276 FLIES AND KNOTS. 
upper end of tlie casting line to attract their atten- 
tion. 
Three flies are sufficient for trout fishing, and a.re 
desirable, although frequently failing to hook the fish in 
consequence of lying on or close to the leader. This is 
in a measure prevented by short, stiff gut lengths, but 
when the rises are mainly at the upper flies, many will 
be missed. 
In this connection it may be well to mention that 
coloring gut, especially for bright, transparent waters, is 
an error ; remember the fish from below look at it 
against the sky, and will see it the plainer the more 
it is colored. The less distinguishable to the angler 
the more apparent it is to them. This can be proved 
without difficulty, by holding against the light two 
strands, one plain and the other colored. For salmon, 
it should, if single, be round and strong ; for trout, fine 
and delicate. 
