32 HOW TO TIE SALMON FLIES. 



silk up the shank, commencing, though, close to 

 the eye, but finishing off as for the gut loop. 

 With very small flies there is no need to finish 

 off the silk ; one piece will be sufficient for the 

 whole fly, and can be carried on without any half 

 hitch ; the layer of silk should be varnished. It 

 is of the greatest importance that the silk during 

 these operations, and throughout the whole pro- 

 cess of making the fly, should be kept tight. 



If a vice is not used, the hook must be held in 

 all cases between the forefinger and thumb of the 

 left hand, pressing the middle finger against the 

 hook to prevent the silk unwinding or becoming 

 loose, while you finish off. 



TAGS. 



Nearly all salmon flies have what is called a 

 ' tag.' It is usually formed with gold or silver twist 

 or wire and floss silk or fur, or twist or wire only. 

 We will begin with the first mentioned. In this 

 case the twist should commence at a spot imme- 

 diately above the point of the barb. Take a fresh 

 piece of tying silk, doubled and waxed as before, 

 and, commencing close to where you left off tying 

 on the gut, wind a turn of the tying silk (the short 

 end of which should be to the left) round the bare 

 hook, tying down at the same time the short end. 

 After three or four more turns cut off the short 

 end close, and wind on another turn or two. Now 

 take the heavy pair of pliers, attach them to the 



