38 TROUT-FISHING FOR THE BEGINNER 



line. Fig. 8 is known as the " Tiller Hitch." 

 It is rather clumsy, but can be easily untied 

 in the dark by a pull on the loose-end of 

 the main line. 



7. Always soak your gut. 

 Before attempting to tie gut, again let me 

 warn the beginner to be sure to soak it well 

 in cold water, until it becomes thoroughly 

 soft and pliable. A made-up cast should 

 likewise be soaked before commencing to 

 fish. It saves time to soak the cast at home, 

 and then place it in a metal cast case between 

 sheets of damp felt. The cast will then be 

 perfectly pliable on arrival at the water-side. 

 After use, casts should be dried before being 

 put away in the fly-book, for if left in the 

 damper case the hooks soon become rusty. 



8. Fly-book, basket and landing-net. 

 In addition to the items already enumer- 

 ated, the novice will require a fly receptacle 

 of some kind, which may consist of a leather 

 pocket-book with a compartment at each end, 

 and a number of parchment pages containing 

 smaller pockets, a basket or bag, and, where 

 fish run to any size, a landing-net. At any 

 good tackle makers he will find ample choice 

 of these things. A wicker creel takes up more 



