Where to Fish for Salmon. 45 



I usually have my flies dressed on two sized 

 hooks, and I prefer the double hook, it is not more 

 clumsy and gives a better chance of a kill. Here is 

 a good instance : — 



I was fishing on the Spean, and after a very 

 provoking day, the fish rising and just touching the 

 fly, towards evening I got hold of a good fish. He 

 kept shaking his head very persistently, and I felt 

 the hook was not well fixed : however, I landed him, 

 just over twenty pounds, and found he was hooked in 

 the upper jaw. He had managed to get rid of one 

 hook, and there was the laceration caused by it 

 in the mouth, but fortunately the other held. Had 

 I been fishing with a single hook, considering the 

 way the fish had been rising all day, I probably 

 should have lost him. 



My friend S. H. differs from me. He says : 



" I cannot think you are right in this. Twice 

 the force is required to make two hooks enter than 

 to make one, and in the case you quote it is probable 

 that neither hook had entered well till one got loose 

 and allowed the other to go in. I have long given 

 up the double hook, persuaded that the single hook 

 enters better. I fancy, in fact, that I have often 

 felt from the jigging of the fish on the double hook 

 that he was only entangled^ not caught." 



Some flies, however, remain persistently good in 

 all weathers and all states of the water. I have 



