AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 15 



on the casting line between three feet six and four 

 feet from the tail link. Each sea trout fly should be 

 tied on two stranda of gut knotted together in the 

 middle, and looped at the end for attachment to the 

 tail link loop of the casting line, or on one of the knots 

 when used as a dropper. Salmon flies, and in fact all 

 flies of large size, should be made on pieces of double 

 gimp or stout gut, so arranged as to form a loop at the 

 head (vide cut " Salmon Plies "), which is looped on to 

 the lower link loop of the casting line, which should 

 be made large enough for the fly to pass easily through, 

 taking care that it always goes head foremost. "When 

 a salmon rises at your fly, never strike until you can 

 feel him, and then by a movement of the hands and 

 rod, difficult to describe, but when once acquired rarely 

 forgotten, bury your hook. Tour fish once fairly 

 hooked, never give him one inch of line he does not 

 take from you by force. Throw your rod well back 

 over your shoulder, let him have the whole spring of 

 it, and as you value him never allow a slack line for 

 an instant ; should he spring high in air, as he often 

 will, then you must ease off until he comes down 

 again and renews the fight; never be in a hurry 

 to gaff, and never allow an attempt to be made 

 until the fish is thoroughly exhausted and a good 

 opportunity is offered. Both upper and under gaffing 

 have their advocates, and some prefer a large landing 

 net to either. For sea and bull trout, unless very 

 large, the net will be found best; but for salmon 



