ON RAPID STREAMS. 87 



a violent and sudden jerk is often given the collar, 

 and will surely at some time or other try the knot 

 much. The end fly, or stretcher, should be tied 

 on the last link of the collar in this manner ; and 

 I always, if I am using the red fly with gold twist, 

 put it on as a stretcher ; it is a very conspicuous 

 fly, a great temptation to the trout, is readily seen, 

 and rarely (if thrown into any little hole, or under 

 a stone, or by the side of the current) escapes the 

 observation of the trout, who will dash off after it. 

 It is very doubtful, too, what the trout imagines 

 this red fly to be, probably some worm or grub, 

 and if so, it would be more naturally used as an 

 end fly, when it often or generally is under water, 

 than bobbing and dapping about on the surface of 

 the water, as the middle or bob fly must do. I 

 leave those fishermen who attach more importance 

 to the exact imitation of natural flies than I do, 

 to settle this question theoretically ; practically, I 

 know that the red-gold twist flies will always kill 

 more fish when placed as stretcher and not simply 

 from the end fly reaching the best places, for often 

 I have changed, and then killed fewer fish with its 

 substitute, till restoring the original red, I have 

 again been strengthened in my opinion from 

 former observations. 



The middle fly is placed on the collar simply by 

 making a loop in the gut to which it is tied, and 

 hitching this above the second knot from the 

 stretcher fly ; I like my brown fly to come here, 

 unless it be a March brown, which I always keep 

 for my bob fly. The length of the gut to which 



