MAKING, REPAIRING AND CARING FOR TACKLE. 219 



making a dropper fly loop, is shown in figures 7, 8 and 9, 

 and figure 10 shows how the dropper fly is looped on, by 

 running the loop through the loop of the fly, then the fly 

 through the leader loop, and drawing tight. This leader knot 

 is as good as the twist knot shown in figure 4, and there is 

 not so much waste, as it may be tied nearer the ends. All 

 loose ends must be trimmed off closely after the knots are 

 drawn perfectly tight ; you can use a pair of pliers for draw- 

 ing up the knots, using them on the short end of the gut 

 only and holding the long piece in your hand. If you were 

 to use the pliers on the long end you would injure the gut. 

 It is not necessary to put the leader to any severe test after 

 it is finished as this would strain it, and if it stands drawing 

 the knots tight, and shows no imperfections in the gut, you 

 will know that it is strong without testing. Anyway, if you 

 test it once and it stands a five-pound strain, you don't know 

 what it will stand the next time, but very likely it will not 

 be so strong. 



For attaching eyed flies to the leader, the latter should 

 have no loop at the end where the fly is fastened. There are 

 a number of knots suitable for attaching flies and hooks but 

 figures 12 and 13 show the best ones. 



Figures 14, 15 and 16 show three good ways of fastening 

 the leader to the line. These are all secure, especially 15 and 

 16, so you can use safely whichever you choose. 



There are many other things regarding tackle making 

 that I would like to speak of, but I could only mention these 

 briefly. Many of you are interested in nets of one kind or 

 other but I could not go into details and tell how to make 

 each kind of net used in fishing, therefore I will only tell 

 how to tie the knots and how to go about making a net, 

 and you can make any style you choose. A landing net can 

 be made very easily, and will be good to try it out on. 



You must make a shuttle or needle of hard wood, and 

 it may be of either of the patterns shown in A, B and C. 



