FLIES, FLY-DRESSING, ETC. 87 



passing the silk between them, bring it up cross- 

 ways. 



So far, the dressing of all flies is alike, but the 

 remainder of the operation depends upon whether 

 the fly is to be dressed with a hackle or dubbing. 



If it is to be made with dubbing, all that remains 

 to be done is to take a little of it, and applying it to 

 the silk with the forefinger and thumb of the 

 right hand, twist them both together till the dub- 

 bing is thoroughly rolled round the silk ; and in 

 that state wrap it round the hook till the body 

 of the fly is made, when finish as usual; then 

 with a needle raise a few of the hairs of the dub- 

 bing, close to the head of the fly, to give it a feathery 

 appearance. 



If the fly is to be dressed with a feather or hackle, 

 after having put on the wings lay the hackle on as in 

 dressing a spider, with the root end towards the bend 

 of the hook ; fasten it on and cut off the root end. 

 Next take hold of the end of the hackle with your 

 brass nippers, and turn it once or twice round the 

 hook as close under the wings as possible ; then wrap 

 the silk three or four times round it to make it 

 secure, cut off* the remainder, and carry the thread by 

 itself down to where you intend finishing. In a 

 large fly it will be an improvement to put on a 

 little dubbing of the same colour as the body of the 

 fly, after having put on the hackle. The most 

 expeditious way of dressing flies is to dress say a 

 dozen of one kind at a time, selecting and arranging 

 all the materials necessary before commencing. 



