54 ANGLING FOE GAME FISH. 



tlie ends together witli the fisherman's knot, but do not pull them 

 tight, and leave iin. gut projecting on each side. Then put 

 the gut of the dropper (at the end of which previously make a 

 knot to prevent it slipping) in the middle of the fisherman's 

 knot, and pull the latter tight. To change the fly, pull the 

 knot apart by means of the two short ends. On page 80 a 

 most excellent knot is given, but it is not suited for the 

 finest tackle. Always endeavour to tie on the dropper flies so 

 that they do not swim on their back. 



Dropper flies on hooks with the large eyes (eyed hooks and 

 their knots are discussed on pages 27, 28) are very apt to get 

 twisted round the cast ; but not so the hooks with small eyes. 

 The very small North-country flies certainly look neatest if tied 

 on hooks bound to gut, but about the same number of fish will be 

 caught whether eyed hooks are used or not. The gut of the 

 dropper fly is often too long ; S^in. is quite long enough. If 

 three flies are used, they should be put at intervals of a yard. 

 If only two are used, the dropper should be 14yd. from the tail- 

 fly. Droppers should not be tied on very fine gut, or they 

 foul the gut collar. 



The Basket or Bag required for moorland-fishing need 

 not be large. It should be light, and will be all the better for 

 having two compartments — one for fish, the other for lunch and 

 tackle. A small edition of my basket illustrated on page 25 

 can hardly be improved upon; but if a seat-basket is not 

 required, I consider Kirker's patent creel, which is lined with 

 enamelled zinc, by far the best thing to have. 



A Landing-net is a thing I rarely encumber myself with 

 when fishing for small trout ; but, of course, it is wiser to caiTy 

 one. A capital net and sling is illustrated on page 25, but a 

 much smaller and lighter affair will answer the purpose. For 

 instance, the net may be on a light wooden or whalebone bow, 

 lashed on to an 18in. bamboo handle, which can be stuck in one's 

 waders. If there is a knuckle-joint between the bow and the 

 handle, the affair will hang on the landing-net strap in a handy 

 manner. Sometimes I have carried merely the bow of my Hi 

 Regan net attached by a loop to my buttonhole, and found it 



