FOR THE ANGLER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 227, 25 September 1935, Page 13

FOR THE ANGLER.

HOME INDUSTRY.

MAKING FLY-BOXES

HOW TO STOCK THEM.

(By IRON BLUE.)

When the tackle was carefully stowed away at the end of the last fishing season—no, wait a moment, I cannot quite say that, for I fear there was little care about the business.

As a matter of fact, everything that would go into a couple of fishing baskets just went there. As for the flies and flies, they seemed so very many and life so very short that it might be best to slip them all into a table drawer which stood conveniently open. That was what really happened, and somehow they have remained there ever since awaiting first aid to sort them • one from another.

I had intended to do specially well by those neglected flies, to liavo them in different boxes according to their class—"Early Flies," "Lake Flics," and so on; and this morning, when they wero recalled particularly to memory by the sight of trout rising busily in a Sunlit stream, it seemed a good time to go futher with the plan.

The idea of several fly-boxes may sound a bit expensive, but there is no need to get scared about it; you can ma'ie your own fly-boxes—and very

good fly-boxes —for a fraction _ more than a penny each. I make them in two sizes, from the flat "fifty" or "twenty" cigarette tins; and, by the way, the "twenty" size is most convenient, for you can carry two or three in a coat pocket and never feel they aro there until you want them. How it is Done. Having obtained the empty tins — which is quite easily done by smoking the contents first—it is only necessary to buy a sheet of the thin cork substance used for packing purposes, and a little pot of liquid glue. Next open a cigarette tin, press it down fiat on the sheet of cork, run a pencil around to mark the shape, and cut this out, just within the outline.

Smear the cut-out sliapo with liquid glue, and stick it down inside the box, pressing firmly all over to keep it fast. Now snip off three strips of cork from the sheet, each of them about half an inch wide, and glue them down at equal distances on the piece of cork already fixed in the box. Nothing more is needed, your flv-box is made. You stick the flies in along each side of the cork strips, and for "Lake Flics' 4 the "flfty"-sized tin is best, for these require more space, and a "fifty'" will hold a fairly large collection.

Wo may now reckon that we have expended a sum between a shilling and eighteen pence, and made half a dozen boxes of the two sizes, and there will bo plenty of material left for several others. The whole job can be done within an hour, and I think you will be pleased with your "makings." v -

We may now proceed to stock them, and naturally the box for early flies receives first attention. In own case, I hunted everywhere for artificial flies, spread out the lot upon a table, and began a sorting process. I had not guessed that the whole world contained as many flies. Scorcs were discovered in the most casual places. In old envelopes, in cartridge cases, with a screw of paper stuffed into the end to keep them there. The last considerable find was stuck in rows inside the cover of a book called "Greenmantle," by John Buclian, which has been carried | in the fishing basket on many expeditions. Choice of Early Flies. With such a choice before me, it was not a hard matter to pick out the required patterns of early flies. A "twenty" box will hold five dozen comfortably, enough and to spare for any ordinary occasion, so I began with some old and well-known patterns— Hardy's March Brown, Red Governor, Blue Upright and Bed Quill. This brought the tsilly up to a couple of dozen. Next there must be a black fly of some sort, and in a fold of an old bill—mercifully receipted—l found some remaining specimens of beautifully "Black Ant. I have always considered this the best of the black'fly patterns, so I gave the four I found their places in the box.

Some "Bed Spinners" came next, and a few so-called "Coachmen," which, by the way, is a fly not often used, but all the same it is' worth a trial at dusk all through the season. So far, the selection appeared quite useful, nut more "March Browns" of sorts would certainly prove helpful. It may be termed an all-nation fly English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh are only four of its varieties—and in the early part of a season several dressings of them will generally catch trout. There is one in particular, an upright winded pattern with a bright yellow silk twist on the body. This is always useful in the month of October, when a certain New Zealand native fly is hatching on the streams or willowy creeks. You cannot mistake it —a boldlooking, upright winged fly, with a bright yellow spot showing plainly a.t pneli win 0 * base. Scientists have liandi- ! capped the poor thing with a truly dreadful name, "Coloburiscus hmncralis," but. it thrives in spite of that, and the yellow-ribbed pattern will often serve the purpose of the angler and perhaps fill his basket. A Loch Leven Story. This is a Loch Leven story. There was a certain close-fisted angler from a north country town, intending to get all he could out of his bargain, so lie kept his two boatmen rowing until 'they hardly knew themselves apart from nioger slaves, and made a plan accordingly. They would just shame that angler. On the following day they rowed and rowed till evening, and until the stars shone out, all the time thinking, Surely Ihe must have had enough of it by now," but the angler yet angled on stolidly. At last, when it was black night and the boatmen had almost lost count of time and were about to say as much, with variations, the fisherman reeled in his line. "There, lads, I think we will give over for the day, and start an hour earlier in the morning to make up for it."