with frequently beating the waters in vain exer tion : In being long wet and weary, ere he can (to use the fisher's expression) move a fin; and when he does, to be perhaps then only mocked with a wanton rise, or a false bite ; or should he at last prevail in luring the salmon to his fly, and after working and playing him through many streams, and through many pools, he brings him within his reach, and then thinks he is to take possession of his prize, in a moment the tackle snaps, and all is gone. Such, with many other disap pointments, await the angler ; but these ought not to make him fretful, nor give up the pursuit ; he must per severe, in hopes of better sport. In this point of view, the course he has to steer is a fine practical lesson in the economy of human life.
Many writers on angling have given various direc tions for the dress that should be worn, how to counter act the effects of moisture, and what drink to take while you are employed in this amusement. These are prin cipally to use water-proof boots and shoes, and, to make them the more secure, to lard them well with mutton suet, in order to keep the feet and legs perfectly dry ; to sit upon a piece of coarse woollen cloth, doubled two or three times ; and, while warm, to avoid the drinking of small liquors. Such advises may well suit float and gudgeon fishers, but the salmon angler must laugh at such ideas ; he had indeed better never begin the occu pation, if he has not a constitution strong enough to wade in deep and rapid rivers, during all the hours of the day, and be able to bear every vicissitude and eager extremi ty of both sky and water.
As the spirited and skilful navigator does not lie in a harbour waiting for a favourable wind, but goes to sea to seek for one, so the keen and knowing angler does not sit at home to watch for a fortunate prognostication, or change of the weather, but takes it as it comes, and repairs to the river to ply his skill in rousing the finny race to his artful lures. There is scarcely any time, un less when it thunders, or when the water is thick with mud, but you may chance to tempt the salmon to rise to an artificial fly. But the most propitious and critical moments, are undoubtedly, when clearing after a flood, the water has turned to a light whey, or rather brown colour ; when the wind blows pretty fresh, approaching almost to a mackarel gale, (if not from the north) against the stream or course of the river; when the sun shines through showers, or when the cloudy rack runs fast and thick, and, at intervals, discovers the fine blue ether from above. In these situations of the water, and of the wea ther, you may always depend upon excellent sport.