TACKLE 219 



difference. I prefer not to carry spare casts and 

 gut damp, but to soak each new piece as it is 

 wanted. This takes a little time, but not really 

 very much, and I think that the less gut has 

 been exposed to alternate moistening and drying 

 before being used the better it is. 



For knotting lengths of gut together the 

 ordinary double knot is as good as anything. 

 The single knot will hold if the gut has been 

 properly soaked, but the gut will break at a 

 single knot much more easily than at a double 

 one. For tying small dry flies on to the end of 

 the cast the Turle knot, as described in Mr. 

 Halford's book, is the best and the generally 

 accepted one ; no angler need trouble about any 

 other. For salmon flies on gut loops, I use the 

 following knot : Pass the end of the gut up 

 through the loop, bend it over on the further 

 side, bring it under the loop and pass it up under 

 itself so as to form a loop of its own round the 

 fly loop. Then bend the end of the gut back 

 over the cast, and pass it through its own loop, 

 carrying it flat along the body of the fly, and 

 pointing towards the bend of the hook. Then 

 hold this end still while the knot is drawn tight. 



