BASS FLIES. 63 



be required, and this may be a plain brass cbeck wincb, or — 

 what I much prefer — the large Nottingham wooden reel, with 

 a guard, and a check, which can be put either on or off, as 

 described on page 9. A reel invented by Mr. Jardine, the 

 well-known pike angler, is also admirably adapted for this 

 purpose. It is of metal, contains a check, and the line 

 on it dries more quickly than on ordinary reels, being wound 

 round several metal bars, which allow the air to get to the 

 very centre of it. Attached should be a gut cast, on the 

 strength of which a good deal depends. It should not be 

 more than three yards in length, and may consist altogether 

 of single lengths of the thickest salmon gut. If tapered, 

 the upper half should consist of two strands of gut laid side 

 by side, not twisted. If strong gut cannot be obtained, the 

 cast should be of double gut from end to end. For the benefit 

 of those anglers who make their own casts, the knots for 

 joining lengths of gut together are described on page 20. 



The salmon fisher need not go far for flies, for any gaudy, 

 small salmon or large sea trout fly will do admirably for bass ; 

 but if flies have to be made or purchased, any of the following 

 patterns will be found to kill well. First I would place what 

 is practically the well-known Alexandra, with a white wing; 

 body thin, silver tinsel; tail, either peacock harl and a few 

 fibres of goose feathers dyed red, or the red feathers alone; 

 hackle, peacock herle; wing, peacock harl inclosed by two 

 grey goose feathers. Another good fly is made with a bright- 

 red pigswool body, rather thin, silver or gold twist ; tail, a 

 rather long piece of red hackle, using similar hackle at the 

 shoulder ; wing, two tippet feathers jungle cock on either side, 

 and golden pheasant tail. If something simpler is desired, it 

 will be found that the thin end of a white tail feather, lashed 

 on the inside of the hook, so that the point comes through 

 it, will answer almost, if not quite as well, as its more gaudy 

 and elaborate rivals. I must not, however, forget to men- 

 tion a noted bass fly — the Shaldon Shiner — for the following 

 dressing of which I am indebted to "The Sea Fisherman:" 

 The body, broad silver tinsel, put on as thin as possible; the 

 tail, a small brush of scarlet feathers ; green, blue, and red pigs- 



