Fly-tying. 



61 



taken and one placed on each 

 side of the shank and gently 

 pulled into position by the thread 

 one at a time, of course. Two 

 more are treated in the same 

 way above those affixed, and so 

 on until the six crests become a 

 unit, and comprise the wings. 

 None of the feathers must be 

 allowed to straggle, and with a 

 little practice this can be avoided. 

 Fasten firmly with the thread 

 and cut away loose ends. 



Horns. A strand of macaw on 

 either side, which can be easily 

 attached. 



Head. Take an ostrich feather 

 and roll it on in the way des- 

 cribed for affixing the " butt." 

 A few neat rolls of thread well 

 waxed and secured with a knot 

 which is known as the " whip 

 finish" completes the fly. This 

 part is treated with anglers' var- 

 nish, one coat allowed to dry 

 before another is applied. 



THE ORANGE GROUSE FLY. 



As this is an all-round standard 

 fly for both salmon and trout, I 

 have selected it for the second 

 pattern to be tied. 



It differs from the Orange Gos- 

 hawk in the body hackle and 

 wings only. The tag, butt and 

 body are similar, and are tied 

 in the manner already described. 



The body hackle consists of an 

 Irish grouse feather, which is pre- 

 pared by stripping off the fibres 

 on the left side half way down. 

 The fibres do not pull off one by 

 one like the cock hackle ; a film 

 of the quill comes away with 

 them, and when the required 

 length is peeled off, it must be 

 cut with the scissors. When the 

 hackle is rolled on it must be 

 trimmed in a slant from the 

 bushy part down to the " butt " 

 and on a level with it. This can 

 be effected by a single snip of 

 the scissors. 



Wings. The wings are mixed 

 and contain so many parts that 

 practice alone will bring profici- 

 ency. 



Two toucan breast feathers are 

 tied on the upper part of the 

 shank, as close to each other as 

 possible ; if they slip to either 

 side they straggle. Two strands 

 of bustard feathers are tied on the 

 right and left side of shank, but 

 not too far down ; one part is tied 

 where the other leaves off. Two 

 strands from the right and left 

 spine of the golden pheasant tail 

 follow the bustard on the same 

 principle. Two strands (right 

 and left feathers) of teal come 

 next. The top feathers consist 

 of bronze mallard, a right and 

 left. The strands must be deep 

 enough to practically cover at 

 each side the parts already affixed ; 

 the right and left join on the 

 upper part of the shank and look 

 like one when properly fixed. 

 Horns and head are tied as in 

 previous pattern. Plate C, 9, 

 shows right and left mallard 

 feathers. 



ROUGH-BODIED FLY. 



The only part needing detailed 

 description is the body, which 

 consists of dyed seal fur, or 

 similar material. Preparation 

 having been made for twist and 

 body hackle, the tying thread 

 which remains near the butt is 

 drawn straight and a small por- 

 tion of the fur is teazed out and 

 wrapped round the thread loosely, 

 then the thread is twisted round 

 and round so that the fur is 

 coated by it. The process must 

 be continued until the thread is 

 embedded" in the centre of the 

 fur and' becomes a spine to it. 

 Next roll the thread furred over 

 down the shank as if it were floss 

 to the required point, taking care 

 that it is done evenly. If it has 

 been evenly distributed on the 



