54 



The Gentle Art of Angling. 



Another and important part of 

 the outfit is the casting line. For 

 wet-fly fishing 3 yards length is 

 usual. Too much care cannot be 

 taken in the selection of gut. 

 Good casting lines can be pro- 

 cured ready made. 



I have found the " Hercules" 

 brand, which is manufactured by 

 Messrs. Alcock and Co., Ltd., 

 very reliable. One is able, how- 

 ever, to get the right material 

 from any of the tackle-makers by 

 paying a fair price. It is better, 

 however, to buy gut by the hank 

 (100 strands) or by the dozen, 

 and make one's own casts. It is 

 easy to learn how to tie the knots, 

 of which illustrations are given. 

 The strands must be well soaked 

 in tepid water beforehand. The 

 best is the double water knot. 

 The loose ends and main links 

 must be caught firmly in the 

 finger and thumb of each hand 

 and drawn tightly together. Then 

 each part must be drawn in turn, 

 holding the opposite link mean- 

 while. The main links can be 

 drawn by the fingers, but the 

 short ends need a pair of pincers, 

 or a very useful appendage to 

 anglers the teeth. The loose 



ends are cut off as close to the 

 knot as possible. 



The buffer knot makes a neater 

 fastening, and for heavier gut, 

 especially salmon, is preferable. 

 It is easier tied when a cast 

 breaks, as the rest of the gut and 

 flies have not to be pulled through 

 as in the case of the double water 

 knot, I have not found the buffer 

 knot reliable for trout casting lines, 

 and do not advise it, although 

 for salmon gut it is the knot I 

 always tie. An illustration is also 

 given of the jam hitch, by which 

 the reel line is attached to the 

 casting line. A case for flies is ne- 

 cessary, of which there are various 

 patterns. One made of japanned 

 tin is cork-lined, with ledges, into 

 which flies can be stuck ready for 

 use. Another pattern is fitted with 

 spring teeth on which the flies 

 are fastened. It is more suitable 

 for May-flies, alders and such like. 

 There is a danger of breaking off 

 the barb in forcing down o and 

 oo hooks. I have learned this 

 from bitter experience and advise 

 feelingly. A creel and landing 

 net complete the outfit ; a suitable 

 make of the latter is given in an 

 earlier chapter on coarse fishing. 



