110 



THE TROUT. 



" First Method How to make the Fly with the Wings in 

 the natural position in the first instance. Hold the hook by 

 the bend, with the point downwards, between the fore-finger 

 and thumb of the left hand; with your waxed silk in your 

 right hand, give one or two turns round the bare hook, about 

 midway; lay the end of the gut along the upper side of the 

 hook, (if tied on the under side, the fly will not swim true, 

 but continually revolve,) wrap the silk firmly until you get 

 within a few turns of the top ; you then take the wings, lay 

 them along the shank with the right hand, and hold them 

 firmly in their place to the hook with the left hand. Next, 

 tie the feather tightly at the point of contact, with two or 

 three turns ; cut off' the superfluous ends of the feather, and 

 tying the head of the fly very firmly, you carry the silk around 

 the gut beyond the head, that the end of the hook may not 

 chafe, or cut away the gut ; then retrace the silk, until you 

 come to the tying on of the wings. Divide the wings equally, 

 and carry the silk through the division alternately, two or 

 three times, to keep the wings distinct from each other. Now 

 prepare the hackle, by drawing back the fibres, and by hav- 

 ing two or three less on the butt, on the side of the feather 

 that comes next the hook, that it may revolve without twist- 

 ing away. Tie the butt-end of the hackle close to the wings, 

 having its upper or dark side to the head of the fly. The 

 Scotch reverse this, and tie the hackle with its under side to 

 the head ; and likewise strip the fibres entirely off that side 

 which touches the hook. Take the dubbing between the 

 fore-finger and the thumb of the right hand, twist it very 

 thinly about your silk, and carry it around the hook as far as 

 you intend the hackle or legs to be carried, and hold it be- 

 tween the fore-finger and thumb of the left hand, or fasten it. 

 Then, with your plyers, carry the hackle around your hook, 

 close under the wings, and down to where you have brought 

 your silk and dubbing, then continue to finish your body, by 



