DRY FLY TACKLE-THE LEADER 



Dry fly leaders should have a gradual taper from thick 

 to fine, and made of extra long-length gut, furnished with 

 one small loop at line end, the other thin end being left 

 unlooped to be tied with a knot to eyed fly. The weight 

 of gut depends on weight of line and rod either light, 

 medium, or heavy. The length of leader should measure 

 from tip to middle of rod handle grasp so that you can hold 

 the fly with same hand that grasps the rod. Good tapered 

 leaders cost about sixty cents, superfine leaders made of 

 special gut will cost a little more. Preparatory to fishing, 

 a number of leaders should be placed in a box carefully 

 coiled, between damp felt, so that when used the leader 

 will fly out straight at the first cast, and the damp gut makes 

 a more secure tie to the fly. 



POINTS ON CARE OF LEADERS 



Dry your leaders after the day's fishing is done they 

 weaken if kept constantly wet. If leader breaks don't loop 

 them together; learn to tie a secure knot, and tie it only 

 when the gut is thoroughly wet. Don't loop gut to fly- 

 learn the proper knot attachment here illustrated. 



Test your leaders. Discard, or retie any frays or weak 

 parts. For dry fly casting it pays to buy new leaders every 

 season. Beware of leaders which taper too fine if the fish 

 you capture are likely to weigh over a pound, especially in 

 turbulent water. 



I have found it to be much more convenient to buy gut 

 by the different size hanks, and tie my own leaders. In so 

 doing the angler suits his own requirements, exactly as to 

 length and thickness, as well as a saving of considerable 

 expense, and will be found of especial advantage by all 

 anglers living far from up-to-date tackle shops. 



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