34 TROUT-FISHING FOR THE BEGINNER 



three. In dry fly fishing, of which I shall 

 speak later, the fly is built up on an eyed 

 hook, and attached directly to the fine end 

 of the cast. Eyed hooks are unsuitable for 

 dropper flies, as they have too much play, 

 and are constantly becoming entangled with 

 the main cast. An eyed fly may, however, 

 be used as the tail fly of a cast, in which 

 position its free play will enhance rather 

 than spoil its attractiveness. 



The dropper flies should not hang lower 

 than 3 inches from the cast, for, if they do, 

 they continually become entangled with it. 

 The shorter the gut to which they are attached, 

 the better will they stand out from the cast ; 

 but if they are too close they are apt to be 

 more or less alarming to the trout. 



6. Knots. 



The following knots will be found suitable 

 for mending a broken gut cast ; attaching the 



FIG. 1. DOUBLE WATER KNOT. 



cast to the reel line ; fastening tail and dropper 

 flies to the cast and eyed flies to the gut. 



