120 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



from inspection of a drawing. But such inspection be- 

 comes study when combined with an effort to follow out 

 the illustration in practice, and this is the way, and the 

 only way, and at the same time a sure way, to master a 

 matter of this kind. Some complain they can never learn 

 a knot from a book. The only difficulty is that such do 

 not attack it in the right way. Any of the simple knots 

 required by the angler can thus readily be mastered, 

 provided the learner will only try string in hand. 



How far the drop-flies should be placed from the tail- 

 fly depends on circumstances. With a long rod they 

 may be nearer than with a short rod, so also when wad- 

 ing as compared to fishing from the bank. With a ten- 

 foot rod about forty inches between the tail and middle 

 fly, and from eighteen to twenty-four inches between the 

 latter and the hand-fly, will be the average. 



It is customary to secure the tail-fly to the leader by 

 providing both with loops and looping them together 

 as shown in Fig. 25. But I decidedly prefer to have 

 my flies, no matter how diminutive they may be, tied 

 on eyed hooks. This form of hook has been described 

 and discussed in Chapter I. How it is to be tied to the 

 leader only remains to be stated. 



In tying these knots it is well invariably to hold the 

 hook in one and the same position, and always to pass 

 the leader in one and the same way. Indeed, this is 

 true of all knots, and is based on the fundamental prin- 

 ciple of mnemonics, that it is easier to remember one 

 thing than half a dozen. For example, the knot figured 

 in the following cut may be tied with the point of the 

 hook uppermost, as shown ; or with it pointing down- 

 ward, or to either side. Also, with the hook in any one 

 of these positions, the leader, after threading through 



