l60 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



The "tag," and the head of ostrich or peacock here 

 usually added to Salmon and Grilse flies, are neither 

 useful, nor, to my eye, ornamental. The latter more- 

 over almost always gives way before the rest of the fly, 

 and the space which it occupies tends to prevent the 

 desirable strength being given to the " fastening ofl"." A 

 head finished off in the manner shown in the engravings 

 of the above flies both looks neater, because more suit- 

 able and workmanlike, and saves labour to the fly- 

 dresser. 



It is seldom — I may say never, except in large waters 

 like the Shannon — that two Salmon-flies, or one Grilse 

 and one Salmon-fly can be used with advantage. The 

 bob-fly or dropper in lake Trout-fishing is often the 

 most killing fly, because when properly worked it skipsi 

 along the ripple like a real live insect endeavouring to 

 rise after a partial immersion ; but the Salmon-fly, which 

 is apparently not taken for a fly at all, kills best under 

 water. If White-trout, however, are in the river, a White- 

 trout fly, as the dropper, may often be used with advan- 

 tage. A description of two new methods of attaching, 

 drop-flies has been already given. 



The collar should be of the strongest picked Salmon- 

 gut, stained as ahcady directed for Trout-gut, and the 

 strands knotted in a single fisherman's knot (described at 

 p. 54), with a lapping of thin gut inside^ or between the 

 knots, instead of the ordinary silk lapping outside. This 

 mode of lapping relieves the knot itself of half its duty, 



