FITTING UP OF FLY-LINES. 97 



meets with, an accident ; and which can be done with 

 infinitely less trouble and much greater despatch than 

 would be required to remove and replace the entire cast 

 itself. 



The gut fly-line ought to be about four yards in 

 length, to the extremity of which the largest and most 

 likely fly should be attached, as in nine cases out of ten 

 the tail-fly or stretcher will be fourid to do most execu- 

 tion, if not out of season. Thirty-eight or forty inches 

 above that, fix the second dropper, suspended to three 

 inches of gut ; and thirty-six inches above that, the first 

 dropper, whipped to four inches of gut ; and observe 

 that all the flies are so arranged that the largest and 

 heaviest are nearest the extremity of the cast, and that 

 they gradually diminish in weight and size, from the 

 tail-fly to the first dropper next the rod. If the case 

 were to be reversed, as we often see with the uninitiated, 

 and the uppermost fly made the heaviest in the cast, 

 that portion of the line would arrive at its destination 

 first, dog-leg fashion, and cause the remainder to splash 

 into the water in a confused heap, to the utter dismay of 

 every fish in the vicinity. 



Some sportsmen use four or even five flies upon the 

 line at once ; but this practice I condemn, as the line is 

 rendered so heavy that it is impossible to cast it with 

 the requisite lightness and precision, unless the wind is 

 very strong indeed, or the whole of the flies as minute 

 as midges ; while in either case they are incessantly 

 getting entangled with each other, and create too much 

 disturbance where they alight. We can certainly offer 



F 



