THE WET -FLY EQUIPMENT. 91 



vexation, and it also makes the flies "stand out" 

 better from the cast. 



As in joining gut so in attaching droppers there 

 are other methods besides the one given, but the 

 only other which I ever use is a little loop at the 

 end of the dropper link just big enough for the 

 fly to pass through and so to be looped round 

 the cast. This is a safe attachment, and sometimes 

 a dropper so put on can be taken off again without 

 loss of gut ; but the result is rather clumsy in 

 appearance, and often the removal of the fly is more 

 trouble than it is worth. The loop can also be used 

 for attaching the end or " tail-fly" to the cast 

 (plate I., fig. 3). Indeed, casts are generally sold 

 with a loop at each end. The only objection 

 I have to this is the appearance of it ; trout 

 are so sharp-sighted that every unnecessary 

 knot in the tackle tells against the angler. Tying 

 the loop, if it is used, scarcely needs any explana- 

 tion (fig. i); but when the loop has been tied 

 it is made safer by passing the loose end round 

 the main strand, through its own coil, and then 

 drawing it up to the knot (fig. 2). It will ther. 

 be pointing up instead of down, and after being 

 pulled thoroughly tight it can be cut off close. 



The novice while he is about it may usefully 

 make up half a dozen collars with different 



