FLY FISHING FOE MACKEREL. 89 



about l^lb. to 21b. in weiejlit, so tliat very strong tackle is 

 not necessary; what is known as stout lake gut is quite 

 strong enough. If salmon gut is used, the fish can be dragged 

 in quicker, and a larger take will be made, unless the wind 

 is light, when most fish will be taken on the finer tackle. 

 The cast should be 3yds. long, and two or three flies may 

 be used. The extra flies are called droppers, and are best 

 attached to the line according to the method shown in the 

 diagram (Fig. 54), the main length of gut being served with silk 

 under the knot ; or the dropper may be 

 placed in the centre of a buffer knot. 

 The fly for cuddy, with a thinner body, 

 answers admirably for mackerel. If the 

 fish do not take the fly well, remove the 

 tail fly from the cast, put in its place 

 a No. 13 hook, and pass the point 

 through one end of a strip of mackerel 



1 . / ./^^ rnu T. -J. 1 u 1 Fig. 54. METHOD OP FASTEN- 



skm [see page 40). ihe bait should be ing Droppers on to Fly 

 cast and worked, like a fly, in little I^ines. 

 jerks, which gives it the resemblance of 



a small fish struggling to escape from its pursuers. The strip 

 of skin is sometimes called a "last," or "lask," and should 

 not be cut straight down the side of the fish, but in a 

 slanting direction, so that half is belly skin — silver — and 

 half side skin — blue. It is the best of all baits for 

 mackerel, whether cast as a fly or trailed after a boat. 

 Mackerel fishermen often carry a wine cork or bung, on 

 which they lay the last, and then stick the point of the 

 hook through it. Beyond referring the reader to the remarks 

 on fly fishing and tackle in Chapters II. and Y., I need only 

 add that, if the fish disappear below the surface, the angler, 

 if he has no whiflSng or spinning tackle with him, should 

 add a light lead at the junction of the main line with the 

 cast, and, letting out about 30yds. of line, trail his flies, at the 

 rate of three miles an hour, until he falls in with another shoal 

 of fish. If they are feeding on the surface, he may take off 

 the lead and cast for them as before ; but if they do not 

 show themselves, he should continue rowing backwards and 



