AN INVALUABLE KNOT. 61 



tie a knot in tlie gut about ^in. above the fly, but do not 

 pull it quite tight. Then put the head of the fly in the knot, 

 and pull the gut tight, taking care that the gut between the 

 bend of the hook and the head of the fly is strained quite 

 tightly. I have had a large sea-fly attached to a piece of 



Fig. 43. How to Tie Gut to a Fly which has no Eye. 



salmon-gut engraved, so that the knot may be shown clearly 

 (Fig. 43). When fine gut is thus tied on to a small fly, 

 especially one with plenty of hackle, the knot is very neat. 



Trout-flies are legion. No one living knows, or ever will know, 

 them all, and they are perpetually being added to. I need say 

 nothing about the Alexandra in this chapter, as that much- 

 abused bait has had its share of attention on page 46 * 



Fishing with the Wet Ply. — The various methods of 

 casting the fly have been already described on pages 32-36, so I 

 will suppose that we arrive at the side of our trout-stream well 

 knowing how to cast the fly, and with all our impedimenta — 

 waders, net, casts, &c. — in proper order, but that we are rather 

 in a fog as to the best way to flsh the water and the fly ta 

 put up. 



First, as to the fly. Is there a great quantity of any particular 

 insect on the water? If there is, "put up" (fisherman's English) 



* Foster Bros., of Ashbourne, have recently brought out some flies with mem- 

 branous wings. I have had no opportunity of trying them, but they look killing, 

 and I hear them well spoken of. They are suitable for wet-fly fishing. 



