46 DRY-FLY FISHING 



extremely unfortunate, as such is of the utmost 

 importance. We might manage to content our- 

 selves with other items of our fishing equipment 

 being of inferior quality, but we could never per- 

 suade ourselves to go on loch or river, unless we 

 were amply provided with good gut. Nothing 

 irritates the angler so much as the loss of a good 

 trout caused by inferior gut, and therefore he 

 should take particular pains to obtain it of the 

 very highest class. On no account should he buy 

 a cast, but should make his own ; they are the 

 most reliable, and their manufacture adds greatly 

 to the joys of preparation for an expedition. 



The dry-fly fisher will find most satisfaction in 

 drawn gut, of which he will require five strengths, 

 from 5x to ix. From a supply sufficient for his 

 needs he can make casts suitable for every pur- 

 pose. All dry-fly casts should be tapered, as by 

 this means accuracy in direction and delicacy of 

 alighting, both highly desirable, are very materi- 

 ally assisted. 



To tie two lengths of gut together, there is no 

 knot which can compare in any way with the 

 blood-knot, of which we give an illustration. It 

 would be difficult to say too much in praise of 

 this knot : it is very neat when finished ; the 

 ends of the gut are in the centre of the knot and 

 consequently protected ; it is the best knot for 

 either fine or stout gut ever invented. If it is 

 desired to have a dropper-fly, then one of the 

 ends put through the centre can be left long for 

 the purpose. After a time it will be found that 

 the amount of waste is infinitesimal. It allows 

 of repairs to a cast being made with the greatest 



