74 



FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 



instead of fish. One great reason for missing fish, when 

 using the artificial, is that most of those sold are made 

 with pectoral fins much too large ; these should be only 

 just large enough to make the bait spin well, and no 

 more. The trace should be two-and-a-half yards long, 

 of good round gut of a medium stoutness and slightly 

 stained, with one small double swivel, about two-and-a- 

 half feet from the bait; the minnow is heavy enough of 

 itself, without any extra lead. 



The minnow I use is made in 

 the shape shewn in the cut, 

 cither of brass or german silver, 

 and the most useful size is that 

 given ; one size larger, and one 

 smaller are necessary for differ- 

 ent conditions of water. 



The arming consists of four 

 triangles, two tail, and two side 

 hooks. The tail triangles are 

 whipped on to the gut forming 

 the trace, running right through 

 the minnow, and do not spin 

 with the minnow itself, and a large bead should be placed 

 above them, as shewn in the cut. The side triangles 



