116 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



Till within the last five years I always used the double 

 water-knot, but then disliking its size and obtrusiveness, 

 I turned to the single water-knot, and have employed 

 that with entire satisfaction ever since. There is un- 

 questionably more margin for carelessness to escape the 

 usual penalty in the double, than in the single knot. 

 But with care, not forgetting when straining the twin 

 knots (if I may use that expression) together to shake 

 them well, the single water-knot is perfectly safe and by 

 no means so bulky. 



It is exceedingly difficult verbally so to describe a 

 knot, that one entirely unacquainted with it can at the 

 first effort successfully follow the given directions. That 

 one possible stumbling-block may be removed, it may be 

 remarked that both of these water-knots are really com- 

 posed of two separate knots, tied with each short end of 

 the strands, and around the long portion of the strand 

 against which each is lapped. Each of these component 

 knots, therefore, merely embraces the longer neighboring 

 strand, and the latter may freely slide within it. This 

 feature is sometimes taken advantage of as a solution to 

 the difficult question, how the drop-flies may most ad- 

 vantageously be attached to the leader. For if the two 

 knots which compose the water-knot be seized by the 

 finger-nails, theoretically they may be separated an inch 

 or so, leaving the gut doubled between these knots. If 

 then the end of the gut upon which a drop-fly is tied be 

 inserted between this doubled gut, and the component 

 knots be drawn together, the end of the drop-fly gut is 

 secured, and the fly stands out nicely at right angles from 

 the leader. 



I say theoretically the water-knot will separate; but 

 practically, after the leader is wet and swollen, it will 



