THE ART OF. FLY TYING. 5 



our readers to learn to make their flies without 

 the aid of the vise, as we firmly believe they 

 can be made better and stronger and more 

 quickly without its aid, with the possible excep- 

 tion of intricate salmon flies. 



HACKLE FLIES. 



We will first take up the hackle flies, as they 

 are the most simple in construction. Select 

 first the hook, which for making a neat fly must 

 always have a taper shank. The most approved 

 patterns for fly tying are the Sproat and Lim- 

 erick, but for Hackle and Palmer flies many 

 persons use what is known as the Sneck Bent, 

 and we think with good reason, as any hook 

 without a side bend, if placed between the 

 leaves of a book which will represent for our 

 purpose the mouth of a fish you will notice, can 

 readily be withdrawn without the point enter- 

 ing. Now if a hook like the sneck bent be so 

 placed, it cannot be removed without catching 

 on one of the sides. 



Select a brown hackle, a piece of peacock 



