AMERICAN TROUT-STREAM INSECTS 



To tie on wings for a dun or flat-winged fly, the 

 pair of wings, after being made the right shape and 

 size, should be evenly placed on top of thorax or 

 shoulders, with stumps over the eyes. If the wings 

 are wanted to lie at the sides, arrange them so that 

 they lie farther down the side of the body; then 

 hold them firm and flat while you fasten them se- 

 cure with tying silk, as before described. 



To make a detached body : I make this separate 

 from the hook, tying the material ( be it quill, horse- 

 hair, or silk) round a piece of boar's bristle, double 

 or single, according to thickness of body required. 

 I sometimes use up quills of small-sized feathers 

 stripped clean. These small quills are not quite so 

 firm or solid, but they suffice. After the body is 

 wound and tied it is quite easy to fasten it to the 

 hook at any angle desired. Sometimes I wish to 

 make the tail erect from the hook a short distance : 

 I then work in a bristle by overwinding from the 

 thorax. 



Though I have left the wisks or tail fibers to be 

 mentioned last, they should always be fastened on 

 first, under all other materials, whether they are to 

 be at the head, for horns, or at the tail. It is very 

 necessary that wisks be correct as to number, size, 

 and color. The right wisks, I am sure, make a 

 great difference in your fly as to deceiving a trout. 



I am a strong advocate of the use of tinsel. It is 

 used in nearly all my new patterns, because the un- 



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