Flies and Cast ing- Lines. 1 5 



These we would get dressed on Loch Leven 

 size any fly-dresser knows what that means ; 

 but perhaps the better way would be to get a 

 quarter dozen of each dressed on that size, and a 

 quarter dozen of each on a hook two sizes larger. 

 The patterns in a tackle-maker's book are end- 

 less, but for the most part are modifications or 

 combinations of the flies we have named ; and 

 the angler will soon discover for himself that 

 flies and old half-used casts, and often casts made 

 up in the humour of the moment, and never 

 used at all, accumulate upon him so rapidly 

 that he is glad to find some enthusiastic boat- 

 man to bestow them upon. It is needless to 

 add, that a gift of this kind is usually very 

 much appreciated by the recipient. Tinsel is 

 a very useful adjunct to a fly, and should al- 

 ways be employed in those used in loch-fish- 

 ing. If variety is wanted in colouring, the 

 least tip of Berlin or pig's wool of the desired 

 shade will be found very effective. Get your 

 flies dressed on Limerick-bend hooks, as the 

 iron, should it chance not to be the best tem- 

 pered in the world, is not so liable to snap as 

 the round bend. The wings of the fly should 

 be dressed so as to be distinctly apart both in 



