IDEAS ON FLY-FISHING. 245 



the reverse sides day about. The only objection to 

 this double arrangement of rings is additional weight, 

 but that must be very trifling. 



Having now described the rod, the reel, the line, 

 and the cast, I approach a subject that I hesitate to 

 touch, viz., fly-tying, for I do not believe that any 

 one can become an expert, but through constant 

 practice, after having received a few elementary les- 

 sons from an adept. I believe I can tie a fair fly ; 

 but how long do you suppose it was before I reached 

 my present excellence? Years; and even now I 

 discover wrinkles and new methods of which I was 

 not previously aware ; however, one rule may be 

 laid down : never to take a turn of the silk round 

 your hook without purpose, or without giving it 

 sufficient strength to keep it in its place and perform 

 the duty intended. The most important part is the 

 simplest and first, the securing of the gut to the 

 shank of the hook. Unless this is attended to all 

 your labor is vain and worthless so much time 

 thrown away and wasted. Here comes all the strain, 

 and a thoughtless turn or two will cause naught but 



o o 



disappointment. Some anglers, particularly Irish 

 ones, place the wings on so that the feather points 

 from the hook, then double them back and tie them 



